# Plants That Attract Birds Native to North Carolina
Choosing plants to attract birds draws some of these species to urban and suburban yards providing beauty and interest, and offering valuable habitat. Think of layers of plantings to encourage a variety of species. Remember to provide a water source as well.
Notice birds as they visit plants in the neighborhood. Are they building nests, resting from predators, drinking nectar, eating flowers, insects or seeds? What plants do they ignore or avoid? By creating habitat in unlikely places such as yards and parks, bird species get a hand from their human neighbors.
-
Trees and Shrubs
-
Trees provide bird habitat and fall color. Evergreens--conifers--such as cedars, pines and juniper provide dense cover for birds. Seeds from cones provide food. Similarly, birds appreciate holly for its ability to protect and conceal and for the berries, a food source.
Deciduous trees offer food in the form of fruit, seeds, flowers and insects living on leaves and trunks. House finches eat maple flowers. Birch trees draw insectivores like yellow-rumped warblers. Liqudamber seeds appeal to birds. Birds will fill the branches of the messy but delicious mulberry tree. Try planting a mulberry away from paths.
Staggering bloom cycles of diverse tree and shrub species will ensure continuous bird activity. For example, serviceberry blooms before dogwood. Leaving some dead branches helps red-bellied woodpeckers.
Vines
-
Honeysuckle feeds and shelters birds. Virginia creeper with its grape-like fruits is a bird favorite. Honeysuckle will draw nectar feeders like the ruby-throated hummingbird. Rose, such as Virginia, swamp and Carolina provide fruit in the form of rose hips.
Some vines can be invasive and irritating. English and Boston ivy spread readily but provide cover for ground birds like mourning doves. Poison ivy produces white fruits birds love; they're not bothered by the plants' oils.
Flowers
-
Marigold and alyssum attract birds. Birds love flowers. Plants a variety of color, height and blossom type from hollyhocks to forget-me-nots. Allow the seed pods to develop as bird food. The flowers will also reseed themselves in some cases. Some flowers, like hyssop, appeal to more than one species. Hummingbirds visit the blooms; goldfinches eat the seeds. Sunflowers are a classic.
-
- Native Trees, Plants & Flowers in Virginia
- Coleus Flowers That Reseed
- North Florida Flowers That Attract the Most Birds
- Native Plants to Attract Birds
- California Full Sun Plants That Attract Hummingbirds
- Plants That Have Yellow Flowers
- Tall Purple Plants That Attract Butterflies
- Plants & Flowers That Attract Butterflies & Hummingbirds
- Good Plants for Landscaping in North Carolina
- Vines That Attract Birds
- Plants That Attract Native Wildlife
- Shade-Tolerant Perennials That Attract Birds and Butterflies
