What are Common Flowers for Bird Attraction?

Black-Eyed Susan

• Birds love the ripe seeds that Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia), a United States native, produces when the flowers fade. The bright yellow, daisy-like flowers with dark brown centers attract attention in the garden. The Black-eyed Susan is either a short-lived perennial or an annual that blooms from June through October. A perennial is a plant that comes back from year to year in the garden and an annual grows, flowers, sets seed and dies in one growing season. It is best to remove some of the ripe seed before the birds eat all of it. Direct sow this seed in late fall or early spring.

Purple Coneflower

• Purple coneflower (Echinacea) is a drought-tolerant plant native to the eastern and central regions of the United States. Goldfinches flock to this plant once it begins to set seed. Purple coneflower is ideal for naturalizing -- plus, they are deer-resistant. The long, sturdy stems and long-lasting flowers make purple coneflower ideal for cut-flower bouquets. Deadhead, or cut off, the flowers as they fade to encourage the plant to continue to bloom, but as summer comes to an end, let them set seed and do not cut them down until spring. This will give the birds a source of natural seed during the coldest part of the year, plus create interest in the winter garden.

Sunflower

• Sunflowers are another United States native that attracts a variety of birds. The colorful blooms attract hummingbirds, plus a variety of migratory birds looking for a place to rest and birds that feed on the insects that sunflowers attract. Once the sunflowers begin to fade, the birds come to snack on the seed which is high in oil content. This provides a source of energy for birds, especially during the winter months. To prevent birds from eating all of the sunflower seeds your plants produce, cover the seed heads with pantyhose or some type of see-though material to prevent the birds from accessing the seeds. Do not do this until the seeds begin to form.

Zinnia

• The brilliant-colored flowers of zinnia attract a variety of birds including goldfinches and hummingbirds. Zinnias are annual flowers easy to start from seed in early spring. The flowers come in almost every color of the rainbow including green, purple, red, yellow, white and orange. With many styles, including dahlia, cactus, single and double -- and a wide array of sizes -- zinnias are perfect for containers as well as growing directly in the ground.