Four vegetation species to put alongside your avian tub for a visually pleasing landscape and to attract additional aviary guests
In a garden setting, the presence of a bird bath can be a delightful addition, offering a refreshing water source for our feathered friends. However, to make it a truly welcoming habitat, consider planting a diverse selection of plants that provide food, shelter, and protection. Here's a guide to the best plants for growing around a bird bath.
Flowers Attracting Nectar-Feeders and Pollinators
- Agastache, also known as hummingbird mint or hyssop, boasts tall spiky blooms rich in nectar that attract hummingbirds and bees. Its fragrant foliage also repels pests, making it an ideal choice.
- Lavender, with its lasting flowers and scent, is loved by bees and butterflies, enhancing the environment without blocking space.
- Salvia, with its tubular, nectar-rich flowers, is a favourite among hummingbirds and bees, often flowering all summer if deadheaded.
- Zinnias offer nectar for butterflies and beneficial insects, supporting insect-eating birds.
- Coneflowers (Echinacea and Rudbeckia) provide summer blooms that attract pollinators, and later their seedheads provide vital food for birds in colder months.
Shrubs and Trees Producing Berries and Seeds
- Lantana, a compact shrub, thrives in warm spots near bird baths and attracts butterflies and hummingbirds with its flowers.
- Blackberries offer nutritious berries that attract sparrows, woodpeckers, and other fruit-eating birds.
- Mountain ash produces bright orange-red berries that sustain birds like waxwings in winter.
- Serviceberry (Juneberry) is a small tree/shrub with sweet berries favoured by chickadees and orioles.
- Crabapple fruits attract bluebirds, robins, cedar waxwings, and flowers draw pollinators in spring.
Additional Shelter and Cover
- Evergreen shrubs provide year-round protection and nearby cover, making birds feel safe approaching the bird bath.
- Ornamental grasses offer shelter and perching without competing for water space.
- Holly, with its dense structure, creates a safe space for birds to hide near the bath.
By combining these diverse plants around a bird bath, you create a welcoming habitat that provides water, food (nectar, seeds, berries), and shelter, supporting a wide variety of bird species through multiple seasons. Ensure the bird bath is placed in a sunny spot with good visibility, and keep it clean and filled regularly to maximize bird visits.
Recommended Plants and Their Sources
- Richard Barker, commercial director of LBS Horticulture, recommends Pheasants Tail Grass, which can be bought at Crocus for £9.99.
- James Ewens, a gardening and wildlife expert from Green Feathers, suggests Angel Tails, available at Crocus for £8.99.
- For those seeking a vertical plant, Honeysuckle Belgecia can be bought at B&Q for £12.99.
- The website Gardening Express sells a pack of 10 coneflowers for £29.95 and a pack of 10 English Lavender plants for £9.99.
- Crocus also offers 'Enchanted Flame' Rudbeckia hirta for £5 and Hidcote Lavender for £15.75.
- 3 Common Holly Hedging Evergreen Plants can be bought at B&Q for £13.49.
- Fountain grass produces flower plumes (seedheads) that provide birds with a food source.
- Ornamental grasses and honeysuckle can be used to provide shelter for birds near a bird bath.
By incorporating these plants into your garden, you'll not only create a beautiful space but also attract a variety of birds, turning your garden into a vibrant, bird-friendly haven.
- The diversity of plants, including Agastache, Lavender, Salvia, Zinnias, Lantana, Blackberries, Mountain ash, Serviceberry, Crabapple, and Ornamental grasses, can transform a simple bird bath into a thriving habitat that offers food (nectar, seeds, berries), shelter, and water, creating an attractive haven for a wide range of bird species.
- To enhance the bird-friendly environment in your home-and-garden lifestyle, consider adding Evergreen shrubs, Pheasants Tail Grass, Angel Tails, Honeysuckle Belgecia, coneflowers, English Lavender, Common Holly Hedging, and Fountain grass to provide food sources, shelter, and cover around your bird bath.
