plants that attract birds + butterflies
plants that attract birds
trees
(S) = Summer fruit, (F) = Fall fruit, (W) = Winter fruit
perennials
Acer spp. (Maples) - seed tree
Betula spp.(Birches) – seed tree
Celtis occidentalis (Hackberry) W
Crataegus spp. (Hawthorns) W, nest tree
Fraxinus spp. (Ash) – cavity tree
Juniperus virginiana (Eastern red cedar) W, shelter tree
Larix laricina (American larch, tamarack) – seed tree
Malus spp. (Crab apples) S, F, W
Morus rubra (Red mulberry) S
Picea glauca (White spruce) – shelter tree
Populus deltoids (Eastern cottonwood) – cavity tree
Populus tremuloides (Quaking aspen) – cavity tree
Prunus pennsylvanica (Pin cherry) S
Prunus serotina (Black cherry) S
Quercus spp. (Oaks) – cavity + nut tree
Salix amygdaloides (Peach-leaved willow) – cavity tree
Salix nigra (Black willow) – cavity tree
Sorbus Americana (American mountain ash) F
Sorbus decora (Showy mountain ash) F
Thuja occidentalis (Eastern Arborvitae) – shelter tree
Tsuga canadensis (Eastern hemlock) – shelter tree
Aquilegia canadensis (Columbine) – hummingbird
Asclepias tuberosa (Butterflyweed) – hummingbird
Aster spp. (Aster)
Coreopsis spp. (Tickseed)
Digitalis spp. (Foxglove) - hummingbird
Echinacea spp. (Purple coneflowers)
Eupatorium spp. (Joe-Pye Weed)
Fragaria spp. (Wild strawberry)
Helianthus spp. (Sunflowers)
Hibiscus spp. (Hibiscus) – hummingbird
Hosta spp. (Hosta) - hummingbird
Impatiens capensis (Spotted jewelweed) – hummingbird
Liatris spp. (Blazing star)
Lilium philadelphicum (Wood lily) – hummingbird
Lilium superbum (Turk’s cap lily) – hummingbird
Lobelia cardinalis (Cardinal flower) – hummingbird
Lupinus perennis (Lupine) – hummingbird
Lychnis chalcedonica (Maltese cross) - hummingbird
Monarda fistulosa (Wild bergamot) - hummingbird
Penstemon gradiflorus, P. digitalis (Penstemon) – hummingbird
Perovskia atriplicifolia (Russian sage) - hummingbird
Phlox divaricata, P. pilosa (Phlox) - hummingbird
Rudbeckia spp. (Black-eyed Susan)
Silphium spp. (Prairie dock, compass plant)
Solidago spp. (Goldenrod)
Veronica noveboracensis (Ironweed)
Weigela spp. (Weigela) – hummingbird
shrubs
(S) = Summer fruit, (F) = Fall fruit, (W) = Winter fruit
Alnus incana rugosa (Speckled Adler) – nest + seed shrub
Amelanchier spp. (Serviceberry) S
Buddleja spp. (Butterfly bush) - hummingbird
Cornus spp. (Dogwoods) F
Ilex verticillata (Winterberry) W
Juniperus communis (Common juniper) – shelter shrub
Physocarpus opulifolius (Ninebark) – nest + seed shrub
Prunus virginiana (Chokecherry) S
Rhus spp. (Sumacs) F, W
Ribes spp. (Currants, gooseberry) S
Rosa palustris, R. carolina, R. blanda, R. arkansana (Rose) W, nest shrub
Rubus spp. (Raspberry, blackberry, blackcap, etc.) S
Salix spp. (Willows) – nest shrub
Sambucus canadensis (Elderberry) S, nest shrub
Shepherdia canadensis (Canadian buffalo berry) S
Vaccinium spp. (Blueberries) S
Viburnum spp. (Viburnums) F
grasses
Andropogon spp. (Bluestems) – seeds
Bouteloua curtipendula, B. gracilis (Grama)
Elymus canadensis, E. villosus, E. virginicus (Wild Rye)
Panicum amarum, P. virgatum (Switchgrass)
Schizachyrium scoparium (Little bluestem)
Sporobolus heterolepis (Prairie dropseed)
vines
(S) = Summer fruit, (F) = Fall fruit, (W) = Winter fruit
Celastrus scandens (American bittersweet) F,W
Lonicera sempervirens (Trumpet honeysuckle) - hummingbird
Parthenocissus quinquefolia (Virginia creeper) F,W
Parthenocissus vitacea (Grape Woodbine) F,W
Rhus radicans (Poison Ivy) [caution] F,W
Smilax ecirrhata, S. herbacea (Carrion-flowers) F,W
Smilax hispida (Greenbriar) F,W - shelter + nest
Vitis riparia, V. vulpine, V.aestivalis (Grape) F,W - shelter + nest
Wisteria spp. (Wisteria) - hummingbird
annuals
Aim for bright reds and oranges - here are some good ones!
Agastache spp. (Hyssop) – hummingbird
Cleome (Spiderflower) – hummingbird
Cosmos ‘Ladybird Scarlet’ (Cosmos) – hummingbird
Fuchsia (Fuchsia) – hummingbird
Gaura (Gaura) – hummingbird
Ipomoea (Morning glory) – hummingbird
Mirabilis jalapa (Four O’Clocks) – hummingbird
Nicotiana (Flowering tobacco) – hummingbird
Pentas (Pentas) - hummingbird
Petunia (Petunia) – hummingbird
Salvia spp. (Salivas, sages) - hummingbird
Silene laciniata (Silene) – hummingbird
Verbena bonariensis (Purple-top vervain) – hummingbird
Zinnia (Zinnia) – hummingbird
plants that attract butterflies
plants for nectar
plants for food
annuals
annuals
Ageratum spp. (Floss flower)
Asclepias curassavica (Bloodflower)
Cosmos spp. (Cosmos)
Delphinium spp. (Delphinium)
Dianthus spp. (Sweet William)
Gomphrena (Globe amaranth)
Heliotropium (Heliotrope)
Lantana spp. (Lantana)
Nicotiana (Flowering tobacco)
Origanum vulgare (Oregano)
Salvia spp. (Salvia, Sage)
Tagetes spp. (French marigolds)
Tithonia rotundifolia (Mexican sunflower)
Tropaeolum (Nasturtium)
Verbena bonariensis (Purple-top vervain)
Zinnia spp. (Zinnias)
Anethum graveolens (Dill)
Antirrhinum majus (Snapdragon)
Cassia fasciculata (Partridge Pea)
Daucus carota (Carrot)
Foeniculum vulgare (Fennel)
Petroselinum spp. (Parsley)
perennials
Anaphalis margaritaceae (Pearly Everlasting)
Antennaria spp. (Pussytoes)
Aristolochia macrophylla (Dutchman’s Pipe)
Asclepias (Milkweeds)
Aster spp. (Asters)
*Chelone glabra (Turtlehead)
Senna hebecarpa (Senna)
Urtica spp. (Nettles) - wear gloves when working with this
*Viola spp. (Violets)
*can handle shade
grasses
Andropogon spp. (Bluestems)
Bouteloua curtipendula, B. gracilis (Grama)
Elymus canadensis, E. villosus, E. virginicus (Wild Rye)
Panicum amarum, P. virgatum (Switchgrass)
Schizachyrium scoparium (Little bluestem)
Sporobolus heterolepis (Prairie dropseed)
perennials + vines
Allium tuberosum (Garlic chives)
Amorpha canescens (Lead plant)
Asclepias spp. (Milkweed, butterfly weed)
Aster novae-angliae (New Enlgand aster)
Baptisia australis, B. alba (False indigo, Wild white indigo)
Centaurea spp. (Cornflower)
Ceratostigma plumbaginoides (Blue leadwort)
Chelone lyonii (Pink turtlehead)
Coreopsis spp. (Tickseed)
Echinacea pallida (Pale purple coneflower)
Eupatorium maculatum (Joe-Pye weed)
Lavendula spp. (Lavender)
Liatris aspera (Rough Blazing Star)
Liatris pycnostachya (Prairie Blazing Star)
Lonicera spp. (Honeysuckle)
Mentha spp. (Mint)
Monarda fistulosa (Wild bergamot)
Phlox spp. (Phlox)
Rudbeckia spp. (Black eyed Susan)
Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ and other large flowered cvs. Solidago rigida (Stiff goldenrod)
Verbena hastate (Blue vervain)
Verbena stricta (Hoary vervain)
trees
Celtis occidentalis (Hackberry)
Juniperus virginiana (Eastern red cedar)
Pinus spp.(Pines)
Populus spp. (Poplars and aspens)
Prunus serotina (Black herry)
Quercus spp.(Oaks) Salix spp. (Willows)
shrubs
Buddleja davidii (Butterfly Bush)
Cephalanthus occidentalis (Buttonbush)
Clethera alnifolia (Summersweet)
Syringa vulgaris (Lilac)