The best plants to lure birds into the garden

A lively garden full of birdsong is the dream of many garden owners. With the right plants, you can transform your garden into a true paradise for feathered visitors. And it's not just about beauty and acoustic enjoyment - birds are also valuable helpers in the garden, combating pests and contributing to pollination.

The key to a bird-friendly garden lies in choosing native plants that provide birds with food, shelter and nesting opportunities all year round. From flowering shrubs and berry-bearing woody plants to seed-rich perennials - the right choice of plants makes the difference between a sterile garden and a living ecosystem.

Why native plants are so important for birds

The ecological advantage of native species

Native plants and native animals go together best. Exotic species cannot keep up, and many neophytes are a threat to native fauna and flora due to their invasiveness. Native plants have evolved over thousands of years together with the local fauna and therefore offer optimal food sources.

One impressive example is the native hawthorn: its fruits are eaten by 32 bird species, while those of the closely related North American scarlet hawthorn are only eaten by two species. The situation is similar with insects, whose larvae often specialize in a few or even just one food plant.

Ensuring a year-round food supply

A bird-friendly garden should provide food at all times of the year. A continuous supply of food is important - for example in the form of berries that remain on the belly and bushes in winter. While insects are the main food for many bird species in spring and summer, seeds and berries are essential for survival in fall and winter.

The more structures there are in your garden, the more species will find a habitat there. Different plant species provide different food sources at different times - from early flowers for the first insects to late berries for winter birds.

The most important berry bushes for birds

Elderberry - the all-rounder among bird shrubs

The black elder is one of the most valuable native shrubs for birds. In June and July, the white flowers attract countless insects, which in turn provide food for insect-eating birds. The black berries, which are prized by over 60 bird species, ripen in August.

Elderberry grows quickly and provides ideal nesting sites with its dense branches. The shrub is very undemanding and thrives in both sun and partial shade. Compact varieties are also available for smaller gardens.

Hawthorn - the insect magnet

Just how bird-friendly our native species are can be seen, for example, in the rowan berry: 63 bird species eat the red berries! The hawthorn even surpasses this. Its white flowers in May and June are visited by over 160 insect species, making it one of the most valuable bee pastures.

The red fruits ripen in the fall and often remain on the shrub well into the winter. The thorny branches also provide ideal protection for birds' nests from cats and other predators.

Rowan (mountain ash) - the winter provider

The rowan berry is aptly named: 63 bird species eat its bright red berries. The orange-red fruits ripen from the end of August and are particularly rich in vitamins and nutrients - perfect for preparing for winter.

As well as providing food, the rowan also offers nesting sites and can be grown as a tree or shrub, depending on how it is pruned. Its white flower panicles in May are also an important bee pasture.

Dog rose - beauty with benefits

Native wild roses offer added value for birds all year round. The unfilled flowers are visited intensively by bees and other pollinators. The rose hips ripen in the fall and often remain available as emergency food until spring.

The thorny rose bushes provide ideal nesting sites as they offer protection from predators. The dog rose in particular is very robust and undemanding.

Other important bird shrubs

Prickly pear - the autumn bright spot

In the fall, the monkshood impresses with its bright yellow-orange foliage and eye-catching pink fruits. The berries are particularly prized by robins, thrushes and magpies - which is why the shrub is also known as "robin's bread".

The plant prefers sunny to semi-shady locations and is very undemanding. In May and June, the inconspicuous greenish-white flowers attract various insects.

Cornelian cherry - the early bloomer

As one of the first flowering shrubs of the year, cornelian cherry is an important bee pasture in early spring. Its yellow flowers appear in February and March, long before the leaves emerge.

The red fruits ripen in late summer and are appreciated by nuthatches, jays and bullfinches. Small mammals such as dormice and dormice also eat the nutritious fruits.

Blackthorn - The thorny protector

Blackthorn is a particularly valuable shrub for birds. Its white flowers in April are an important early bee pasture, the blue fruits ripen in the fall and often remain on the shrub until spring.

The dense, thorny branches provide ideal protection for birds' nests. Whitethorn warblers, red-backed shrikes and other species that breed in thorny shrubs are particularly dependent on such structures.

Climbing plants and ground cover

Ivy - the evergreen all-rounder

Ivy is one of the most important native climbing plants for birds. Its late flowering in September and October provides food for bees when other sources of food have long since dried up. The berries ripen from January until spring and are important winter food for blackbirds and robins.

The evergreen ivy offers protection and nesting opportunities all year round. It grows quickly and covers fences, walls and tree trunks.

Wild hops - the fast grower

The wild hop is an annual climbing plant that can quickly grow several meters high. Its flowers attract various insects and the seeds are prized by finches.

Hops are particularly valuable as a caterpillar food plant for various butterfly species, whose caterpillars in turn provide important food for birds.

Perennials and flowering plants for birds

Sunflowers - the seed-givers

Sunflowers are real bird magnets. Just a few sunflowers are better for birds than a neatly trimmed cherry laurel hedge. The large flower heads produce countless oil-rich seeds, which are particularly appreciated by finches, tits and sparrows.

Leave the sunflowers standing after flowering - the birds will pick the seeds directly from the plant. Other composite flowers such as asters or rudbeckias also provide valuable seeds.

Thistles and wild herbs

Wild plants such as thistles may look unkempt, but they are valuable for birds. Goldfinches (goldfinches) specialize in the seeds of various thistle species. Therefore, allow a "wild corner" in your garden.

Other native wild herbs such as stinging nettle, mugwort or goosefoot also produce valuable seeds and serve as caterpillar food plants.

Important tip: Do not cut down perennial plants completely in the fall. Leave the seed heads standing - they provide important winter food for birds and are home to insects that also serve as bird food.

Plants that you should avoid

Exotic species with no benefit

Not all plants are suitable for a bird-friendly garden. Exotic species in particular often offer no benefit to native birds:

Problematic plants:

• Cherry laurel: Hardly attracts insects, offers no usable food
• Forsythia: No native insects use this plant
• Rhododendron: Largely worthless for native fauna
• Thuja: Offers no food, few nesting opportunities

Avoid double flowers

You should also avoid cultivated forms with double flowers in native species. Cultivated roses with opulent flowers are not only unattractive to insects - as most varieties are sterile, they do not produce rose hips, which serve as food for birds.

Instead, choose unfilled, simple flower shapes that give insects access to pollen and nectar.

Designing a bird-friendly garden

Create structural diversity

Birds need different habitats at different heights:

Vertical structure:

• Tall trees for singing and nesting
• Medium shrubs for shelter and food
• Low ground cover and perennials
• Open areas for ground-nesting species

Allow wild corners

Deliberately allow "untidy" areas in your garden. Piles of leaves, heaps of brushwood and seed heads left standing provide shelter for insects and small creatures, which in turn provide food for birds.

A completely tidy garden is not very attractive to birds. A little clutter creates valuable habitats.

Include watering holes

Add watering holes to your plantings. Birds need water for drinking and bathing. A shallow bowl or a small garden pond will be gratefully accepted.

TL;DR - The most important points at a glance

• Choose native species: Native plants provide 10-50x more food than exotics
• Plant berry bushes: Elderberry, hawthorn, rowan and dog rose are top favorites
• Year-round food: From spring bloomers to winter berries for a continuous supply
• Create structural diversity: Combine different plant heights and dense and open areas
• Leave seed heads standing: Do not cut off faded plants, but use them as winter food
• Allow wild corners: A little clutter creates valuable habitat for birds and insects
• Avoid exotic plants: Replace cherry laurel, forsythia and other exotic plants with native species

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Which plants attract birds the fastest? Berry bushes such as elderberry and hawthorn are already effective in the first year. Sunflowers and other annual seed-giving plants immediately attract finches and tits.

Can I make a small garden bird-friendly? Yes, a lot can be achieved even in a small space. Choose compact varieties of berry bushes, use climbing plants such as ivy and opt for seed-rich perennials.

When is the best time to plant bird bushes? Autumn is ideal for planting shrubs. This allows the plants to establish themselves over winter and sprout vigorously in spring.

Do I have to do without garden aesthetics? No, many native plants are very decorative. Rowanberries, cornelian cherry and dog roses provide beautiful flowers and autumn color while also benefiting birds.

How long does it take for birds to accept the garden? This varies greatly. Some species arrive immediately, others take 1-2 years. Patience is important - the more established the plants, the more attractive the garden will be.

Which plants are suitable for shady areas? Elderberry, coneflower and ivy can also cope with less light. Native ferns and woodland perennials are also suitable for shady corners.

Should I avoid exotic plants altogether? Not necessarily, but the focus should be on native species. As a rule of thumb: at least 70% native plants for a truly bird-friendly garden.

Can I also grow bird-friendly plants in pots? Yes, many small-growing species are suitable for pots. Berry bushes in compact varieties and seed-rich perennials in particular work well in pots.

What role does the size of the plants play? Large, established plants offer more food and nesting opportunities. But small starter plants are also valuable and grow into valuable bird habitats over time.

How do I maintain a bird-friendly garden? Less is more: Avoid pesticides, don't cut everything down and allow wild corners. Native plants are usually very easy to care for and robust.

Conclusion: Your garden as a bird paradise

With the right selection of native plants, you can turn your garden into a lively bird paradise. The key is diversity: combine berry-bearing shrubs with nectar-rich flowering plants and seed-giving perennials to provide food and habitat all year round.

Native plants are not only ecologically valuable, but are often easier to care for and more robust than exotic species. They have adapted to our climatic conditions over thousands of years and provide an ideal habitat for native wildlife.

A bird-friendly garden is a win-win situation for everyone: you enjoy the lively activity and natural song, while the birds fight pests and provide natural pollination in return. At the same time, you make an important contribution to preserving biodiversity and create valuable replacement habitats for endangered species.

Start with a few native shrubs and gradually expand your range of bird-friendly plants. The feathered visitors will thank you with their presence and their singing.