Providing flowers is one of the easiest ways to quickly entice winged wildlife to your garden, but what flowers are most attractive?

The breast feathers of many finch species are tinged with golden yellow. Immature goldfinch such as the one seen here may be difficult to identify. These seedeaters search out plants like this wild mint.

Photo Credit: ©2002 Dolezal Publishing/Donna Krischan

A natural garden with a mix of trees, shrubs and flowering plants is ideal for birds, hummingbirds and butterflies. Choose plants for their ability to produce flowers, fruit, nectar and seed.

Photo Credit: ©2002 Dolezal Publishing/Donna Krischan

Fuchsias are prolific producers of both pollen and nectar. Their deep-throated flowers – especially red cultivars – are irresistible to hummingbirds.

Photo Credit: ©2002 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard

Flowering plants call to wildlife in ways other than through their appearance – our human notion of beauty. For instance, a flower laden with eggs, larvae or beetles may feed a hungry carnivorous bird, or a flower that’s past its prime (or “going to seed”) might attract the attention of many seed-feeding feathered species. But colors, scents and shapes also entice birds and butterflies to visit flowers, whether it’s for nectar or just a nice place to land. Daisies, for example, provide a flat landing surface and a good feed zone for butterflies, while clustered, nectar-bearing flowers attract them to visit, drink and lay their eggs.

Sweet-scented flowers like petunias and sweet Williams draw butterflies to drink their nectar. Tubular and tightly clustered flowers like lilacs and columbines attract hummingbirds. Deep-throated blooms with nectar such as honeysuckle and nasturtium entice butterflies, hummingbirds and orioles, as well as frequently host insects that serve as food for insectivores. A flock of hungry grazing birds may help keep insect infestations from becoming established and aid the gardener in maintaining an environmental balance that discourages infestation and disease.

Because the varied heights and growth habits of flowering plants match the various habits of birds, they’re ideal for mixing throughout shrub- and tree-filled landscapes. For example, tall sunflowers grow seed heads in autumn that are easily reached by birds perched in nearby trees. Cosmos, of medium height, produces seed heads suited to birds that perch in woody shrubs and low evergreens. Low-growing plants, including wild strawberry, are good feed for ground foragers.

For best results, choose a selection of plants and set them in your garden in groups of five or more. Consider some of these butterfly and bird attractants for your wildlife garden:

Annuals and Biennials

Calendula officinalis, Centaurea, Cosmos bipinnatus, Dahlia, Dianthus, Heliotropium arborescens, Hesperis matronalis, Lantana, marigold, Matthiola incana, Pentas, Petunia, Salvia, Scabiosa, Tithonia, Tropaeolum majus, Verbena and Zinnia elegans.

Perennials

Achillea, Alcea, Anemone x hybrida, Aquilegia, Asclepias incarnata, Asclepias tuberosa, Aster, Aubrieta, Baptisia australis, Bidens, Centranthus ruber, Chelone oblique, Cimicifuga simplex, Coreopsis, Echinacea purpurea, Erigeron, Hemerocallis, Hibiscus, Lavandula, Liatris, Lupinus, Monarda, Penstemon, Phlox divaricata, Phlox maculata, Phlox paniculata, Phlox stolonifera, Phlox subulata, Rudbeckia, Santolina, Scabiosa, Sedum spectabile and Solidago rugosa.

Wildflowers

Boneset, Malva sylvestris and Queen Anne’s lace.

Herbs

Anise, basil, chives, dill, fennel, sweet marjoram, mint, oregano, rosemary and thyme.

When birds and butterflies feed from and visit plants, they aid in plant propagation by helping spread pollen and, as with birds, by passing seed through their digestive systems. Many plant species actually depend on winged visitors for propagation. If you haven’t already, you’ll soon discover that all of nature interacts within the garden – to the benefit of all nearby animals and plants, as well as you.