Native Plants
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Saturday - June 12, 2010
From: Southampton, NY
Region: Northeast
Topic: Wildlife Gardens
Title: Native plants to attract migrating birds
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
Can you suggest native plants that would attract migrating birds? I have a very sunny location, with very sandy soil. Thanks in advance for your answer.ANSWER:
Mr. Smarty Plants would like to suggest a very useful article, Landscaping to Attract Birds, from the Baltimore Bird Club. This article suggests several categories of food plants—conifers, grasses and legumes, nectar-producing plants, summer-fruiting plants, fall-fruiting plants and winter-fruiting plants. Birds use plants for shelter as well as for food. Here are some suggested New York native plants for these categories that grow well in sandy soils.
CONIFERS: Pines, spruces, firs, junipers, etc., are useful as shelter as well as for their sap, buds and seeds.
Chamaecyparis thyoides (Atlantic white cedar)
Pinus strobus (eastern white pine)
GRASSES AND LEGUMES:
Ammophila breviligulata (American beachgrass)
Elymus canadensis (Canada wildrye)
Schizachyrium scoparium (little bluestem)
Chamaecrista fasciculata (partridge pea)
Lupinus perennis (sundial lupine)
NECTAR-PRODUCING:
Campsis radicans (trumpet creeper)
Lonicera sempervirens (trumpet honeysuckle)
SUMMER-FRUITING:
Prunus virginiana (chokecherry)
FALL-FRUITING:
Cornus florida (flowering dogwood)
Ilex verticillata (common winterberry)
WINTER-FRUITING:
Rhus copallinum (winged sumac)
NUTS AND ACORNS
Carya ovata (shagbark hickory)
Quercus muehlenbergii (chinkapin oak)
You can find more plants to fit the above categories on our New York Recommended page.
Here are photos from our Image Gallery:
More Wildlife Gardens Questions
Want to create a native wildlife habitat for our home in Wasau, WI.
August 18, 2010 - I am trying to create a native wildlife habitat for our home. We live in Marathon County, Wisconsin (north central Wisconsin). We live near woods, meadow, wetlands. Could you send me a list of nativ...
view the full question and answer
Evergreen plant with berries for wildlife
September 16, 2007 - We live in central Texas and I am attempting to plant for wildlife. Could you suggest an evergreen, approximately 3-4 feet tall, that would have berries for the birds in the Fall and winter? The pla...
view the full question and answer
Keeping bugs out of a Texas home
June 29, 2015 - I'm slowly growing my gardens into natural habitats for birds, bees, butterflies and other little critters but would like to keep them outside of my house. Being in central Texas it is difficult to ...
view the full question and answer
Native plants for birds and butterflies
June 27, 2008 - We have a home on Lake Sam Rayburn and in the process of putting in some plants and shrubs around our new home. I would like them to be native to the area and attract birds, butterflies and hummingbir...
view the full question and answer
Shrubby options for a bird lover in New Jersey
September 07, 2011 - Could you please recommend a native shrub to NJ that grows to about 3-4 feet, is very low maintenance, does well in afternoon sun and is also something the birds will like? Thank you.
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |