Want a garden that provides a natural food source all season long? These seed-producing plants - including flowers, herbs, and ornamental grasses - create a wildlife-friendly garden that supports birds from bloom time through winter as seed heads dry on the stalks.
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Our backyard's definitely become a safe haven for animals. From pollinators and other beneficial insects, our new gardening buddy Sal, and of course, the variety of birds that enjoy a sip from the bird bath or the shade of our oak tree. I've made sure to take care of every creature that crosses our yard with natural food sources and fresh water. I especially like to grow flowers and plants that will provide seeds at the end of the season.
One of the most rewarding parts of gardening is realizing that you're building a food source for later in the season - not just for yourself, but for wildlife, too. As the flowers begin to fade and form seed heads, it creates a natural buffet for birds. I love watching cardinals, goldfinches, and sparrows feed off of these seeds, which is why some of the flowers I plant have become an annual staple in our yard.
Instead of relying solely on store-bought seed mixes, you can create a natural food supply right in your own backyard. The best part of growing your own bird seed is that many of the plants and flowers you'll grow are a beautiful addition to outdoor spaces and just as valuable to pollinators as they are to birds in the fall and winter.
How to Grow Your Own Bird Seed Garden
There are so many common plants and flowers that double as a nutritious food source for birds. From flowers, grasses, and herbs, you can create an easy bird seed garden that will give you gorgeous blooms and ornamental charm in your backyard and garden.
- Sunflowers: One of the easiest flowers to grow that definitely make a statement is sunflowers. There are so many different varieties that birds flock to and bees buzz around. But the best sunflowers, in my opinion, to grow for seeds are common mammoth varieties. One big seed head provides so much food for birds.
- Amaranth: I just added these to my pollinator garden this year. The flowers are beautiful and dramatic, plus provide a ton of seeds. Just like sunflowers, we can also enjoy the seeds. They're protein-rich - and, bonus, the leaves are also edible, like spinach, too.
- Coneflowers: Coneflowers are a must in my garden. They're a perennial, a colorful addition to our flower bed, and the seed heads are a popular choice among song birds.
- Black-eyed Susans: These flowers are easy-to-grow, available in a variety of colors, and an excellent seed source for birds.
- Marigolds: It was only this past year that I realized marigold seeds are a popular food source for birds. I had let marigolds planted in the garden go to seed. All winter long, the birds would pick them out of the garden to eat.
- Prairie Blues Little Bluestem Grass: This native grass changes color throughout the season. And in fall and winter, it provides lots of seeds for birds to enjoy.
- Zinnias: Zinnias are another staple flower in my summer garden. Heat-tolerant, butterflies love them, and they produce big seed heads when you let them grow to full maturity. Plus, they'll provide gorgeous color in your garden or grown in pots.
- Coreopsis: This perennial is one of my favorite in the flower bed. I grow the threadleaf variety and its airy green leaves provide a natural flow in the garden. Its yellow flowers also provide seeds for finches and sparrows.
- Cosmos: Another flower with airy green stems, cosmos also produce an abundance of seeds for birds to enjoy. This flower is a gorgeous addition to cottage-style gardens.
- Autumn Joy sedum: This is an incredibly easy-to-grow succulent with pink flowers that bloom late in the season. Not only do the seed heads provide food for birds, but you might notice nibbles on the leaves, too. The leaves provide a water source during the hot summer months.
- Ornamental millet: You've probably noticed these ornamental plants in nurseries and garden centers towards the end of summer. Their tall stalks are filled with seeds that are a favorite among wild birds. In fact, it seems to be a main ingredient in store-bought seed mixes.
- Anise hyssop: This was a wish list plant that I finally got my hands on. Not only are the leaves used for tea, but the flowers are great for pollinators and the dried seeds are another seed source for birds like sparrows and juncos.
Creating a bird seed garden allows you to truly appreciate the garden’s life cycle. While colorful, pollinator-friendly flowers brighten the yard in summer, they gradually transform into an essential, nutrient-rich food source in fall and winter. If you’re planning to harvest seeds at the end of the season, consider leaving some of the seed heads in place to support local wildlife throughout the colder months.
Many of these bird-friendly plants - like coneflowers, sunflowers, and ornamental grasses - can be found through FastGrowingTrees. Use code FGTHOLOKA20 for 20% off your first order and make it easy to build a garden that’s both visually pleasing and beneficial to local wildlife.
