Goldfinches are seed-eaters. And they particularly like thistle seeds! Photo: Snowmanradio, Flickr.
You’ll see lots of advice on the Internet about shrubs and trees with colorful berries that attract birds: serviceberries, hollies, crab apples, etc. In fact, I wrote an article on the subject myself: Berries That Attract Birds. And there’s nothing wrong with that! After all, many birds like berried plants and we find them attractive too. They’re great, as far as they go.
But not all bird species are fruit-eaters. In fact, the greatest number are seed-eaters, birds like goldfinches, chickadees, grosbeaks, and nuthatches. Few sites seem to mention the many plants you can grow to attract this group. It’s as if you’re expected to put up bird feeders for seed-eating birds and be content with that.

I don’t use bird feeders, yet I see all sorts of birds (and animals too!) visiting my garden, especially in fall and winter, most of them seed-eaters, birds that flock to the varied vegetation I provide. You see, I do no fall clean-up and all my perennials, annuals and grasses are left to stand all winter, to the great delight of the seed-eating crowd.
The secret to attracting birds with seed-bearing plants is to provide a lot of variety. Make sure you have a wide range of plants, some maturing in summer or fall, others holding on to their seeds through the winter. This will attract the greatest number of bird species. You’ll need herbaceous plants (perennials, annuals, etc.), but also shrubs and trees. About the only kind of backyard environment that seed-eating birds will have nothing to do with is a neatly-kept lawn, so, for the best range of bird visitors, increase the number of flowers and shrubs, and cut back on lawn.
And don’t scorn weeds, either! Many plants considered weeds (thistle, goldenrod, fireweed, etc.) and even weed trees, like box elder (Acer negundo), are actually great plants for attracting birds. If you have the space, why not turn a corner of your yard into a wildlife habitat by letting otherwise undesirable plants grow freely? The birds will thank you for it! (As will the butterflies, but that’s a different story!)
Some Plants to Try

Here are some plants that seed-eating birds particularly like. They are found in all categories, from annuals to perennials, biennials, vines, shrubs, trees and even conifers. You’ll notice that most of these plants are fairly common garden plants: it’s just that we rarely think of them as bird fodder. Just leave them alone during the winter (i.e. no fall clean-up!) and watch the birds arrive in great numbers!
- Abies spp. (fir) zones 1 to 7, depending on the species
- Acer spp. (maple) zones 3 to 8, depending on the species
- Achillea spp. (yarrow) zones 2 to 4, depending on the species
- Alnus spp. (alder) zones 1 to 8, depending on the species
- Amaranthus spp. (amaranth, love-lies-bleeding) annual
- Andropogon spp. (bluestem) zone 3
- Aquilegia spp. (columbine) zone 3
- Asclepias spp. (milkweed) zones 3 to 10, depending on the species
- Aster spp. including Symphyotrichum, Eurybia, Doellingeria, etc. (aster) zones 2 to 6, depending on the species
- Betula spp. (birch) zones 1 to 5, depending on the species
- Calendula spp. (pot marigold) annual
- Campanula spp. (bellflower) zones 1 to 6, depending on the species
- Carpinus spp. (hornbeam) zones 4 to 7, depending on the species
- Carthamus tinctorius (safflower) annual
- Celtis spp. (hackberry) zones 4 to 7, depending on the species
- Centaurea spp. (cornflower) annual or zone 3, depending on the species
- Cerastium spp. (snow-in-summer) zones 2 to 4, depending on the species
- Cirsium spp. (thistle) zones 2-6, depending on the species
- Clematis spp. (clematis) zones 2-8, depending on the species
- Coreopsis spp. (coreopsis) annual or zones 3-7, depending on the species
- Cosmos spp. (cosmos) annual
- Delphinium spp. (delphinium, larkspur) zone 3
- Deschampsia caespitosa (tufted hair grass) zone 3
- Dipsacus spp. (teasel) zone 3
- Echinacea spp. (echinacea, purple coneflower) zone 3
- Echinops spp. (globe thistle) zone 3
- Epilobium angustifolium, now Chamaenerion angustifolium (fireweed) zone 2
- Erysiumum spp. (wallflower) zone 6
- Eschscholzia spp. (California poppy) annual
- Eupatorium spp. (Joe Pye weed) zone 3
- Fagus spp. (beech) zones 4 to 7, depending on the species
- Fraxinus spp. (ash) zones 3 to 7, depending on the species
- Gaillardia spp. (gaillardia, blanket flower) annual or zone 3
- Guizotia abyssinica (niger) annual
- Hamamelis spp. (witchhazel) zones 4 to 8, depending on the species
- Helianthus annuus (sunflower) annual
- Helianthus spp. (perennial sunflower) zones 3-6, depending on the species
- Hesperis matronalis (dame’s rocket) Zone 3
- Liatris spp. (blazing star) zone 3
- Limonium sinuatum (statice) annual
- Linum spp. (flax) annual or zone 3
- Miscanthus spp. (maiden grass) zones 4 to 6, depending on the species
- Nigella damascena (love-in-a-mist) annual
- Oenothera spp. (evening primrose) zones 3-6, depending on the species
- Onopordum spp. (Scotch thistle) zone 4
- Panicum virgatum (switch grass) zone 3
- Papaver spp. (poppy) annual or zone 3
- Pennisetum spp. (fountain grass, millet) annual or zone 5
- Phlox spp. (phlox) annual or zone 3, depending on the species
- Picea spp. (spruce) zones 1 to 7, depending on the species
- Pinus spp. (pine) zones 3 to 9, depending on the species
- Portulaca grandiflora (portulaca) annual
- Rudbeckia spp. (coneflower) zone 3
- Rumex spp. (sorrel) zones 3 to 5, depending on the species
- Salvia hispanica (chia) annual
- Salvia spp. (sage) annual or zones 3 to 10, depending on the species
- Scabiosa spp. (scabiosa, pincushion flower) annual or zone 3, depending on the species
- Sedum spp. (sedum) zones 3 to 10, depending on the species
- Solidago spp. (goldenrod) zone 2
- Sorghastrum nutans (false sorghum) zone 3
- Tagetes spp. (marigold) annual
- Thuja spp. (arborvitae) zones 3 to 6, depending on the species
- Tithonia rotundifolia (Mexican sunflower) annual
- Tsuga spp. (hemlock) zones 4 to 6, depending on the species
- Verbascum spp. (mullein) zones 3 to 7, depending on the species
- Vernonia spp. (ironweed) zone 4
- Zinnia spp. (zinnia) annual
Adapted from an article originally published on September 5, 2015.
Elderberries! Everyone loves elderberries! I know because I want them too!
Great blog on seed plants for birds! The (extensive) list will come in handy when planting next spring. Thanks!