Plants for Butterflies and Birds

Co-existing with butterflies and birds is essential to maintain the natural balance of our food chain.

The state-of-the-art buildings and other infrastructure in cities have made it difficult for birds and butterflies to survive.

What we need to see is how we can contribute to maintaining this balance in our small way. Growing plants for birds and butterflies in our garden or balcony is one way to begin.

With the monotony of work-life creeping in, without any commitment of looking after pets long-term, adding the right plants to our space gives an overall balance that's conducive for birds and butterflies, and us.

Let's look at some relatively easy-to-maintain plants for birds and butterflies below:

The needs of birds and butterflies are different. However, we can plan our landscape in a way to incorporate plants for birds and butterflies.

Birds prefer plants that can either be a source of food with their fruits, nuts and nectar or can provide nest-building material.

Whereas, throughout the lifecycle of a butterfly, they need two significant types of plants- the host plants and nectar plants.

Host plants are those that the butterfly needs to lay eggs on and has the leaves that caterpillars can feed on and turn to larvae.

Nectar plants are flowering plants that feed adult butterflies.

Here is a choice of plants for birds and butterflies :

• Sunflowers: Sunflowers are easy to maintain and are the perfect host plant and nectar plant for butterflies. Being the king of seed flowers, it doubles up as a songbird's favourite too.
• Daisies: Daisies have nutritious seeds that attract sparrows, cardinals and finches. They also attract mature butterflies for their nectar.
• Hibiscus: Hummingbirds and butterflies love large flowers like hibiscus. Having thick juicy leaves makes it ideal for laying eggs for butterflies as well.
• Russelia Plant: Russelia attracts smaller birds like hummingbirds and bees- drawing other birds like martins and thrushes to feed on bees. It's also a popular nectar plant for butterflies.
• Citrus Trees: Butterflies like the giant swallowtail lay their eggs on citrus trees. Fruit-bearing trees like oranges are always preferable for both butterflies and birds.

There are many more varieties to choose from-such as custard apple, curry leaf shrub, jasmine or mogra and the like.
You can select the right plants for birds and butterflies based on the time you can spend and the space you have.

A combination of trees, shrubs and ground-hugging plants is what is suitable for birds as they have different nesting needs. If space is not a constraint, landscape arranging all of it in tier formation, with plants ideal for birds and butterflies, is preferable.

Brighten your day with colourful flowers, butterflies and songs of birds. Purchase all of the above as seeds or plants from Nursery Live potted with the right combination of soil.

Butterfly attracting plants

Butterflies are attracted to colorful flowers with nectar-rich centers, such as Lantana, Verbena, and Zinnia. By planting these butterfly-friendly flowers, you can help sustain the local butterfly population and create a beautiful garden in the process.

Bird-friendly plants

Birds are attracted to plants with berries, fruits, and seeds. Some of the bird-friendly plants include Sunflower, Coneflower, and Black-eyed Susan. By planting these plants, you can attract a variety of birds to your garden and create a beautiful natural habitat.

Plants that attract hummingbirds

Hummingbirds are attracted to bright red, orange, and pink flowers with nectar-rich centers, such as Fuchsia, Bee balm, and Salvia. By planting these hummingbird-friendly plants, you can create a beautiful garden and attract these tiny birds.

Plants that attract songbirds

Songbirds are attracted to plants with berries, fruits, and seeds, such as Holly, Viburnum, and Elderberry. By planting these songbird-friendly plants, you can create a beautiful natural habitat and attract a variety of birds to your garden.

Pollinator-friendly plants

Pollinators, such as bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, are attracted to plants with brightly colored flowers with nectar-rich centers, such as Milkweed, Coneflower, and Goldenrod. By planting these pollinator-friendly plants, you can help sustain the local pollinator population and create a beautiful garden.

Plants that attract finches

Finches are attracted to plants with small seeds, such as Thistle, Sunflower, and Coneflower. By planting these finch-friendly plants, you can attract these colorful birds to your garden and create a beautiful natural habitat.

Plants that attract bees

Bees are attracted to plants with brightly colored flowers with nectar-rich centers, such as Lavender, Sage, and Rosemary. By planting these bee-friendly plants, you can help sustain the local bee population and create a beautiful garden in the process.

Plants that attract Monarch butterflies

Monarch butterflies are attracted to Milkweed, which is the only plant that their larvae can feed on. By planting Milkweed, you can help sustain the local Monarch butterfly population and create a beautiful garden in the process.

Plants that attract Swallowtail butterflies

Swallowtail butterflies are attracted to plants with brightly colored flowers with nectar-rich centers, such as Butterfly bush, Coneflower, and Black-eyed Susan. By planting these Swallowtail butterfly-friendly plants, you can create a beautiful garden and attract these colorful butterflies.

Plants that attract Orioles

Orioles are attracted to plants with small, sweet fruits, such as Mulberry, Serviceberry, and Raspberry. By planting these Oriole-friendly plants, you can attract these beautiful birds to your garden and create a beautiful natural habitat.

Plants that attract woodpeckers

Woodpeckers are attracted to plants with berries and insects, such as Dogwood, Serviceberry, and Oak trees. By planting these woodpecker-friendly plants, you can attract these unique birds to your garden and create a beautiful natural habitat.

Plants that attract cardinals

Cardinals are attracted to plants with berries and seeds, such as Holly, Viburnum, and Sunflower. By planting these cardinal-friendly plants, you can attract these beautiful birds to your garden and create a beautiful natural habitat.

Plants that attract Goldfinches

Goldfinches are attracted to plants with small seeds, such as Thistle, Sunflower, and Coneflower. By planting these Goldfinch-friendly plants, you can attract these beautiful birds to your garden and create a beautiful natural habitat.

Attracting birds to your garden

Learn how to create a bird-friendly garden and which plants are perfect for attracting birds.

Plants for hummingbirds

Hummingbirds are beautiful and fascinating creatures, and there are certain plants that can attract them to your garden.

Butterfly garden plants

Create a beautiful butterfly garden with these plants that are perfect for attracting these delicate creatures.

Plants for bee gardens

Bees are essential to our ecosystem, and creating a bee garden is a great way to help support them. Learn which plants to choose for your bee garden.

Native plants for wildlife

Planting native species in your garden is not only beneficial for the environment, but it can also attract a variety of wildlife, including birds and butterflies.

Creating a wildlife habitat garden

Turn your garden into a sanctuary for wildlife with these tips on creating a habitat garden.

Plants for songbirds

Songbirds are a delight to watch and listen to, and there are certain plants that can attract them to your garden.