Flowers and birds go together and they can co-exist very well in any landscape. Blooming flowers can do more than just look pretty in a landscape, they can also be a part of a eco-freindly, working southern garden by providing birdseed and feeding a variety of hungry birds.
Get the most out of garden flowers by growing species that provide multiple benefits, like these ten drought-tolerant flowers that enable you to grow your own birdseed in beautiful style.
Black-Eyed Susan
This flower is a garden classic that birds love. The old-time favorite Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) has a black center with bright yellow flower petals, but new hybrid species of this classic flower come in different bloom color choices. Black-Eyed Susan bloom from summer through fall and require a location in full sun.
Blazing Star
This flower is also known as gayfeather (Liatris spicata) and produces a purple spiked flower head with seeds that the American goldfinch cannot pass up. Blazing Star blooms in mid-summer and prefers a sunny location.
Sunflower
Little has to be said about how much birds love sunflower seeds. Plant a few sunflower (Helianthus) in the garden or landscape for towering beauty and attracting a wide variety of birds.
Purple Majesty Millet
Another tall and majestic flower that grows to be about five feet tall and produces a one foot long bloom that is filled with food for the birds. Purple Majesty Millet (Pennisetum glaucum) will grow equally well in sun or shade and produces colorful foliage and flower stalks from spring through fall.
Mexican Sunflower
Often mistaken for zinnias, the Mexican Sunflower (Tithonia diversifolia) loves sun and heat, making it a care-free flower choice to grow in hot, drought-prone climates.
Coneflower
Birds will feast heartily on the cones of the coneflower and the wide bloom color range will fit into any garden scheme. Coneflowers (Dracopis amplexicaulis) bloom from mid-summer through early fall.
Cosmos
Cosmos (Cosmos atrosanguineus) loves to grow care-free in full sun and will produce an abundance of birdseed from summer through fall on its red, daisy-shaped flower heads.
Coreopsis
Coreopsis (Coleophora acamtopappi) is a drought tolerant flower that will flourish in the hot summer heat with little water and birds love them.
Fall Flowers That Produce Birdseed
Spring and summer birdseed producing flowers have been covered, now for two fall flowers that will keep the birds fed and happy until the snow arrives. Autumn Joy Sedum and Goldenrod are the two flowers to plant for fall garden color and birdseed. Both plants need full sun and will begin to bloom when the other garden flowers are fading.
Some plants are multi-taskers, such as the ten flowers listed above that will not only add beautiful color and texture to a garden, but will also allow the gardener to save time and money by growing their own birdseed.
