If you have a courtyard, a small garden or simply a garden that lacks green space, it can be easy to assume that you won’t be able to attract birds or wildlife. However, I’m pleased to say this is not the case, as experts have revealed five plants you can grow in pots that will attract birds to your outdoor space.
Container planting is one of the best courtyard garden ideas, as well as being an excellent choice for small gardens and patios, as it allows you to fill your garden with plants when you lack border, bed and lawn space.
If you want a thriving wildlife garden, there are ways to adapt small, urban gardens so they are suitable for local birds and other critters. Planting these best plants for birds in pots is one easy way to invite local birds to your garden.
1. Sunflower
It’s so easy to grow sunflowers in pots, and not only will they attract local wildlife, but their tall stems and striking yellow heads will give your garden plenty of height and colour.
‘Sunflowers are a fantastic way to attract birds into your garden. They’re summer personified, and birds love them – win-win! Once the flowers have finished blooming, they produce seeds that birds like finches, sparrows, tits and cardinals love to eat. Leaving the flower heads standing will provide a natural food source and give birds a reason to keep visiting,’ says James Ewens, bird expert at Green Feathers.
‘Sunflowers are surprisingly plant-pot friendly as well. You can actually find dwarf and patio varieties which have been bred specifically for pots, making them ideal for both gardens and terraces! Because they grow quickly and produce large flowers in a single season, sunflowers are a great option for gardeners looking to make an immediate impact while supporting birds.’
Where to buy sunflowers
2. Common Knapweed
Pretty, purple knapweed is frequently a part of the best wildflower garden ideas, with the ability to turn your garden into a beautiful meadow. The good news is that this plant can also be grown in pots, so you can give your courtyard or balcony a bird-friendly upgrade.
‘Don’t underestimate the power of a simple, wild-looking flower. Common Knapweed is a fantastic, long-flowering perennial that’s perfect for a container and a huge hit with the birds. Its purple blooms are loved by pollinators in summer, and its seeds are highly sought-after food sources for Goldfinches,’ says Victoria Parkinson, Garden Expert at Arctic Cabins.
‘A pot of these brings a touch of the wildflower meadow to your patio, providing a super-easy, reliable source of seeds for small birds that is right at their level.’
Where to buy common knapweed
3. Lavender
Not only is lavender one of the best Mediterranean plants for pots, but birds love it, too. You also consider how wonderful it smells in summer – perfect for transforming your outdoor space.
‘Lavender is a favourite, not only does it look and smell gorgeous, it’s perfect if you have limited space and still want to create a bird-friendly garden. Lavender draws bees, hoverflies and other insects, making it a very pollinator and bird-friendly choice. This will provide generous amounts of food for insect-eating birds like robins, wrens and tits. The dense stems can also provide temporary shelters for smaller birds in harsher weather conditions, so it’s also multi-purposeful,’ says James.
‘Lavender also works miles better in plant pots, as naturally it prefers free-draining conditions and often performs better in pots as opposed to heavy garden soils. Lavender is drought-tolerant, so it’s low maintenance and doesn’t even need much watering. It’s compact, so suitable for patios, small gardens, and even balconies, making it an accessible option even for urban gardens to be bird-friendly.’
Where to buy lavender
4. Teasel
Teasel is one of the best plants for attracting birds to your garden. Its spiky heads will add plenty of structure to your garden, while local birds will love the seeds it produces.
‘This impressive biennial is the absolute favourite of Goldfinches, who are drawn to the spiky seed heads. Watching them delicately insert their beaks to extract the seeds is one of autumn’s greatest garden spectacles,’ says Victoria.
‘Teasels adapt brilliantly to containers – their dramatic, spiky silhouette makes a fantastic statement piece, and they are a wonderful way to provide winter interest and food without taking over borders.’
Where to buy teasel
5. Rowan
Not only are rowan trees one of the best trees to plant for autumn colour, but birds can also rely on their winter berries for food when food is scarce during the colder months.
‘Rowan trees have long been associated with wildlife-friendly gardening thanks to their clusters of bright cherries that are highly attractive to birds. Bright cherries lure blackbirds and thrushes, and not only are they visually appealing, but they’re also highly nutritious. They’re basically a superfood for birds – an easily digestible form of Vitamin C, antioxidants and energy. Birds especially need energy sources that are easily accessible in summer months, so it’s a great option,’ says James.
‘Although the general assumption is that trees need a large amount of garden space to grow, compact and patio-sized rowan varieties can be grown successfully in a plant pot. This allows gardeners with limited space to enjoy the benefits of a berry-producing tree while also adding dimension and visual interest to their outdoor space.’
Where to buy rowan trees
Not only are these pot-friendly plants great for attracting birds, they will also fill your garden with colour and add structure, too.
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