Garden for the Birds With the Plant Toolbox

(Updated: April 16, 2026, 12:20 p.m.)
A hummingbird visits the flowers of Lobelia cardinalis.

A hummingbird visits the flowers of Lobelia cardinalis. Jen Goellnitz CC BY-NC2.0

You can select plants for your garden that attract and support our feathered friends. The Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox tagged the plants in the Plant Toolbox that are also listed in North Carolina Audubon's 700 Bird-Friendly Native Plants for North Carolina. By typing "Audubon" into the search box on the Plant Toolbox, you'll find 653 plants native to North Carolina that support birds by providing:

  • Shelter, cover, & nest sites
  • Berries & seeds
  • Nectar (for hummingbirds)
  • Caterpillars (host plants for butterfly & moth larvae)
Robin eating a small fruit.

Robin eating a small fruit. Jen Goellnitz CC BY-NC2.0

This list can be searched by using the filters in the left-hand panel to find plants suited to your garden conditions (light level, soil type, region, etc.) or that fulfill other functions (such as shade tree, hedge, etc.).

Screen capture showing the filters (highlighted) in the left-hand panel.

Use the left-hand filters (highlighted) to find just the right plant for your garden conditions and needs.

Grow these plants, and birds will flock to your garden!

For more information and tips on bird-friendly gardening, see Attracting Birds to Your Landscape.

Here is the link to North Carolina Audubon's 700 Bird-Friendly Native Plants for North Carolina.

More from Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox


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