Arrowwood Viburnum
Viburnum dentatum
Feeds songbirds two ways: winter seed and the caterpillars that raise their young.
- Sun to shade
- Average–wet
- 6–10 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
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- For birds
Connecticut · Zones 5–7
Native Plants for Birds in Connecticut
Seed, berry, and cover plants that feed songbirds year-round — and the caterpillars that nesting birds actually raise their chicks on. Every species here is genuinely native to Connecticut and the wider flora of the Northeast and hardy through zones 5–7 — proven performers for Connecticut's cool, humid continental climate across Northeastern Coastal Forest, not a generic list. Local standouts include Arrowwood Viburnum and Lanceleaf Coreopsis. Feeders are a snack; native plants are the real grocery store. Berries and seed heads carry birds through fall and winter, while the caterpillars these natives host are what nearly all songbirds feed their young in spring. Leave the seed heads standing, hold off on fall cleanup, and let a layer of leaves and shrubs give birds the cover they need.
The plants
26 native species for Connecticut
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 5–7 · see this collection in other states.
Lanceleaf Coreopsis
Coreopsis lanceolata
A winter seed source birds return to, reaching 1.5–2 ft.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–2 ft
- Blooms May–Jul
Serviceberry
Amelanchier canadensis
Feeds songbirds two ways: winter seed and the caterpillars that raise their young.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 15–25 ft
- Blooms Apr–May
Purple Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea
Leave its seed heads standing — birds strip them through fall and winter, reaching 2–4 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Trumpet Honeysuckle
Lonicera sempervirens
Feeds birds two ways: winter seed and the caterpillars that raise their young.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 8–15 ft
- Blooms Apr–Sep
Winterberry
Ilex verticillata
Its seed heads carry songbirds through the lean months; reaching 5–10 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 5–10 ft
- Blooms Jun–Jul
Flowering Dogwood
Cornus florida
Its seed heads carry songbirds through the lean months; white bracts flowers.
- Part shade
- Average
- 15–25 ft
- Blooms Apr–May
Buttonbush
Cephalanthus occidentalis
Leave its seed heads standing — birds strip them through fall and winter, white pincushions flowers.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 5–10 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Black-Eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta
Its seed heads carry birds through the lean months; 12–18 in wide.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Showy Goldenrod
Solidago speciosa
Its seed heads carry birds through the lean months; 2–4 ft tall.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Sep–Oct
Virginia Creeper
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
Feeds songbirds two ways: winter seed and the caterpillars that raise their young.
- Sun to shade
- Dry–average
- 30–50 ft
- Blooms Jun
Inkberry Holly
Ilex glabra
Leave its seed heads standing — birds strip them through fall and winter, reaching 4–8 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 4–8 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Ninebark
Physocarpus opulifolius
A winter seed source birds return to, reaching 5–10 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Dry to wet
- 5–10 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Red-Twig Dogwood
Cornus sericea
Its seed heads carry songbirds through the lean months; good through zone 7.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 6–9 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Blue Vervain
Verbena hastata
Its seed heads carry birds through the lean months; for clay and loam ground.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Jul–Sep
Fragrant Sumac
Rhus aromatica
Feeds birds two ways: winter seed and the caterpillars that raise their young.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 2–6 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Spicebush
Lindera benzoin
Feeds birds two ways: winter seed and the caterpillars that raise their young.
- Part shade
- Average–wet
- 6–12 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr
American Elderberry
Sambucus canadensis
A winter seed source songbirds return to, spreading 6–12 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 6–12 ft
- Blooms Jun–Jul
Bearberry
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
A winter seed source birds return to, 4–8 in tall.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 4–8 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Pennsylvania Sedge
Carex pensylvanica
Feeds birds two ways: winter seed and the caterpillars that raise their young.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 6–12 in
- Foliage
Little Bluestem
Schizachyrium scoparium
Seed for songbirds and caterpillars for their nestlings — reaching 2–4 ft.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Fall color
Big Bluestem
Andropogon gerardii
Feeds songbirds two ways: winter seed and the caterpillars that raise their young.
- Full sun
- Dry to wet
- 4–7 ft
- Fall color
Switchgrass
Panicum virgatum
Seed for songbirds and caterpillars for their nestlings — 2–3 ft wide.
- Full–part sun
- Dry to wet
- 3–6 ft
- Fall color
Indian Grass
Sorghastrum nutans
Feeds songbirds two ways: winter seed and the caterpillars that raise their young.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 4–7 ft
- Fall color
2 more also qualify: Cinnamon Fern, Prairie Dropseed.
Sourcing
Where to find these in Connecticut
Seeds & live plants on Amazon
Seed packets, plugs, and starter plants for many of these species ship to your door.
Browse on AmazonSome links here are affiliate links — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. The surest source of locally-adapted stock is a native-plant nursery or a native plant society sale in your area.