Black-Eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta
Leave its seed heads standing — birds strip them through fall and winter, happy in sand, clay, and loam soil.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Wyoming · Zones 3–5
Native Plants for Birds in Wyoming
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 Wyoming and the wider flora of the Mountain West and hardy through zones 3–5 — proven performers for Wyoming's cold, semi-arid, high elevation climate across Rocky Mountain montane & sagebrush steppe, not a generic list. Local standouts include Black-Eyed Susan and Maximilian Sunflower. 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 Wyoming
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 3–5 · see this collection in other states.
Maximilian Sunflower
Helianthus maximiliani
Its seed heads carry songbirds through the lean months; happy in sand, clay, and loam soil.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 5–8 ft
- Blooms Aug–Oct
Showy Goldenrod
Solidago speciosa
A winter seed source birds return to, spreading 1.5–2 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Sep–Oct
Apache Plume
Fallugia paradoxa
Leave its seed heads standing — birds strip them through fall and winter, white roses, pink plumes flowers.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 3–6 ft
- Blooms Apr–Sep
Serviceberry
Amelanchier canadensis
Seed for songbirds and caterpillars for their nestlings — white spring lace flowers.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 15–25 ft
- Blooms Apr–May
Purple Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea
A winter seed source birds return to, reaching 2–4 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Lanceleaf Coreopsis
Coreopsis lanceolata
A winter seed source birds return to, for sand, rocky, and loam ground.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–2 ft
- Blooms May–Jul
Cup Plant
Silphium perfoliatum
Its seed heads carry songbirds through the lean months; spreading 2–4 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 5–8 ft
- Blooms Jul–Sep
Buttonbush
Cephalanthus occidentalis
Leave its seed heads standing — birds strip them through fall and winter, happy in clay and loam soil.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 5–10 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Oregon Grape
Berberis aquifolium
Leave its seed heads standing — songbirds strip them through fall and winter, bright yellow flowers.
- Sun to shade
- Dry–average
- 3–6 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Compass Plant
Silphium laciniatum
Leave its seed heads standing — songbirds strip them through fall and winter, yellow flowers.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 5–9 ft
- Blooms Jul–Aug
Red-Twig Dogwood
Cornus sericea
A winter seed source songbirds return to, happy in clay and loam soil.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 6–9 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Blue Grama
Bouteloua gracilis
Seed for birds and caterpillars for their nestlings — reaching 8–20 in.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 8–20 in
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Bearberry
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Its seed heads carry birds through the lean months; pink-white bells flowers.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 4–8 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Blue Vervain
Verbena hastata
A winter seed source birds return to, 1.5–2.5 ft wide.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Jul–Sep
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
Stiff Goldenrod
Solidago rigida
Its seed heads carry birds through the lean months; spreading 1.5–2.5 ft.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Aug–Oct
Sideoats Grama
Bouteloua curtipendula
Feeds birds two ways: winter seed and the caterpillars that raise their young.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Jul
American Elderberry
Sambucus canadensis
A winter seed source songbirds return to, reaching 6–12 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 6–12 ft
- Blooms Jun–Jul
Ninebark
Physocarpus opulifolius
Its seed heads carry birds through the lean months; spreading 5–10 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Dry to wet
- 5–10 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
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
Switchgrass
Panicum virgatum
Seed for songbirds and caterpillars for their nestlings — spreading 2–3 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Dry to wet
- 3–6 ft
- Fall color
Little Bluestem
Schizachyrium scoparium
Seed for songbirds and caterpillars for their nestlings — good through zone 9.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Fall color
Prairie Dropseed
Sporobolus heterolepis
Feeds birds two ways: winter seed and the caterpillars that raise their young.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 2–3 ft
- Fall color
2 more also qualify: Indian Grass, Big Bluestem.
Sourcing
Where to find these in Wyoming
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.