Bird Friendly Garden Kit: We need to do what we can to save the birds, too! In 2025, a report was issued declaring that most birds, worldwide, are in severe decline, mostly because of habitat loss. In particular, the native grassland and forest birds of the eastern United States, are struggling with low population when compared to 1970, when bird population tracking began.
Habitat loss is a major cause of this decline. One important action that citizens can take is to reduce turf lawns and create native habitat. Sound familiar?
We know that pollinators and other beneficial insects need native plants, but so do our native birds! Nearly every kind of native land bird feeds its babies insect larvae (caterpillars), which need native host plants.
In addition, hummingbirds require lots of nectar and are particularly attracted to flowers with tubular petals, and songbirds need plenty of seeds. The seed heads of native plants, left on the stalk for the winter, are an essential source of food--the easiest, cheapest and healthiest backyard bird feeders you can have. Native plants also provide the best nesting materials and valuable cover for native birds. (Source: Michigan Audubon Society: Native Plants for Bird-Friendly Landscapes)
We have curated this kit with 8 different varieties of native flowering plants and grasses to support the birds! These plants will collectively provide nectar for hummingbirds, seeds and larva, and lots of nesting material to keep our native birds coming back, year after year.
Bloom times range from late April through October for beauty throughout the growing season. While these plants are busy supporting birds throughout the seasons, native bees and butterflies will also benefit from the pollen, nectar and nesting material this collection will provide.
Design Tips:
- Prepare your garden site (follow the link for details as well as information about plant spacing)
- A location with full sun or part shade and a moderate moisture level is ideal for this grouping.
- Group plants of the same species more closely together for a more filled in look
- Consider the height of each plant—position taller plants at the back and shorter plants at the front.
- Plant approximately 1 sq. foot apart, with plants of the same species closer together for a more filled in look, plot size: 4' x 4'
- Plants may also be dispersed to fill in existing garden space and expand service to birds.
Bird Species Directly Supported: Woodpeckers, Chickadees, Titmice, Cardinals, Waxwings, Finches, Wrens, Jays, Sparrows, Orioles, Grosbeaks, Hummingbirds, Thrushes, Vireos, Warblers
Kit Contents:
10 varieties, 23 plants in all. Details for each are listed below. Each is pictured to the left on your screen in the order in which they are listed.
Note: if purchased individually, these plants would total $115. Kit price: $95
Flowers:
2 - False Sunflower
2 - Lavender Beardtongue
2 - Pale Purple Coneflower
3 - Purple Coneflower
3 - Sand Coreopsis
2 - Showy Goldenrod
2 - Tall Tickseed
Grasses:
2 - Big Bluestem
2 - Little Bluestem
3 - Prairie Dropseed
Plant Details:
FLOWERS:
False Sunflower (Heliopsis helianthoides)
Native Perennial
Sun Exposure - Full, Partial
Soil Moisture - Medium-wet, Medium, Medium-dry, Dry
Height - 5'
Bloom Time - June-September
Bloom Color - Yellow
Tolerance - Drought, poor soils
Attracts - Hummingbirds, Songbirds, Butterflies
Pollinator Benefits - Xerces Society rates as good for beneficial insects
Lavender (Hairy) Beardtongue (Penstemon hirsutus)
Native Perennial
Sun Exposure: Sun, Part Shade, Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry
Soil: Well drained
Height: 1' to 3'
Bloom Time: June, July
Bloom Color: Pink, purple
Attracts: Songbirds, Hummingbirds, butterflies
Larval Host: Chalcedon Checkerspot, the Baltimore Checkerspot, and Edith's Checkerspot butterflies
Pollinator benefits: Excellent nectar source for butterflies, native bees, and hummingbirds; Xerces Society rates this as having Special Value for Native Bees and Bumble Bees
Pale Purple Coneflower (Echinacea pallida)
Native Perennial
Sun: Full, Partial
Soil Moisture: Dry, Moist
Drought Tolerance: High
Soil Description: Moist to dry, acid or lime soils, preferably rich
Height: 3'
Leaf: Green
Flower: Flowers 3 to 5 inches across.
Bloom Color: Pink, Purple
Bloom Time: Jun, July
Bloom Notes: Color ranges from a pink so pale it almost appears white to rose.
Attracts: Butterflies, Native Bees, Hummingbirds, and offers densely packed seed heads for songbirds in fall and winter
Pollinator Benefits: Xerces Society notes Special Value to Native Bees
Host: Silvery Checkerspot Butterfly
Purple Coneflower–(Echinacea purpurea)
Native Perennial
Sun Exposure: Full, Partial
Soil Moisture: Medium-Wet, Medium, Medium-Dry
Height: 4'
Bloom Time: July, August, September
Bloom Color: Purple
Tolerate: Deer, drought, heat, humidity and poor soil
Attracts: Butterflies, bees, and offers larvae in spring and densely packed seed heads for songbirds in fall and winter
Pollinator benefit: Host plant for the Ottoe Skipper butterfly; great nectar source for bees and butterflies
Sand Coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata)
Native Perennial
Sun Exposure: Full
Soil Moisture: Medium-Dry, Dry
Height: 2 ft
Bloom Time: May, June, July, August
Bloom Color: Yellow
Resistance: Drought
Attracts: Butterflies and Bees; seed heads in fall for various songbirds
Pollinator Benefit: Good nectar source; valuable for native bees
Showy Goldenrod (Solidago speciosa)
Native Perennial
Sun Exposure: Full Sun
Soil Moisture: Dry, Medium
Soil Type: Loam, Sand
Height: 1'-3'
Bloom Time: August, September, October
Bloom Color: Yellow
Resistance: Deer
Attracts: Butterflies, native bees, birds; provides nesting material for birds
Pollinator Benefit: Late season nectar source; value to native bees for pollen and nesting materials; migrating Monarchs
Keystone plant that supports 177 different species!
GRASSES for seeds and nesting materials:
Big Bluestem/Turkey Foot
Native Perennial Grass
Sun Exposure: Sun, Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist
Soil Type: Acid or calcareous sands, loams, and clays.
Height: 4' - 8'
Leaf color: Green or blue-green. Russet in winter.
Bloom Time: August - November
Bloom Color: Red, Blue, Brown
Tolerance: Drought Resistant, High Deer Resistance
Attracts: Butterflies (a large variety of skippers); Supports birds with seeds in late summer and fall, larvae in spring, and nesting material; Native bees
Pollinator Benefits: Larval Host for Delaware Skipper and Dusted Skipper; excellent nesting materials for native bees
Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)
Native Ornamental Grass
Sun Exposure: Sun, Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry
Soil Type: Well-drained soil. Sandy, Sandy Loam, Medium Loam, Clay Loam, Clay, Limestone-based
Height: 2'-4'
Leaf color: green
Fruiting Time: May-August
Fruit: white, greenish yellow seed heads
Resists: Deer, Drought, Rabbits
Attracts: Butterflies (a large variety of skippers); Supports Birds with seeds, larvae in spring and nesting material
Pollinator Benefits: Larval Host for Ottoe Skipper, Indian Skipper, Crossline Skipper, Dusted Skipper, Cobweb butterfly, Dixie skipper; nesting materials for native bees
Prairie Dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis)
Perennial Native Grass
Sun Exposure: Full Sun
Soil Moisture: Dry
Soil Type: Dry soil
Height: 2'
Bloom Time: June-August
Bloom Color: Pink, yellow, green, brown
Resistance: Drought, Deer, Black Walnut
Attracts: Native bees, birds
Pollinator benefit: Provides nesting materials/structure for native bees; Larval Host plant for the endangered Powesheik Skipperling butterfly and several other butterflies and moths. Provides seeds, larvae, and nesting materials for birds