A bird bath can be a delightful and enriching element in your garden. When strategically positioned, it becomes a crucial watering point that attracts birds all year long.
Choosing the right location for your bird bath is essential: opt for a spot with nearby shelter for safety, some sunlight to keep the water fresh, and a view that allows you to enjoy watching the feathered guests.
If you're eager to enhance your bird bath experience this summer, planting flowers around it is an effective way to create a more inviting habitat for wildlife. These blooms not only beautify the area but also make birds feel more secure.
Whether you aim to draw in hummingbirds, support pollinators, or simply brighten your garden, here are seven excellent flowers to plant around your bird bath.
1. Salvia – A Favorite for Hummingbirds with Vibrant Summer Colors
If you want to attract hummingbirds, consider planting salvias nearby. Their tall, colorful spikes in shades of red, purple, and blue not only look stunning but also provide a consistent source of nectar during warmer months.
'Nectar-rich flowers like salvias are perfect for attracting hummingbirds,' explains a horticulture expert. 'Their tubular shape is ideal for the hummingbird's slender beak, allowing easy access to the nectar.'
With their abundant blooms and eye-catching colors, especially reds and pinks, salvias turn your bird bath area into an enticing spot for these birds, creating a hummingbird haven right in your backyard.
2. Echinacea (Coneflower) – Nourishing Birds into the Fall
Echinacea, or coneflower, is a fantastic choice for any bird-friendly garden, particularly near a bird bath. These daisy-like perennials provide bright summer colors and later serve as a food source as the seasons change.
While the blooms attract pollinators, their seed heads remain long after the petals fall, providing nourishment for goldfinches and other small birds throughout fall and winter.
By growing Echinacea near your bird bath, you visually enhance the area while providing birds with water, nectar, and seeds all in one spot.
3. Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia) – Bright Blooms with Lasting Benefits
Adding Black-eyed Susans around your bird bath introduces a splash of golden color in late summer while offering more than just aesthetic appeal. Their cheerful yellow petals and dark centers create a warm atmosphere for both birds and people.
Beyond their blooming phase, these hardy perennials continue to contribute to the garden. Their seed heads become a natural food source for finches and other seed-loving birds, even after frost has set in.
With their beauty and practicality, Black-eyed Susans are a low-maintenance way to make your bird bath a welcoming spot for feathered friends throughout the seasons.
4. Lavender – Fragrant Mounds with Pollinator Appeal
Lavender is a classic garden favorite, making it an excellent companion for a bird bath. Its soft, silver-green leaves and soothing fragrance create a peaceful vibe while its rounded form gently outlines the base of the bird bath.
Beloved by bees and butterflies, lavender produces blooms throughout summer and thrives in dry, sunny spots where other plants may struggle.
Surrounding your bird bath with lavender not only enhances the garden's ambiance with its calming scent but also attracts beneficial pollinators.
5. Agastache – Fragrant Spires that Attract and Protect
Agastache, or hummingbird mint, is a superb option for planting around a bird bath. Its tall, spiky blooms in lavender, pink, and orange add vertical interest while drawing in a host of pollinators.
Thriving in sunny, well-drained areas, Agastache is a favorite among both bees and hummingbirds. Its tubular flowers are perfect for their long beaks, providing nectar throughout summer. Plus, its fragrant foliage helps repel pests, making it both beautiful and functional.
6. Bee Balm (Monarda) – Bold Color and Pollinator Power
Bee balm adds a vibrant touch to your bird bath area with its striking, colorful blooms. Available in shades like scarlet, fuchsia, and deep pink, these flowers attract hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies alike.
With a wild, cottage-garden vibe, bee balm contrasts beautifully with the bird bath's structure. Its aromatic leaves add another sensory layer, and its preference for sunny spots makes it a reliable choice.
By growing bee balm near your bird bath, you're creating a lively, wildlife-friendly focal point that buzzes with activity all summer.
7. Lantana – Colorful Clusters for Warm, Sunny Areas
Lantana flourishes in hot, sunny climates, making it a perfect choice for planting near bird baths in warmer areas. Its bright flower clusters bloom from spring through fall, providing an ongoing burst of color.
Rich in nectar, lantana attracts both hummingbirds and butterflies, transforming your bird bath area into a vibrant gathering place for pollinators. Its spreading habit fills borders and creates an inviting environment.
By incorporating lantana, you ensure your garden remains lively and flourishing with wildlife even in the hottest months.
'A garden filled with diverse flora not only looks abundant, but it also becomes a wildlife haven right in your yard,' shares a horticulture expert. 'Incorporate shrubs, perennials, and ground covers, while leaving enough space around the bath for birds to feel secure.'
With thoughtful planting, each flower serves a purpose, providing food, shelter, and seasonal beauty. Together, they can turn a simple bird bath into a lively centerpiece that delights both birds and garden enthusiasts.
What to Shop For
Miracle-Gro Potting Mix, 2-Pack
Attract hummingbirds and enhance vibrant blooms with Miracle-Gro Potting Mix. Designed to nourish container plants for up to six months, it ensures your summer flowers grow larger, brighter, and more stunning. Perfect for hanging baskets, window boxes, and pots, this mix supports strong roots and lush, colorful blooms that pollinators adore.
English Lavender Seeds
Bring bees, butterflies, and even birds to your garden with 1,500 heirloom English Lavender seeds. Non-GMO and high-germination, these seeds develop into fragrant blooms that pollinators love, making them ideal for borders, pathways, or pots—an attractive, low-maintenance choice to support local wildlife and add a soothing scent.
Metal Bird Bath
This heavy-duty metal bird bath is crafted for durability and designed with birds in mind. Featuring a rustproof finish and a stable 5-prong base, it ensures outstanding stability in your garden. The spacious 12" bowl holds plenty of water or accommodates a solar fountain to create motion and attract even more feathered friends.
