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By Maria Azzurra Volpe
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Some flowers do more than just brighten up your garden; they can act as natural bird magnets, turning your outdoor space into a perfect gathering spot for feathered creatures searching for food or shelter.
If you want to attract more morning visitors, these four flowers are the best choice for creating a vibrant and colorful oasis for birds.
Trumpet Vine
Michael Clarke landscape architect, horticulturalist, and founder at Yardwork, told Newsweek that these bold and fiery tubular blooms are full of nectar, which hummingbirds can't resist.
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With bright red and orange tones, these flowers grow on a plant commonly known as campsis, This is a self-clinging climber—able to grip onto fences, bare walls and other vertical surfaces without support—that can grow as tall as 30 feet.
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Bee Balm
Also known as Monarda, these bright pink blooms also produce a good amount of nectar, along with aromatic foliage, attracting hummingbirds and warblers, as well as insects like bees and butterflies.
According to the Royal Horticultural Society of the United Kingdom, these flowers need a spot in the sun to thrive, and they can rot in waterlogged soils, especially during the winter.
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Sunflowers
Perhaps the best choice of flowers to make your garden attractive to birds are sunflowers, which according to Clarke provide shelter and food to birds, attracting multiple species, including finches, sparrows and chickadees.
When in full bloom, during the summer, these huge flowers can reach almost 12 inches across, with bright yellow petals surrounding a dark brown center full of yummy seeds.
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Salvia
There are different types of salvia, also known as sage, some grown for their edible aromatic leaves and others for their beautiful long-blooming flowers, that are a nectar source for Hummingbirds.
When planted in a sunny, warm, and sheltered spot these Mediterranean plants can live for years with minimal maintenance.
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How to plant and maintain these flowers
Clarke explains that when choosing flowers, it's best to go for native varieties, which are more effective at drawing local bird species.
For best results, these flowers should be planted in full sun, ensuring there is plenty of space to allow airflow and for birds to land safely. Gardeners should water regularly, especially in the first few weeks after planting.
"Avoid using pesticides, since birds eat insects, that would be affected by these pesticides" Clarke said.
Layering plants by height also helps create bird-friendly levels between taller and shorter blooms, which make it more attractive to most species. The best time to plant is around early to mid spring, for most perennial and annual flowers.
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Other flowers that can enrich your garden
Zinnias, according to Clarke, have seed-rich heads and bright colors that attract finches and cardinals. These flowers not only attract bids, but they are also loved by slugs and pollinating insects.
Coneflowers, also called Echinacea, are another great choice when it comes to attracting wildlife, drawing in insects, goldfinches, and wrens.
Their shape resembles a large daisy, with a rounded cone-shaped center, and their petals can be orange, pink, red or white.
Placing a birdbath or small fountain nearby, says Clake, also helps making your garden more attractive to morning birds, and planting shrubs and trees near flowers will give them a place to hide or rest.
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