Buttonbush
Cephalanthus occidentalis
Leave its seed heads standing — birds strip them through fall and winter, 5–10 ft tall.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 5–10 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
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- For birds
New Hampshire · Zones 3–6
Native Plants for Birds in New Hampshire
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 New Hampshire and the wider flora of the Northeast and hardy through zones 3–6 — proven performers for New Hampshire's cool, humid continental climate across White Mountains & northern hardwoods, not a generic list. Local standouts include Buttonbush and Black-Eyed Susan. 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 New Hampshire
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 3–6 · see this collection in other states.
Black-Eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta
Its seed heads carry birds through the lean months; good through zone 9.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Trumpet Honeysuckle
Lonicera sempervirens
Seed for birds and caterpillars for their nestlings — spreading 3–6 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 8–15 ft
- Blooms Apr–Sep
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
Its seed heads carry birds through the lean months; rosy purple flowers.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Showy Goldenrod
Solidago speciosa
Its seed heads carry birds through the lean months; for sand, rocky, and loam ground.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Sep–Oct
Arrowwood Viburnum
Viburnum dentatum
Seed for songbirds and caterpillars for their nestlings — creamy white flowers.
- Sun to shade
- Average–wet
- 6–10 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Winterberry
Ilex verticillata
A winter seed source songbirds return to, happy in clay and loam soil.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 5–10 ft
- Blooms Jun–Jul
Flowering Dogwood
Cornus florida
A winter seed source songbirds return to, reaching 15–25 ft.
- Part shade
- Average
- 15–25 ft
- Blooms Apr–May
Lanceleaf Coreopsis
Coreopsis lanceolata
A winter seed source birds return to, cold-hardy to zone 3.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–2 ft
- Blooms May–Jul
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
Virginia Creeper
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
Seed for songbirds and caterpillars for their nestlings — 10–20 ft wide.
- Sun to shade
- Dry–average
- 30–50 ft
- Blooms Jun
American Elderberry
Sambucus canadensis
A winter seed source songbirds return to, creamy umbels flowers.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 6–12 ft
- Blooms Jun–Jul
Bearberry
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Leave its seed heads standing — birds strip them through fall and winter, pink-white bells flowers.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 4–8 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Fragrant Sumac
Rhus aromatica
Seed for birds and caterpillars for their nestlings — 5–10 ft wide.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 2–6 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Ninebark
Physocarpus opulifolius
Its seed heads carry birds through the lean months; white to pink flowers.
- Full–part sun
- Dry to wet
- 5–10 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Inkberry Holly
Ilex glabra
A winter seed source birds return to, good through zone 9.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 4–8 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
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
Cinnamon Fern
Osmundastrum cinnamomeum
A winter seed source birds return to, cold-hardy to zone 3.
- Part shade
- Average–wet
- 2–4 ft
- Foliage
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
Switchgrass
Panicum virgatum
Feeds songbirds two ways: winter seed and the caterpillars that raise their young.
- Full–part sun
- Dry to wet
- 3–6 ft
- Fall color
Little Bluestem
Schizachyrium scoparium
Feeds songbirds two ways: winter seed and the caterpillars that raise their young.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Fall color
Indian Grass
Sorghastrum nutans
Seed for songbirds and caterpillars for their nestlings — 4–7 ft tall.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 4–7 ft
- Fall color
2 more also qualify: Pennsylvania Sedge, Big Bluestem.
Sourcing
Where to find these in New Hampshire
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.