Trumpet Honeysuckle
Lonicera sempervirens
Seed for birds and caterpillars for their nestlings — reaching 8–15 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 8–15 ft
- Blooms Apr–Sep
Ohio · Zones 5–7
Native Plants for Birds in Ohio
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 Ohio and the wider flora of the Midwest and hardy through zones 5–7 — proven performers for Ohio's humid continental climate across Eastern Corn Belt & Allegheny Plateau, not a generic list. Local standouts include Trumpet Honeysuckle and Lanceleaf Coreopsis. 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
31 native species for Ohio
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 5–7 · see this collection in other states.
Lanceleaf Coreopsis
Coreopsis lanceolata
A winter seed source birds return to, happy in sand, rocky, and loam soil.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–2 ft
- Blooms May–Jul
Buttonbush
Cephalanthus occidentalis
A winter seed source birds return to, white pincushions flowers.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 5–10 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Cup Plant
Silphium perfoliatum
Leave its seed heads standing — songbirds strip them through fall and winter, yellow flowers.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 5–8 ft
- Blooms Jul–Sep
Winterberry
Ilex verticillata
A winter seed source songbirds return to, white, red berries flowers.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 5–10 ft
- Blooms Jun–Jul
Maximilian Sunflower
Helianthus maximiliani
Leave its seed heads standing — songbirds strip them through fall and winter, hardy in zones 3–9.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 5–8 ft
- Blooms Aug–Oct
Purple Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea
Leave its seed heads standing — birds strip them through fall and winter, hardy in zones 3–9.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Serviceberry
Amelanchier canadensis
Seed for songbirds and caterpillars for their nestlings — 10–20 ft wide.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 15–25 ft
- Blooms Apr–May
Flowering Dogwood
Cornus florida
Its seed heads carry songbirds through the lean months; 15–25 ft wide.
- Part shade
- Average
- 15–25 ft
- Blooms Apr–May
Black-Eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta
A winter seed source birds return to, 12–18 in wide.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Arrowwood Viburnum
Viburnum dentatum
Bird food twice over — seed heads songbirds strip in fall, plus the caterpillars nesting birds feed their chicks.
- Sun to shade
- Average–wet
- 6–10 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Showy Goldenrod
Solidago speciosa
Its seed heads carry birds through the lean months; happy in sand, rocky, and loam soil.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Sep–Oct
Red-Twig Dogwood
Cornus sericea
A winter seed source songbirds return to, hardy in zones 3–7.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 6–9 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Compass Plant
Silphium laciniatum
A winter seed source songbirds return to, 2–3 ft wide.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 5–9 ft
- Blooms Jul–Aug
Inkberry Holly
Ilex glabra
Its seed heads carry birds through the lean months; spreading 4–8 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 4–8 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Stiff Goldenrod
Solidago rigida
Leave its seed heads standing — birds strip them through fall and winter, spreading 1.5–2.5 ft.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Aug–Oct
Fragrant Sumac
Rhus aromatica
Bird food twice over — seed heads birds strip in fall, plus the caterpillars nesting birds feed their chicks.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 2–6 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr
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
American Elderberry
Sambucus canadensis
Its seed heads carry songbirds through the lean months; creamy umbels flowers.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 6–12 ft
- Blooms Jun–Jul
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
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
Bearberry
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Leave its seed heads standing — birds strip them through fall and winter, 3–6 ft wide.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 4–8 in
- Blooms Apr–May
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
Virginia Creeper
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
Bird food twice over — seed heads songbirds strip in fall, plus the caterpillars nesting birds feed their chicks.
- Sun to shade
- Dry–average
- 30–50 ft
- Blooms Jun
7 more also qualify: Indian Grass, Switchgrass, Prairie Dropseed, Little Bluestem, Big Bluestem, Pennsylvania Sedge, Cinnamon Fern.
Sourcing
Where to find these in Ohio
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.