Native Plants
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Tuesday - May 25, 2010
From: Lovettsville, VA
Region: Mid-Atlantic
Topic: Wildlife Gardens
Title: Plants for bird garden in Virginia
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
I am expanding on a bird attracting garden and would like to know what plants to plant. It is a shade to partial sun area, in an approx. 9' circle, both small shrubs and flowers would be nice.ANSWER:
Here are some plants native to Virginia that attract birds and do well in shade or part shade.
Herbaceous Plants:
Aquilegia canadensis (red columbine)
Asclepias tuberosa (butterfly milkweed)
Comptonia peregrina (sweet fern)
Lobelia cardinalis (cardinalflower)
Capsicum annuum var. glabriusculum (cayenne pepper)
Small Shrubs:
Symphoricarpos orbiculatus (coralberry)
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (kinnikinnick)
Ceanothus herbaceus (Jersey tea)
Sedges and Grasses :
Carex cherokeensis (Cherokee sedge)
Carex pensylvanica (Pennsylvania sedge)
Chasmanthium latifolium (Inland sea oats)
Elymus canadensis (Canada wildrye)
You can visit our Virginia Recommended species page to see more possibilities.
Here are photos of the plants above from our Image Gallery:
More Wildlife Gardens Questions
Native nectar plants for hummingbirds in Central Texas
April 24, 2008 - Ref: Cen.Tx. Hummingbird plants
I am seeking a list of appropriate plants with lots of nectar to attract hummingbirds in Central Texas. I live in Hays County between Kyle & Wimberley in a mostly ...
view the full question and answer
Latin name for botany mist in McAllen TX
November 10, 2009 - What is the latin name or formal name of botany mist which is a Queen butterfly nectar source in the Rio Grande Valley?
view the full question and answer
Wildlife habitat in Gambia
April 06, 2005 - Thank you for the interesting website.
We bought a plot in the Gambia and would like to change it into a habitat for different living species; hence, your kindly advise is welcome as we are definitel...
view the full question and answer
Neighborhood association wanting wildflowers mowed from Grand Prairie TX
July 14, 2013 - For at least 15 years, I have been fostering growth of wildflowers in 60% of my 90x400' yard which include 150' utility trunkline easement in which I can plant no trees. This year, we had volunteer ...
view the full question and answer
Attracting birds in Greenville, SC
April 15, 2009 - Hi,
I live in Northeastern South Carolina near the mountains and I am making a shade garden in my back yard. I also want to attract birds to my yard. There are 100 ft tall and even some 125 ft tal...
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |