The SongBird Survival Garden at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show was full of plants that can benefit songbirds. From fruits and seeds to protection from predators, the garden really highlighted that gardeners can make songbird-friendly spaces at home. It was heartening to hear how many people already had a lot of the plants we featured in their own gardens too.

If you’re looking to make your own garden a haven for birds, here are our top five songbird-friendly plants from The SongBird Survival Garden…

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1. Crataegus persimilis 'Prunifolia' (Broad-leaved cockspur hawthorn)

Two beautiful, multi-stem Crataegus were a popular talking point in the show garden. The trees have multiple benefits for birds during the year, starting with white blossom in spring that will attract different insects. Later in the year, the tree produces bright red berries, which will be a popular food source for larger birds, such as blackbirds and thrushes, in the autumn and winter. For smaller songbirds, the tree offers fantastic protection from predators as the branches are covered with long spines. It’s a good tree for smaller gardens, reaching a mature height of around 4-8m.

2. Ribes nigrum 'Ben Connan' (Black currant)

As gardeners, we can sometimes get a bit frustrated when the birds pinch fruit from our currant bushes, but they are a great found source and a great way to bring birds into our gardens. The bushes also provide pollen for insects in spring and good cover for birds to move through. Providing layers of shrubs and trees at different heights is an ideal way to help birds move safely through a garden. Black currants are easy to grow in a sunny spot, reaching around 1.5m tall.

3. Cirsium 'Trevor's Felley Find' (Plume Thistle)

The plume thistle is a fantastic plant for pollinators. At Chelsea, it was constantly covered in bees. Flowering from late May or early June through into August or even September, they are a great addition to the garden with their rich purple, thistle-shaped flowers. Once the flowers go over, the fluffy seedheads are a magnet for finches who will pick out the seeds. When the seedheads are empty, cut back the flower stems to encourage the plant to produce more. Grows best in a sunny spot in moist, well-drained soil.

4. Dipsacus fullonum (Teasel)

Teasels are a fantastic plant for supporting wildlife. The flowers will attract pollinators and then the seedheads will attract finches, who will feast on the seeds. At Chelsea, the teasels were also covered with aphids. While often labelled as pests, the aphids are a great food source for birds and shouldn’t be treated with pesticides.

Teasels also add great structure into a garden too. The stems and seedheads will last through the winter, providing great nooks and crannies for insects to shelter in. Teasels are biennial, meaning their lifespan is two years. In the first year, they grow roots and leaves and in the second year they flower and set seed before dying. They self-seed easily, so new plants should continue to grow in your garden. Any unwanted seedlings can be removed before they get too big.

5. Fragaria vesca (Alpine/Wild Strawberry)

Alpine strawberries are an easy-to-grow, low-growing plant for sun or part shade. They produce small fruits all summer at ground level, which are ideal for birds foraging for food on the ground.  The plant spreads easily by runners, making it good ground cover for the front of a border. The runners can also be potted up to make new plants.

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Photo credits: Andrea Gilpin/SongBird Survival and Tracey Spensley/SongBird Survival

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