Lanceleaf Coreopsis
Coreopsis lanceolata
Its seed heads carry birds through the lean months; bright gold flowers.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–2 ft
- Blooms May–Jul
Maine · Zones 3–6
Native Plants for Birds in Maine
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 Maine and the wider flora of the Northeast and hardy through zones 3–6 — proven performers for Maine's cool, short summers climate across Acadian forest & coastal lowlands, not a generic list. Local standouts include Lanceleaf Coreopsis and Winterberry. 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 Maine
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 3–6 · see this collection in other states.
Winterberry
Ilex verticillata
Leave its seed heads standing — songbirds strip them through fall and winter, for clay and loam ground.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 5–10 ft
- Blooms Jun–Jul
Showy Goldenrod
Solidago speciosa
Leave its seed heads standing — birds strip them through fall and winter, for sand, rocky, and loam ground.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Sep–Oct
Buttonbush
Cephalanthus occidentalis
Its seed heads carry birds through the lean months; 5–10 ft tall.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 5–10 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Flowering Dogwood
Cornus florida
A winter seed source songbirds return to, 15–25 ft tall.
- Part shade
- Average
- 15–25 ft
- Blooms Apr–May
Serviceberry
Amelanchier canadensis
Seed for songbirds and caterpillars for their nestlings — 15–25 ft tall.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 15–25 ft
- Blooms Apr–May
Trumpet Honeysuckle
Lonicera sempervirens
Bird food twice over — seed heads birds strip in fall, plus the caterpillars nesting birds feed their chicks.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 8–15 ft
- Blooms Apr–Sep
Arrowwood Viburnum
Viburnum dentatum
Seed for songbirds and caterpillars for their nestlings — for clay and loam ground.
- Sun to shade
- Average–wet
- 6–10 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Black-Eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta
Leave its seed heads standing — birds strip them through fall and winter, reaching 1.5–3 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Purple Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea
Leave its seed heads standing — birds strip them through fall and winter, rosy purple flowers.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Virginia Creeper
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
Seed for songbirds and caterpillars for their nestlings — cold-hardy to zone 3.
- Sun to shade
- Dry–average
- 30–50 ft
- Blooms Jun
Bearberry
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Its seed heads carry birds through the lean months; reaching 4–8 in.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 4–8 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Blue Vervain
Verbena hastata
Its seed heads carry birds through the lean months; violet-blue flowers.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Jul–Sep
American Elderberry
Sambucus canadensis
Leave its seed heads standing — songbirds strip them through fall and winter, cold-hardy to zone 3.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 6–12 ft
- Blooms Jun–Jul
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
Leave its seed heads standing — birds strip them through fall and winter, spreading 5–10 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Dry to wet
- 5–10 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Red-Twig Dogwood
Cornus sericea
A winter seed source songbirds return to, 6–9 ft tall.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 6–9 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Spicebush
Lindera benzoin
Bird food twice over — seed heads birds strip in fall, plus the caterpillars nesting birds feed their chicks.
- Part shade
- Average–wet
- 6–12 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Inkberry Holly
Ilex glabra
A winter seed source birds return to, reaching 4–8 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 4–8 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Indian Grass
Sorghastrum nutans
Feeds songbirds two ways: winter seed and the caterpillars that raise their young.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 4–7 ft
- Fall color
Little Bluestem
Schizachyrium scoparium
Seed for songbirds and caterpillars for their nestlings — spreading 1.5–2 ft.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Fall color
Cinnamon Fern
Osmundastrum cinnamomeum
A winter seed source birds return to, 2–3 ft wide.
- Part shade
- Average–wet
- 2–4 ft
- Foliage
Prairie Dropseed
Sporobolus heterolepis
Seed for birds and caterpillars for their nestlings — 2–3 ft tall.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 2–3 ft
- Fall color
Pennsylvania Sedge
Carex pensylvanica
Feeds birds two ways: winter seed and the caterpillars that raise their young.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 6–12 in
- Foliage
2 more also qualify: Switchgrass, Big Bluestem.
Sourcing
Where to find these in Maine
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.