Apache Plume
Fallugia paradoxa
A winter seed source birds return to, happy in sand and rocky soil.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 3–6 ft
- Blooms Apr–Sep
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- New Mexico
- For birds
New Mexico · Zones 4–8
Native Plants for Birds in New Mexico
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 Mexico and the wider flora of the desert Southwest and hardy through zones 4–8 — proven performers for New Mexico's arid, high-elevation sun climate across Chihuahuan desert & Southern Rockies, not a generic list. Local standouts include Apache Plume 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
26 native species for New Mexico
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 4–8 · see this collection in other states.
Lanceleaf Coreopsis
Coreopsis lanceolata
Leave its seed heads standing — birds strip them through fall and winter, happy in sand, rocky, and loam soil.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–2 ft
- Blooms May–Jul
Purple Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea
Its seed heads carry birds through the lean months; for clay, rocky, and loam ground.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Showy Goldenrod
Solidago speciosa
Leave its seed heads standing — birds strip them through fall and winter, 1.5–2 ft wide.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Sep–Oct
Buttonbush
Cephalanthus occidentalis
Leave its seed heads standing — birds strip them through fall and winter, white pincushions flowers.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 5–10 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Cup Plant
Silphium perfoliatum
A winter seed source songbirds return to, spreading 2–4 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 5–8 ft
- Blooms Jul–Sep
Black-Eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta
A winter seed source birds return to, spreading 12–18 in.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Maximilian Sunflower
Helianthus maximiliani
Leave its seed heads standing — songbirds strip them through fall and winter, 5–8 ft tall.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 5–8 ft
- Blooms Aug–Oct
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
Ninebark
Physocarpus opulifolius
A winter seed source birds return to, cold-hardy to zone 3.
- Full–part sun
- Dry to wet
- 5–10 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Virginia Creeper
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
Feeds songbirds two ways: winter seed and the caterpillars that raise their young.
- Sun to shade
- Dry–average
- 30–50 ft
- Blooms Jun
American Elderberry
Sambucus canadensis
Its seed heads carry songbirds through the lean months; reaching 6–12 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 6–12 ft
- Blooms Jun–Jul
Blue Grama
Bouteloua gracilis
Feeds birds two ways: winter seed and the caterpillars that raise their young.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 8–20 in
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Bearberry
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Its seed heads carry birds through the lean months; pink-white bells flowers.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 4–8 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Sideoats Grama
Bouteloua curtipendula
Seed for birds and caterpillars for their nestlings — oat-like, orange anthers flowers.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Jul
Blue Vervain
Verbena hastata
Leave its seed heads standing — birds strip them through fall and winter, for clay and loam ground.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Jul–Sep
Stiff Goldenrod
Solidago rigida
Leave its seed heads standing — birds strip them through fall and winter, reaching 3–5 ft.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Aug–Oct
Compass Plant
Silphium laciniatum
Its seed heads carry songbirds through the lean months; 5–9 ft tall.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 5–9 ft
- Blooms Jul–Aug
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
Red-Twig Dogwood
Cornus sericea
Leave its seed heads standing — songbirds strip them through fall and winter, reaching 6–9 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 6–9 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Oregon Grape
Berberis aquifolium
A winter seed source songbirds return to, bright yellow flowers.
- Sun to shade
- Dry–average
- 3–6 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Switchgrass
Panicum virgatum
Bird food twice over — seed heads songbirds strip in fall, plus the caterpillars nesting birds feed their chicks.
- Full–part sun
- Dry to wet
- 3–6 ft
- Fall color
Little Bluestem
Schizachyrium scoparium
Bird food twice over — seed heads songbirds strip in fall, plus the caterpillars nesting birds feed their chicks.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Fall color
Indian Grass
Sorghastrum nutans
Bird food twice over — seed heads songbirds strip in fall, plus the caterpillars nesting birds feed their chicks.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 4–7 ft
- Fall color
2 more also qualify: Big Bluestem, Prairie Dropseed.
Sourcing
Where to find these in New Mexico
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.