Q Which seedheads are the best to grow to help birds during winter?
A There are several ones that will provide food for seed and/or insect-eating birds during winter and also look good:
Sedum
Most of us will have a sedum or two in our borders, as this attractive garden staple is so popular with bees and butterflies during the summer. But it also has attractive seedheads, which can add an element of interest to your garden throughout the winter. The broad seedheads catch the snow and frost and, although they won’t attract seed-eating birds, insect-eating birds will enjoy the spiders and overwintering bugs they shelter.
Position: Moderately fertile, well-drained soil in full sun
Height x spread: 0.6 x 0.6m
Caption: Insect-eating birds love the bugs that sedum heads will attract
Aster
Asters provide a bright splash of late summer colour to our borders, but once the flowers fade it’s tempting to cut them back to neaten the appearance of the plant. However, if they’re left they form small fluffy pompoms containing small seeds that are ideal for seed-eating birds. The tangled stems also make a great habitat for spiders and other insects, which provide food for foraging insect-eating birds, such as wrens and blue tits.
Position: Well-drained, moderately fertile soil in full sun
Height x spread: 1 x 0.5m
Cardoon
Beloved by bees during the summer, the huge thistle-like flowers of cardoon (Cynara cardunculus) turn into large seed heads full of soft fibres. Just like asters, they don’t just provide seeds for birds but are also a great place for small birds to forage for insects in the colder months. Cardoon seedheads stand up to inter well but will need removing when the wet spring weather causes them to sag and look untidy.
Position: Fertile, well-drained soil in full sun
Height x spread: 1.5 x 1.5m
Pennisetum
Pennisetum are the ultimate plant for winter structure, as the soft seedheads sparkle throughout the colder months when covered with frost and spiders’ webs. They only need cutting down just before the fresh growth emerges in February. There is a huge range to choose from and, as well as looking fantastic in your border, they provide a wonderful foraging ground for small birds such as blue tits. If you choose an ornamental millet (P. glaucum), you should find sparrows flocking to your garden for the seeds.
Position: Well-drained soil in full sun
Height x spread: 1.2 x 0.9m
Turkish sage
Turkish sage (Phlomis russeliana) is a handsome shrub that holds very interesting sculptural spikes of seedheads that catch the frost and snow, making a beautiful addition to the garden. The seedheads are preceded by rings of sunny-yellow flowers that are attractive to bees. They hold up very well over winter, not affected by wind or rain, and the seeds provide food for small birds such as goldfinches and siskins.
Position: Well-drained soil in full sun
Height x spread: 0.9 x 0.7m
Teasels
These tall wildflowers can provide some height at the back of a border and are a wonderful addition for attracting bees and butterflies during the summer. The spiny seedheads will last all winter, looking striking against a grey sky, or covered in frost or snow. Seed-eating birds will appreciate the seedheads, especially the brightly coloured goldfinch, which has a beak adapted for finding seeds in the spiny head.
Position: Moderately fertile soil in sun or partial shade
Height x spread: 2 x 0.5m