A Bird Bath Garden Layout

I’ve been working on establishing my bird bath garden over the last couple days. I’ll show you the results soon but I thought I would show you the layout of the garden first. I’ve chosen plants that both the birds and the butterflies will enjoy for their diets. Of course the main reason I selected the plants was I liked them! These plants are generally low maintenance that should look great all through the summer and into our mid-south fall season.

Here is what is included in this Bird Bath Garden Design/Layout:

1. Birdbath

Every birdbath garden needs a birdbath right? I put together a copper birdbath onto a 4×4 post from an old wooden palette. I stained the post then hooked the bird bath to the top for a rustic appearance. The copper birdbath was meant for the top of a deck rail but I like using it this way better. (Aff Link: Here is a different Copper Birdbath with Stake from Gardener’s Supply Company)

2. Zebra Grass

Zebra Grass goes by several names and botanically it is known as Miscanthus sinensis ‘Zebrinus.’ It’s a variegated ornamental grass that originally hails from somewhere in China (that’s what sinesis means on the end of a plant name). The seed stalks make great food for the birds in the fall. (Update: I do not recommend planting miscanthus in the garden anymore. It is an invasive plant in many states. Instead opt for a variety of switchgrass like ‘Northwind’ or ‘Heavy Metal’.)

3. Salvia Nemorosa ‘Caradonna’

Salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’ is an amazing salvia variety. I can’t say enough good things about salvia. It’s a late spring to summer bloomer that re-blooms through fall if you deadhead it periodically. If you don’t have one you need one, if you have one you need more! Salvia is a plant that is very easy to propagate and looks amazing when planted in drifts so if you want to make a lot of salvia read this post: How to Propagate Salvia from Cuttings or watch my video on YouTube about salvia propagation.

4. Butterfly Bush

Butterfly Bush is botanically known as Buddleja davidii. This particular plant has bluish to purplish blooms that act as a magnet for butterflies. They grow fast and can take aggressive pruning. The flowers bloom on new wood so give it a trim every now and then to reinvigorate the flowering capabilities of the butterfly bush. In fact hacking it down to a couple feet tall may not be a bad idea each year! They can get very large if you let them go.

5. Coreopsis

Coreopsis is an easy to grow showstopper in the garden. I don’t know the specific variety of these coreopsis plants since I raised them from collected seed but they have yellow petals with a bright red color toward the center. I’m very pleased with how they have grown. Coreopsis is also known as tickseed. What else can you grow with coreopsis? Read this post: What Looks Good with Coreopsis.

6. Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)

Coneflowers or Echinacea are great flowers that will give you more plants if you let them. I think ours are ‘Sunrise’ Echinacea purpurea but any kind would work here. Echinacea can be propagated through cuttings and easily grown from seeds if you want to experiment. The birds like the seed heads so if you can stand to leave them be rather than cut them down with your fall prunings, you will make some happy little feathered friends.

7. Chrysanthemum

Chrysanthemum are usually called simply mums. These are some red mums I bought off the discount racks last fall. Mums are perennials here in Tennessee. They require pinching back a few times through the growing season to hold back the blooms for fall. Until then they look like happy little green shrubs. Mums can be a great option for a side business: Propagating Mums for Profit. Another good choice for a mum I like is ‘Clara Curtis’. (Chrysanthemum rubellum) It will spread through rhizomes but doesn’t go crazy. It’s easy to divide and make more plants from!

8. Purple Leaf Plum

Purple Leaf Plum or Prunus cerasifera is nice for it’s showy spring flowers and its dark purple foliage.

9. Iris

Irises are amazing plants in the garden. These are purple bearded irises that provide us with some mid to late spring color. The iris variety we have here fills the yard with a grape scent!

8. Birdfeeders

If your design is for the birds you should have a bird feeder! We have a shepherd’s hook with two feeder hanging from it. Don’t plant anything under a birdfeeder. The seeds that drop from it will sprout. I have our feeders over the grass so that I won’t have to weed the unwanted sunflowers out of the garden beds.

There are many other plant combinations you could do to make a birdbath garden. Just make sure that the flowers will provide seeds for fall or winter and the birds will like it!

Other Home Garden Layouts:

Herb Garden Layout
Herb Garden Layout (Corridor Pathway)
Sidewalk Garden Layout
Vegetable Garden Layout
Vegetable Garden Layout for Companion Planting