Birds in the Garden / Bees / Worms / Butterflies

All of us know of gardens that we feel drawn to although essentially it isn't really your taste. Why is that? Good energy. If there's life and positive energy, it's hard not to like something, someone or some space. A garden should never be just about design and aesthetics, but also about Life Energy.

The presence of birds in a garden indicates the company of insects, berries, water, colour, height and a good dose of Mother Nature - which to us gardeners mean Paradise! What would a garden be without birdsong? Birdbaths add such friendly romance, but what worth would they be if striking starlings never bath in them? Birds are our free cousins that compliment, and bless, our gardens with their presence.

They don't ask for anything that is not in Nature herself. In short, they need a safe place to eat and drink that which your garden provides. By choosing your plants cleverly, you might only need to provide water in the end! Thus, have a careful look at both lists below and make your selection to suit your region, your garden and your feathered friends!

Non-toxic Plants

Abelia - Abelia spp.
Acacia (some sp.) - Acacia spp.
African Daisy - Arctotis stoechadifolia
African Violet - Saintpaulina spp.
Aluminum Plant - Pilea cadierei
Aloe - Aloe spp. (flesh only)
Aralia - Aralia spp.
Arbutus - Arbutus spp.
Areca, Butterfly Cane - Areca lutescens
Ash - Fraxinus spp.
Asparagus Fern - Asparagus densiflorus
Aspen - Populus spp.
Aspidistra - Aspidistra spp.
Baby’s Tears - Helxine soleirolli
Baby’s Breath - Gypsophila paniculata
Bachelor Buttons - Centaurea cyanus
Barberry - Berberis spp.
Beech - Fagus, Nothofagus
Birch - Betula spp.
BirdÕs Nest Fern - Asplenium nidus
Blood Leaf Plant - Iresine herbstii and related spp.
Boston Fern - Nephrolepsis bostoniensis
Bougainvillea - Bougainvillea spp.
Brake, Ribbon, Dish - Pteris cretic
Bromeliads - Anans comosus
California Holly - Heteromeles arbutifolia
Calamint - Calamintha spp.
Calendula (Pot Marigold) - Calendula officinalis
Camellia - Camellia spp.
Chamomile - Chamaemelum nobile
Chickweed - Cerastium vulgatum, Stellaria media
Chicory - Cichorium intybus
Cissus Kangaroo Vines - Cissus spp.
Claw Cactus - Schlumbergera truncata
Coffee Tree - Coffea arabica (coffee is toxic)
Coleus - Coleus blumei
Comfrey - Symphytum officinalis
Corn Plant - Dracaena fragrans
Cottonwood - Populus spp.
Crabapple - Malus spp. (fruit only)
Creeping Jenny - Lysimachia spp.
Croton (house variety) - Codiaeum variegatum
Dahlia - Dahlia spp.
Dandelion - Taraxacum officinalis
Date - Phoenix dactylifera
Daylily - Hemerocallis spp.
Dill - Anethum graveolen
Dogwood - Cornus spp.
Donkey Tail - Sedum morganianum
Dracaena - Dracaena spp.
Dragon Tree - Dracaena draco
Easter Cactus - Rhipsalidopsis spp.
Elderberry - Sambucus spp. (cooked ripe fruit only)
Elm - Ulmus spp.
European Fan - Chamaerops humilis
Fir - Abies spp.
Gold Dust Dracaena - Dracaena godseffiana
Echeveria - Echeveria spp.
Elephant Foot Tree - Beasucarnea recurvata
Eucalyptus - Eucalyptus sp.
Eugenia - Eugenia spp.
Gardenia - Gardenia jasminoides
Garlic - Allium sativum
Gloxinia - Sinningia speciosa
Grape Ivy - Cissus rhombifolia
Grape Vine - Vitis spp.
Hens and Chicks - Echeveria sp. and Sempervivum sp.
Hibiscus - Hibiscus rosa-sinensis and related sp.
Honeysuckle - Lonicera spp.
Hoya - Hoya spp.
Impatients - Impatiens spp.
Indian Hawthorne - Rhaphiolepsis spp.
Jade Plant - Craaula ovata
Kalanchoe - Kalanchoe blossfeldiana
Larch - Larix spp.
Lemon Balm - Melissa officinalis
Lilac - Syringa vulagris and related sp.
Lily (Easter, Tiger) - Lilium spp.
Magnolia - Magnolia spp.
Marigold - Tagetes spp.
Maidenhair Fern - Adiantum spp.
Manzanita - Arctostapylos manzanita
Mayapple - Podophyllum peltatum (fruit only)
Monkey Plant - Ruellia spp.
Moses-in-the-Cradle - Rhoeo spathacea
Mother-in-Law’s-Tongue - Sansevieria trifasciata
Nandina - Nandina domestica
Nasturtium - Tropaeolum majus
Natal Plum - Carissa macrocarpa
Nerve Plant - Fittonia verschaffeltti
Norfolk Island Pine - Araucaria excelsa
Parsley - Petroselinum spp.
Passionflower - Passiflora caerulea
Peppermint - Mentha x peperita
Peperomia - Peperomia spp.
Petunia - Petunia spp.
Pony Tail Palm - Beaucarnea recurvata
Popular - Populus spp.
Prayer Plant - Maranta leuconceura
Purple Passion, Purple Velvet - Gynura aurantiaca
Pyracantha - Pyracantha spp. Raphiolepsis - Raphiolepsis spp.
Rose - Rosa spp
Rubber Plant - Ficus elastica
Russian Olive - Elaeagnus augustifolia
Schefflera - Schefflera actinophylla
Sensitive Plant - Mimosa pudica
Spearmint - Mentha spicata
Spider Plant - Chlorophytum comosum
Spruce - Picea spp.
Squirrel’s Foot Fern - Davallia trichomanoides
Staghorn, Elk’s Horn - Platycerium bifurcatum
Star Jasmine - Trachelospermum jasminoides
String of Beads - Senecio rowleyanus
Swedish Ivy - Plectranthus australis
Sword Fern - Nephrolepis exalata
Thistle - Cirisium spp.
Ti Plant - Cordyline terminalis
Violet - Viola spp.
Wandering Jew - Tradescantia fluminensis
Willow - Salix spp.
Yucca - Yucca spp.
Zebra Plant - Aphelandra squarrosa

Toxic Plants

Acokanthera - Acokanthera spp. (all parts except ripe fruit)
Amaryllis - Amaryllis spp.
Angel’s Trumpet - Datura spp. (leaves, seeds, flowers)
Apricot - Prunus armeniaca (pits, leaves, bark)
Apple - Malus spp. (seeds, leaves, bark)
Avocado - Persea americana (pit, leaves, unripe fruit, stems)
Azalea - Rhododendron canadensis
Balsam Pear, Bitter Melon - Momordica charantia
Baneberry - Actaea rubra, A. pachypoda
Belladonna - Atropa belladonna
Bird of Paradise - Poinciana and related spp. (seed pods, flowers)
Bittersweet - Celastrus spp. Black Locust - Robinia pseudoacacia
Boxwood - Buxus spp.
Braken Fern - Pteridium aquilinum
Buckthorn - Karwinskia humboldtiana and related spp.
Burdock - Arcticum spp. Buttercup - Ranunculus spp.
Caladium - Caladium spp.
Calla Lily - Zantedeschia aethiopica
Catclaw Acacia - Acacia greggii. (twigs, leaves)
Caster Bean - Ricinus communis
Cherry - Prunus spp. (pits, leaves, bark)
Chinaberry - Melia azadarach
Clematis - Clematis montana and related spp
Coral Plant - Jatropha mutifida
Crocus (autumn) - Cholchicum autumnale
Cycad or Sago Cycas - Cycas revoluta
Daffodil - Narcissus tazetta
Daphne - Daphne mezerum
Death Camas - Zigadenua venenosus and other related sp.
Delphinium - Delphinium spp.
Devil’s Ivy - Epipremnum aureum
Dieffenbachia (dumb cane) - Dieffenbachia spp.
Eggplant - Solanum melongena (unripe/overipe fruit, leaves)
Elderberry - Sambucus mexicana (roots, leaves, stems, bark)
Elephant’s Ears or Taro - Colocasia spp.
Euonymus - Euonymus spp. (filit, bark, leaves)
European Pennyroyal - Mentha pulegium
Figs - Ficus spp. (sap)
our O’clock - Mirabilis jalapa
Foxglove - Digitalis purpurea
Heliotrope - Heliotropium spp. (leaves)
Henbane - Hyoscyamus niger
Holly - Ilex aquifoliium and related spp. (leaves, berries)
Horse Chestnut - Aesculus hippocastanum and related spp.
Horse Nettle - Solanum carolinense
Hyacinth - Hacinthus orientalis
Hydrangea - Hydrangea spp. Iris - Iris spp.
Ivy (Boston, English, and some others) - Hedera spp.
Jack-in-the-Pulpit - Arisaema spp.
Jerusalem Cherry - Solanum pseudocapsicum and related spp.
Jessamine, Yellow - Gelsemium sempervirens (leaves, stems)
Jimsonweed - Datura spp. (leaves, seeds, flowers)
Jonquil - Narcissus jonquilla Juniper - Juniperus spp.
Lantana - Lantana camara
Larkspur - Delphinium spp.
Laurel - Kalmia spp.
Lily-of-the-Valley - Convalleria majalis
Lobelia - Lobelia spp.
Locoweed - Astragalus spp. and Oxytropis spp.
Lupine - Lupinus spp.
Marijuana - Cannabis sativa
Milkweed - Asclepias spp.
Mistletoe - Phoradendron villosum
Mock Orange - Philadelphus spp.
Moonseed - Menispermum canadense
Morning Glory - Ipomoea violacea (seeds)
Mushrooms - Amanita spp. and many others
Narcissus - Narcissus spp.
Oak - Quercus spp.
Oleander - Nerium oleander
Peach - Prunus persica (leaves, pit. bark)
Pear - Pyrus spp. (leaves, seeds, bark)
Peony - Paeonia officinalis
Periwinkle - Vinca minor, Vinca rosea
Peyote - Lophophora williamsii
Philodendron - Philodendron spp. and Monstera spp.
Pigweed - Amaranthus spp.
Plum - Prunus spp. (leaves, pit, bark)
Poison Hemlock - Conium maculatum
Poison Ivy - Toxicodendron radicans, includes T. rydbergii
Poison Oak - Toxicodendron quercifolium and T. diversilobum
Poison Sumac - Rhux vernix
Poinsettia - Euphorbia pulcherrima
Poppy - Papaver somniferum and related spp.
Pokeweed - Phytolacca americana
Potato - Solanum tuberosum (sprouts, leaves, berries, green tubers)
Pothos - Eprimemnum aureum
Primrose - Primula spp.
Privet - Ligustrum vulgare
Ragwort - Senecio jacobea and related spp.
Red Maple - Acer rubrum
Rhododendron - Rhododendron spp.
Rhubarb - Rheum rhabarbarum (leaves)
Rosary Pea - Abrus precatorius
Sage - Salvia officinalis
Shamrock Plant - Medicago lupulina, Trifolium repens, Oxalis acetosella
Skunk Cabbage - Symplocarpus foetidus
Snowdrop - Galanthus nivalis
Sorrel - Rhumex spp. and Oxalis spp.
Spurges - Euphorbia spp.
Star of Bethlehem - Ornithogalum umbellatum
Sweet Pea - Lathyrus odoratus
Tobacco - Nicotiania spp.
Tomato - Lycopersicon esculentum (stems, leaves)
Tulip - Tulipa spp.
Virginia Creeper - Panthenocissus quinquefolia
Vetches - Vicia spp.
Water Hemlock - Cicuta spp.
Waxberry - Symphoricarpos albus
Wisteria - Wisteria spp.
Yew - Taxus spp.

There is much joy to be found in witnessing the steady increase of avian visitors to one’s garden should you supply them with a) a variety of food to feed, from seed eating, to fruit and insect eating birds and b) an attractive environment. This would mean planting more fruit, flowers and seed bearing plants, with indigenous plants being preferable, as well as creating a variety of habitats in the garden (obviously only as many as the size of your garden permits.)

Below is a list of the birds that you may find visiting and even nesting, in your garden:
Helmeted Guineafowl
Hadeda Ibis
African Hoopoe
Brown-hooded Kingfisher
Pied Kingfisher
Malachite Kingfisher
Giant Kingfisher
Black-collared Barbet
Acacia Pied Barbet
Crested Barbet
Cape Robin-chat
Red-capped Robin-chat
White-throated Robin-chat
Tawny-flanked Prinia
Cape Canary
Streaky-headed Canary
Yellow-fronted Canary
Yellow Canary
Spotted Eagle-owl
Barn Owl
Paradise Flycatcher
Fairy Flycatcher
Fiscal Flycatcher
Cape Bulbul
Black-eyed Bulbul
Red-eyed Bulbul
Red-faced Mousebird
White-backed Mousebird
Speckled Mousebird
Speckled Pigeon
African Olive-pigeon
Laughing Dove
Cape Turtle-dove
Red-chested Cuckoo
Klaas’s Cuckoo
Diderik Cuckoo
Burchell’s Coucal

These are but some of the birds, which may be found in SA gardens, also depending on their distribution patterns.






Read all about gardening bees!

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