Summer melted away just in time for the final touches on my backyard improvements. Now October is here, bringing the more temperate climate that flocks of both migratory birds and my returning snowbird friends prefer. It’s also the time of year when our local Master Gardeners eagerly anticipate sharing their best advice with an influx of new residents. This month, the focus is on helping our community incorporate more Florida native plants into their landscapes—and I’m all in, with a twist!
While we often spotlight natives that can survive dry soils and need very little care after establishment, this time I’m turning the conversation toward landscapes where water is a consistent feature. Whether it’s a low-lying area, a backyard pond, or an ornamental water feature, these wet spots present a perfect opportunity to create wildlife-friendly spaces that welcome birds and other visitors.
If you’ve already got water in your yard, you’re ahead of the game; creating a bird-friendly space starts with mimicking the natural diversity birds depend on. These native plants thrive in moist conditions and offer exactly what birds need as they pass through or settle in for the season:
• Myrsine is a beautiful, easily maintained evergreen shrub between 8 and 15 feet tall and 3 to 8 feet wide. It flourishes along pond edges and produces fruit right when migratory and overwintering songbirds need an energy boost the most.
• Yellow anise is a soft, sprawling shrub that prefers shade and grows 10 to 15 feet wide and 15 to 20 feet tall. Tucked near large trees at the pond’s edge, it offers dense, licorice-scented shelter that birds use for nesting and protection during storms or chilly nights.
• Buttonbush is a loose, airy shrub that grows 6 to 8 feet wide and up to 10 feet tall. It thrives in wet soils and can even grow directly in standing water. Whether in full sun or partial shade, buttonbush is a powerhouse, offering the seed, shelter, and insect-rich habitat that birds and pollinators love.
Of course, these are just a few suggestions; there are many other moisture-tolerant natives to suit your aesthetic. Try to include multiple layers around your pond: tall canopy trees, mid-story shrubs like those above, and low-growing ground covers. This layered structure offers food, cover, and refuge for a wide range of bird species.
Choose plants with staggered bloom and fruiting times to provide continuous nourishment throughout the year. Surrounding the water’s edge with plants like buttonbush also supports pollinators, and leaving a bit of leaf litter can help shelter the insects that many birds rely on for food.
If you’re not quite ready to dig in, fall is the perfect time to slow down, observe, and plan. Use the season to dream up your bird-friendly design, then plant in spring when conditions are more favorable. In the meantime, you can support our feathered visitors by putting out feeders with seed or suet, especially in quieter corners of the yard where there’s less human traffic. Birds appreciate a little peace as much as we do.
Nickie Munroe is an environmental horticulture agent with the University of Florida’s IFAS Indian River County Extension.
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