Plants That Attract Animals to Your Yard

Attract animals to your landscape or garden in a natural way and you'll help wildlife survive as well as provide an interesting view for the human critters from your home's windows. It is true that many gardeners specifically use plants resistant to wildlife such as deer, rabbits and squirrels, to keep the animals from feeding on the vegetation. However, when trying to entice the animals to your yard there are several species of plants that will do just the trick.


The California blackberry (Rubus ursinus) is a perennial plant that attracts California quail to your lawn. Growing in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 3 through 8, the California blackberry produces edible berries that wildlife enjoy snacking on; and you can harvest the berries for jams, jelly and preserves. The blackberry will also attract birds and butterflies to your lawn.


The sunflower adds a happy look to your landscape while providing food for animals and birds. Finches, chickadees, sparrows and jays all feast on the sunflower seeds, which can grow in USDA hardiness zones 3 through 11. These tall annuals are available in various cultivars each ranging in color, size and planting requirements. Raccoons and squirrels like the seeds too. Another way to increase the number of birds that visit your garden is to plant the colorful coneflower (Echinacea) in zones 3 through 9. This hardy, sun-loving perennial attracts birds and butterflies, and is drought-tolerant once established.


As its name states, the rubber rabbitbrush (Ericameria nauseosa) attracts cute little cottontails to your land, as well as squirrels and deer. This broadleaf evergreen shrub grows in zones 5 though 9 in full sun and reaches heights between 2 and 6 feet. In late summer, yellow blooms will begin to appear. They give way to cotton-like seeds in the winter months. Another shrub for attracting rabbits is the redtwig dogwood (Cornus sericea), which also attracts deer, squirrels, chipmunks and raccoons. This full- to partial-sun shrub grows up to 10 feet in zones 3 through 8 and produces white, bird-attracting blooms in the summer and stunning burgundy foliage in the fall.


Eastern cottonwood trees (Populus deltoides) and Fremont's cottonwood (Populus fremontii) attract deer to zones 3 through 9. Most cottonwood species prefer locations where they will receive full sun; they tolerate overly saturated soils. The lady banks rose (Rosa banksiae) and the Cecile Brunner (Rosa 'Cecile Brunner') are two flowering plants that deer seem to love to feed on as well. Both these climbing roses prefer full sun to partial shade with loam soil that has good drainage. Lady banks rose grows in zones 6 through 9, while the Cecile Brunner rose can be found in zones 5 through 9.