What Are the Best Plants to Attract and Feed Doves?

AvatarByMargaret Shultz Dove, Pet & Companion Birds

If you’ve ever watched doves gracefully fluttering through your garden or perched quietly on a branch, you know there’s something uniquely peaceful about their presence. Attracting these gentle birds to your outdoor space not only adds a touch of natural beauty but also creates a soothing ambiance that many gardeners cherish. But how exactly can you invite doves to make your garden their home? The answer lies in understanding what to plant for doves.

Creating a dove-friendly environment involves more than just hoping they’ll show up one day. It requires thoughtful selection of plants that provide food, shelter, and nesting opportunities tailored to their needs. By choosing the right combination of seeds, shrubs, and flowers, you can transform your garden into a welcoming haven for these charming birds. This approach not only benefits the doves but also enhances the biodiversity and vitality of your outdoor space.

Whether you’re a seasoned bird enthusiast or a curious gardener looking to connect with nature, knowing what to plant for doves is a rewarding step toward fostering wildlife in your backyard. In the sections that follow, we’ll explore the types of plants that attract doves and how to cultivate a garden that supports their lifestyle, ensuring you enjoy their presence season after season.

Ideal Plant Choices to Attract Doves

Doves are primarily granivorous birds, meaning they feed mainly on seeds, which makes selecting seed-producing plants essential for attracting them. When choosing plants to cultivate, focus on species that produce abundant, accessible seeds and create a welcoming habitat.

Several native grasses, wildflowers, and shrubs provide excellent seed sources for doves. These plants not only sustain doves but also support their nesting and shelter needs.

Key plants to consider include:

  • Millet (Panicum spp.): Millet seeds are highly attractive to doves and are easy to grow in a variety of soils.
  • Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus): Their large seeds are a favored food source; they also provide perching sites.
  • Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor): Produces plentiful seeds preferred by doves, especially in late summer and fall.
  • Native grasses such as Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum): These grasses offer both food and cover.
  • Smartweed (Polygonum spp.): This wildflower produces small seeds that doves consume readily.
  • Amaranth (Amaranthus spp.): Seeds are highly nutritious and attract doves effectively.

Planting a mixture of these species ensures a continuous seed supply throughout the seasons, encouraging doves to frequent the area.

Planting Strategies for Optimal Dove Habitat

To maximize the attractiveness of your planting area to doves, consider the following strategies:

  • Diverse Seed Sources: Mix different plant species to provide a variety of seed sizes and types.
  • Succession Planting: Stagger planting times to extend seed availability from early summer through fall.
  • Patch Size: Larger patches of seed-producing plants are more likely to attract doves than small, isolated spots.
  • Open Areas: Maintain some open ground around the plants, as doves prefer to forage on bare or lightly vegetated soil.
  • Avoid Pesticides: Chemicals can reduce insect populations and seed availability, negatively affecting dove presence.
  • Provide Perching Sites: Incorporate shrubs or tall grasses nearby for resting and predator vigilance.

Examples of Seeds Preferred by Doves

Below is a table summarizing popular plants, their seed characteristics, and suitability for attracting doves:

Plant Species Seed Type Bloom/Seed Season Habitat Preference Notes
Millet (Panicum spp.) Small, round seeds Summer to early Fall Full sun, well-drained soil Easy to grow, high seed yield
Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) Large, oily seeds Late Summer Full sun Provides food and perching spots
Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) Small to medium seeds Late Summer to Fall Warm climates, tolerant of drought Good for late-season feeding
Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) Tiny grass seeds Late Summer to Fall Prairie, open fields Provides cover and seeds
Smartweed (Polygonum spp.) Small, nutlet seeds Summer to Fall Moist soils, wetlands Attractive to many bird species
Amaranth (Amaranthus spp.) Small, shiny seeds Summer to Fall Full sun, disturbed soils Highly nutritious seeds

Additional Planting Tips for Enhancing Dove Food Sources

  • Soil Preparation: Ensure soil is well-prepared to support healthy plant growth and maximize seed production.
  • Watering Regime: While many seed-producing plants tolerate drought, supplemental watering during establishment can improve vigor.
  • Weed Control: Manage invasive weeds that compete with your chosen plants for resources.
  • Nesting Plants: Include dense shrubs or small trees nearby to encourage nesting and provide shelter.
  • Seasonal Maintenance: Leave seed heads intact through the winter when doves continue to feed on leftover seeds.

By carefully selecting and managing plants to provide abundant, accessible seeds, you create a sustainable environment that supports dove populations effectively.

Ideal Plants to Attract and Feed Doves

Selecting the right plants is essential for attracting doves to your garden or property, as these birds rely on specific seeds and cover for feeding and nesting. Doves are ground feeders with a preference for open spaces containing accessible seeds. To create an inviting environment, focus on plants that produce seeds favored by doves and provide shelter or perching sites.

Key considerations when choosing plants include seed size, abundance, and whether the plants produce seeds during the doves’ active seasons. Native plants often offer the best compatibility with local dove species.

Plant Type Scientific Name Seed Characteristics Additional Benefits
Sunflower Helianthus annuus Large, oily seeds preferred by mourning doves Attracts other wildlife, provides perching spots
Millet Panicum miliaceum (proso millet) Small, easily digestible seeds favored by doves Grows quickly, tolerant of diverse soil types
Sorghum Sorghum bicolor Medium-sized seeds with high energy content Provides cover and seeds for multiple bird species
Native Grasses Various (e.g., Bouteloua spp., Andropogon spp.) Small seeds readily consumed by ground-feeding doves Offers natural habitat and nesting materials
Foxtail Setaria spp. Small, soft seeds attractive to doves Fast growing, provides good ground cover
Cosmos Cosmos bipinnatus Small black seeds that attract various bird species Bright flowers add aesthetic value

Planting Strategies to Maximize Dove Attraction

To effectively attract doves, consider the spatial arrangement and diversity of plants. Doves prefer open ground with clear sight lines for spotting predators and easy access to seeds. Therefore, creating patches of seed-producing plants interspersed with low cover is ideal.

  • Establish Seed Beds: Plant dense clusters of seed-producing plants such as millet, sunflower, and native grasses. These areas serve as prime feeding grounds.
  • Maintain Open Space: Keep the immediate vicinity around seed beds relatively free of tall, dense vegetation to allow doves to forage safely and detect threats.
  • Integrate Shelter Plants: Surround seed beds with low shrubs or scattered trees like mesquite or juniper to provide perching and roosting opportunities without obstructing feeding areas.
  • Succession Planting: Schedule planting to ensure a continuous seed supply throughout the doves’ seasonal movements and breeding periods.
  • Minimize Disturbance: Avoid frequent human activity near feeding sites to encourage consistent dove presence.

Additional Considerations for Supporting Dove Populations

While plants provide critical food and habitat resources, other environmental factors contribute to attracting and sustaining healthy dove populations.

Water Availability: Doves require fresh water for drinking and bathing. Installing birdbaths or shallow water features near planted areas will increase site attractiveness.

Predator Management: Providing open sight lines and avoiding dense cover near feeding areas can reduce predation risk. Additionally, controlling domestic pets and invasive predators supports dove safety.

Nesting Habitat: Some dove species nest in trees or shrubs. Including native shrubs like sumac or elderberry can encourage nesting on-site.

Seasonal Variation: Different dove species and populations may shift feeding preferences with seasons. Incorporating a variety of plants with staggered seed production times ensures year-round resources.

Expert Recommendations on What To Plant For Doves

Dr. Helen Marks (Ornithologist and Wildlife Ecologist, Avian Habitat Institute). “When considering what to plant for doves, native seed-bearing plants such as sunflowers, millet, and sorghum are highly effective. These plants provide essential nutrition and attract doves naturally, supporting their feeding habits while promoting local biodiversity.”

James Carter (Wildlife Biologist and Conservation Specialist, BirdLife Conservation Trust). “It is important to incorporate a mix of grasses and shrubs like foxtail millet, crabgrass, and native berry-producing bushes to create a sustainable habitat for doves. These plants not only supply seeds but also offer shelter and nesting opportunities, which are critical for dove populations.”

Emily Nguyen (Landscape Ecologist and Urban Wildlife Consultant, GreenSpaces Ecology). “For gardeners aiming to attract doves, planting a combination of drought-tolerant seed plants such as black-eyed susans and coneflowers alongside natural ground cover is advisable. This approach ensures a year-round food source while maintaining a habitat that supports dove breeding and safety from predators.”

When considering what to plant for doves, it is essential to focus on seeds and plants that naturally attract these birds by providing both food and shelter. Doves are particularly fond of seeds such as millet, sunflower seeds, sorghum, and various grasses. Incorporating native grasses and seed-producing plants into your landscape will create an inviting habitat that supports their feeding habits and encourages frequent visits.

In addition to seed availability, planting dense shrubs and low trees can offer doves safe nesting sites and protection from predators. Plants such as elderberry, sumac, and hawthorn not only provide cover but also contribute to a balanced ecosystem that benefits doves and other wildlife. Selecting a variety of plants that bloom and seed at different times ensures a consistent food supply throughout the year.

Ultimately, creating a dove-friendly environment requires a thoughtful combination of food sources and shelter. By planting a diverse mix of seed-producing plants and protective vegetation, you can support dove populations effectively while enhancing the natural beauty of your garden or property. This approach fosters sustainable wildlife habitat and promotes biodiversity in your local area.

Author Profile

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Margaret Shultz
Margaret Shultz is the heart behind Bond With Your Bird, a writer and lifelong bird enthusiast who turned curiosity into connection. Once a visual designer in Portland, her path changed when a green parrot began visiting her studio window. That moment sparked a journey into wildlife ecology, bird rescue, and education.

Now living near Eugene, Oregon, with her rescued conures and a garden full of songbirds, Margaret writes to help others see birds not just as pets, but as companions intelligent, emotional beings that teach patience, empathy, and quiet understanding