Robins are a common sight in gardens across the UK, but there are certain plants you can grow to encourage them to visit more often – and they’re perfect for autumn
Katherine McPhillips and Talya Honebeek Content Editor – Spare Time
10:01, 05 Oct 2025
A natural way to help robins out is to grow certain shrubs, flowers or trees in your garden(Image: Getty)
Robins, often depicted on Christmas cards, are stereotypically seen as winter birds. However, they are more commonly sighted in autumn when they are foraging for food.
As October arrives, natural food sources such as berries and insects dwindle due to the chilly weather, leading robins to venture into gardens in search of sustenance. It’s crucial for robins to consume ample nutrients at this time to build up their fat reserves, which will help them stay warm and survive the harsh winter months.
Providing food in birdfeeders is a generous act that can significantly aid robins’ survival during this period, although it can be time-consuming and is often overlooked in daily routines. Nevertheless, Hannah Vickers, an expert from the Woodland Trust, has revealed an effortless method to assist these birds, provided certain plants are grown in your garden, reports the Express.
So, which plants can attract robins to your garden?
Hannah said: “Berry-rich trees and shrubs like rowan, hawthorn, guelder rose and holly are all great natural food sources and also help to provide shelter. Plants with an abundance of seeds are another great choice, such as teasels or sunflowers.”
Robins will keep coming back to your garden if you have these plants(Image: Chris McLoughlin via Getty Images)
Cultivating bird-friendly plants is an easy way to keep your garden lively as the colder weather approaches, and it could enable you to spot robins on a daily basis.
Rowan trees are brilliant for birds thanks to their berries, but they can grow exceptionally tall and become challenging to manage, and frequently don’t produce sufficient foliage for robins to build their nests.
Robins adore holly trees, though they typically require considerable time and space to develop, making them less than ideal for most gardens.
You are more likely to spot robins now in autumn while you are looking for food(Image: Getty)
Nevertheless, hawthorn is more compact and renowned for its thick foliage, providing a secure nesting spot for robins whilst also offering food.
Guelder roses rank among the finest plants for robins as they prefer feeding closer to ground level, and this bushy shrub offers ample cover for safe winter feeding.
The stunning white blooms also tend to draw numerous insects, creating multiple food sources to help nourish robins.
Simply planting a lot of wildflowers will make it easier for robins to find insects(Image: Getty)
Robins adore sunflower seeds, but these flowers will be dying back now, so it may be wiser to plant teasel flowers as they naturally begin sprouting during autumn.
Should nothing else work, simply establish a wildflower patch in October as they flourish in the cool, wet conditions and will draw beetles, worms, and caterpillars to form a natural foraging zone for robins.
Hannah said: “Another option is to plant some wildflowers to attract the insects that birds love to feed on. That way you can supply birds with food while filling your garden with gorgeous flower displays.”
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