The gardening expert says the plant is particularly popular with robins and sparrows
Millie Bull Deputy Editor, Spare Time
16:30, 13 Feb 2026Updated 16:43, 13 Feb 2026
The Love Your Garden presenter said this plant has purple berries that robins and sparrows adore(Image: mauribo via Getty Images)
Renowned English gardener, TV presenter and author Alan Titchmarsh has revealed which plants gardeners should incorporate to attract more birds.
The former Gardeners’ World host explained in a video on his YouTube channel, Gardening with Alan Titchmarsh, that the most effective way to encourage birds into gardens is to “plant things that they will find useful, particularly in terms of food”.
During this season, among the best plant varieties gardeners can introduce are those bearing berries, which provide birds with abundant nourishment.
One plant Alan suggested that proves especially appealing to robins and sparrows is the “beautyberry”, otherwise known as callicarpa. He remarked: “It looks artificial. It’s purple, which is not a natural colour for berries in the garden. Robins and sparrows love it.
“It makes a tallish shrub. Stick it at the back of a border where it will be background for most of the year, but then come autumn, look what it does, it really draws your eye.”
Birds also need shelter at this time of year, not just food(Image: Gary Chalker via Getty Images)
The horticultural expert also emphasised pyracanthas, commonly known as firethorns, which yield striking red, yellow, or orange berries in autumn and winter, reports the Express.
He noted that these specimens create superb hedges and can be readily trained to grow up the sides of buildings or sheds.
Alan additionally suggested cotoneasters (frequently termed catoni asters) as perfect for smaller birds. Their “bite-sized” berries offer an essential food source.
Roses that produce rose hips are another excellent option for attracting birds to your garden. As the vibrant red hips begin to soften, birds are drawn to them in numbers, with blackbirds finding them particularly appealing.
One plant Alan recommended that’s particularly popular among robins and sparrows is the “beautyberry”(Image: JHVEPhoto via Getty Images)
Beyond food, birds require shelter during this season. Gardeners can address this need by cultivating prickly shrubs such as barberries or holly, which additionally bear berries.
The spiky foliage helps ward off predators while offering birds winter protection, and the berries provide vital nourishment.
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