Catmint, a perennial plant in the genus Nepeta, is a popular choice for gardeners due to its aromatic foliage and extended bloom time. Hummingbirds are small, highly energetic birds native to the Americas that require a steady supply of high-sugar nectar to fuel their rapid metabolism. Gardeners often wonder if the lavender-blue flowers of catmint attract these fast-flying pollinators.
Catmint’s Physical Characteristics and Hummingbird Interaction
Catmint flowers are typically small and grow in dense, upright spikes, with colors ranging from pale lavender-blue to deeper purple or white. The individual flowers have a small, tubular shape, which is generally favorable to hummingbirds. Hummingbirds have been observed feeding from catmint, indicating the flowers provide an accessible nectar source compatible with the bird’s long bill.
The attractiveness of catmint is often noted by gardeners, even though its color is not the typical red or orange associated with these birds. Catmint is a strong attractor for many pollinators, including bees and butterflies. While catmint can serve as a supplemental food source, it may not be a primary one when more specialized flowers are available. Larger varieties, such as ‘Six Hills Giant’ or ‘Siberian catmint,’ may be easier for hummingbirds to spot due to their height.
Biological Drivers of Hummingbird Flower Preference
Hummingbirds are specialized nectar feeders that have co-evolved with thousands of plant species, resulting in specific floral preferences. Their high-energy lifestyle demands that they efficiently locate and consume large quantities of sugar, making visual signals a powerful factor in flower selection. The birds possess highly sensitive color vision and are drawn to warm-spectrum colors like red, orange, and pink. This preference for red is partly because red flowers are less visible to common insect pollinators, which reduces competition for the nectar reward.
Beyond color, the morphology of the flower is important; hummingbirds favor blooms with a deep, narrow, and tubular shape. This structure perfectly accommodates the bird’s slender bill while limiting access for insect species. The flowers they prefer offer nectar with a high proportion of sucrose, which the birds efficiently metabolize. Hummingbirds do not rely on olfactory cues for foraging, so bird-pollinated flowers often lack scent.
Optimal Garden Choices for Attracting Hummingbirds
Gardeners seeking to consistently attract hummingbirds should prioritize plants that align with the birds’ biological preferences for color and shape. Species with long, tubular flowers in the red and orange spectrum are the most effective visual beacons.
- Bee Balm (Monarda didyma), which features spiky, scarlet-red flowers that are a favorite nectar source and thrive in sunny garden beds.
- Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis), which produces brilliant, true-red tubular blooms on tall stalks.
- Many varieties of Salvia, or sage, are highly effective, especially the red-flowered types like Salvia splendens, which offer the deep corolla tube hummingbirds seek.
- Coral Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens), a vine option that provides clusters of red-to-orange tubular flowers that are a consistent food source throughout the season.