Many gardeners wonder if hummingbirds are drawn to the popular climbing vine, Clematis. Attracting these swift, iridescent birds requires providing a consistent food source that meets their unique biological requirements. Understanding what hummingbirds seek in a flower helps explain which plants become routine stops on their feeding route, supporting their high-energy demands.
The Specific Interaction with Clematis
The relationship between hummingbirds and Clematis is complex, but for most common garden varieties, the answer is generally no. Many popular, large-flowered Clematis hybrids are structurally ill-suited for hummingbird feeding. These hybrids present large, open, star-shaped flowers that lack the enclosed nectaries hummingbirds prefer. Because the nectar is easily accessed by insects, hummingbirds find less reward for their effort.
However, some specific species, such as the native Clematis viorna (Vasevine) or Clematis tangutica, feature smaller, cup-shaped, or trumpet-shaped blooms. These varieties hold nectar more effectively, making them more attractive. Additionally, the sheer volume of flowers on a mature vine can sometimes compensate for the less-than-ideal shape, providing an abundance of small sips.
What Hummingbirds Look for in Flowers
Hummingbirds have co-evolved with specific types of flowers, leading to distinct preferences centered around three criteria: color, morphology, and nectar composition. Their vision is sensitive to the red end of the spectrum, which is why red, orange, and pink flowers are favored. This preference helps them avoid insect competitors, as the red color serves as a strong visual cue.
The physical structure, or morphology, of the flower is equally important. The preferred shape is long, narrow, and tubular or trumpet-like. This tubular design perfectly accommodates the hummingbird’s long bill and tongue, while physically excluding most larger insects from reaching the nectar. This structure contrasts sharply with the flat, open structure of many ornamental Clematis flowers.
The nectar must meet the bird’s metabolic demands, characterized by a high sucrose content. Hummingbird-pollinated flowers offer a large volume of nectar that is moderately concentrated, averaging around 25% sugars. This high-sucrose reward is suited to their high metabolic rate, providing the sustained energy needed for rapid wing beats.
Attracting Hummingbirds with Alternative Plants
If Clematis is not attracting hummingbirds, gardeners can easily provide more effective alternatives that meet the birds’ needs. Focusing on plants with preferred tubular, red, or orange flowers will draw them in quickly.
Excellent choices include:
- Trumpet Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens), which features bright coral-red, trumpet-shaped blooms that are a reliable food source.
- Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis), which offers striking red, densely packed flowers late in the season.
- Plants in the Salvia genus, such as Salvia splendens (Scarlet Sage), providing continuous tubular blooms rich in nectar.
- A nectar feeder, using a simple solution of one part refined white sugar dissolved in four parts water, which mimics natural nectar concentration.
Placing a shallow, moving water feature nearby also provides a welcome spot for bathing and preening, further establishing the garden as a haven for these birds.