Hummingbirds have one of the fastest metabolisms in the animal kingdom, requiring them to constantly seek out energy-rich nectar to fuel their rapid, hovering flight. The Crepe Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica), a popular landscape shrub or small tree in warmer climates, is well-loved for its abundant, long-lasting summer flowers and attractive exfoliating bark. Gardeners often wonder if this common ornamental can serve as a dependable food source for these tiny, energetic birds, and whether it provides the specific biological reward necessary to sustain their demanding diet.
Crepe Myrtle’s Appeal to Hummingbirds
The Crepe Myrtle flower is generally considered a poor or secondary resource for hummingbirds, primarily due to its physical structure and nectar presentation. Unlike flowers co-evolved with hummingbirds, the Crepe Myrtle bloom is open and shallow, featuring petals with a crimped or crêpe-like texture. This open structure does not effectively funnel the hummingbird’s long beak, nor does it protect the small amount of nectar from other insects.
The nectar is not positioned deep within a tube, meaning the bird does not need to fully insert its bill to access the reward. Because of this, the Crepe Myrtle is largely unspecialized for hummingbird pollination, serving instead as a source for many types of insects, like bees and butterflies. Hummingbirds are sometimes observed investigating the large clusters of brightly colored flowers, but they are not the primary pollinator.
Visits are often opportunistic, perhaps for the insects attracted to the pollen, which provides a protein source to supplement the hummingbird’s diet. While certain cultivars with deep red or purple hues may catch a hummingbird’s attention, the plant does not offer the concentrated, easily accessible nectar required for efficient feeding. Shallow-nectar flowers like the Crepe Myrtle are not a viable replacement for specialized nectar plants due to the hummingbird’s high energy demands.
Defining the Ideal Hummingbird Flower
The most effective flowers for hummingbirds display the “ornithophilous syndrome,” reflecting a long co-evolutionary relationship. These flowers have a long, tubular shape, an adaptation that accommodates the bird’s bill and tongue while excluding most insects from reaching the nectar. This ensures the hummingbird is the primary pollinator, as the bird must brush against the anthers to reach the sweet reward.
Nectar quality is important, with hummingbirds preferring a high sugar concentration, often in the range of 20 to 25 percent. This concentrated sucrose solution delivers maximum energy return for the high caloric cost of hovering flight. Ideal flowers lack a strong fragrance because hummingbirds have a weak sense of smell, relying instead on highly visible colors for detection.
The color spectrum most attractive to hummingbirds includes bright shades of red, orange, and deep pink, as their vision excels in the warm ultraviolet range. These colors serve as a visual beacon, signaling a rich, tubular nectar source. The traits of a perfect hummingbird flower maximize energy intake while minimizing competition from other pollinators.
Best Alternative Plants for Nectar
To create a reliable feeding station, gardeners should focus on plants that exhibit the specialized characteristics hummingbirds favor. Plants that provide a continuous supply of high-quality nectar are more likely to keep the birds returning to the garden.
Specific species of Salvia, or sage, are excellent choices, offering numerous tubular flowers in shades of red, purple, and pink on tall spikes. These flowers are perfectly shaped to accommodate a hummingbird’s bill, making nectar extraction efficient.
To ensure a consistent food source from spring through fall migration, consider planting species that offer both nectar and vertical structure, such as vining plants. These include:
- Bee Balm (Monarda), which produces shaggy clusters of red or purple tubular flowers.
- Trumpet Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) and Trumpet Vine (Campsis radicans), featuring long, trumpet-shaped blossoms that are often scarlet or orange.
- Agastache, commonly called Hummingbird Mint, which offers long-blooming, nectar-rich spikes.
- Beardtongue (Penstemon) varieties, which provide tubular flowers in a wide array of bright colors.