The common sight of a morning glory vine climbing a trellis often leads gardeners to wonder if these plants are compatible with attracting hummingbirds. Morning glories (Ipomoea species) are fast-growing annual vines that produce colorful, trumpet-shaped flowers throughout the summer. Hummingbirds are highly active pollinators that rely on a steady supply of nectar to fuel their rapid metabolism. Understanding the specific floral requirements of the hummingbird provides a clear answer to whether this popular garden plant is an effective food source.
Do Hummingbirds Visit Morning Glories?
Hummingbirds do visit common ornamental morning glories, such as Ipomoea tricolor ‘Heavenly Blue,’ but these flowers are not their most preferred choice. The primary drawback of the broad, trumpet-shaped blooms is their ephemeral nature. Most popular morning glory varieties open at dawn, and their large flowers curl up and close by mid-morning, limiting the window of opportunity for a hummingbird, which feeds continuously.
The wide opening of the flower also means the nectar is easily accessible to many other insects, leading to high competition. The large, wide-open structure of the common morning glory is less specialized than the tubular flowers hummingbirds typically seek. The birds will take advantage of the nectar source, but they prioritize flowers that offer a more consistent and exclusive food supply.
This situation changes with certain relatives in the Ipomoea genus, such as Cypress Vine (Ipomoea quamoclit). Cypress Vine is often called Cardinal Climber or Hummingbird Vine because its flowers are smaller, more tubular, and typically a vibrant scarlet red. These structural differences make the Cypress Vine a better match for a hummingbird’s long, slender bill and tongue, resulting in more frequent visits.
Key Floral Characteristics Hummingbirds Seek
Hummingbirds seek floral characteristics that maximize their energy intake. The most important feature is the tubular flower shape, which perfectly accommodates the bird’s long bill and extendable tongue. This design ensures that as the bird sips nectar, its head contacts the anthers, facilitating pollination. The deep structure of the tube also helps exclude larger insects like bees, reducing competition.
Color is another powerful attractant, with hummingbirds showing a preference for bright, warm colors, particularly red, orange, and pink. Unlike bees, which cannot see red well, hummingbirds have excellent vision for these wavelengths. This visual advantage is part of a co-evolutionary relationship where red flowers are associated with a high-energy food source with minimal competition.
The quality of the nectar itself is the final determinant of a flower’s value. Hummingbird-pollinated flowers produce nectar with a sugar concentration of 20 to 30 percent. This concentration provides the necessary energy density to support the bird’s high metabolic rate. The flower must also produce this high-quality nectar in sufficient volume to make the visit worthwhile.
Selecting the Best Varieties and Alternatives
Gardeners looking to cater to hummingbirds should focus on varieties that mimic the preferred tubular shape and red coloration. The Cypress Vine (Ipomoea quamoclit), a morning glory relative, is an excellent choice for a vine, as its scarlet, star-shaped, tubular flowers are perfectly suited for hummingbirds. Another related option is the Cardinal Climber, a hybrid that also offers the preferred red, tubular bloom structure.
Several other plants meet the specific criteria of the hummingbird. Salvias, often called sages, are effective, offering spikes of tubular flowers in shades of red and pink. Bee Balm (Monarda didyma) is a native perennial that produces abundant clusters of tubular, often red or pink, blossoms that are a hummingbird magnet. The native Trumpet Vine (Campsis radicans) is a vigorous climber with large, orange-red trumpet-shaped flowers that provide a reliable, high-volume nectar source.