Hummingbirds are specialized pollinators, and many gardeners hope to attract these tiny, high-energy birds by selecting specific flowering plants. These birds possess unique physical adaptations, like a long, slender bill and a tongue that laps up nectar rapidly, allowing them to access food sources other insects and animals cannot. Understanding the relationship between a hummingbird’s physiology and a flower’s structure is the basis for successful garden planning. This helps in choosing plants that provide the necessary high-calorie fuel to support their hovering flight and fast metabolism.
The Direct Answer: Do Hummingbirds Visit Tiger Lilies?
Hummingbirds do visit Tiger Lilies, but the plant is not their primary or most efficient food source. The common Tiger Lily (Lilium lancifolium) features large, bright orange petals with dark spots, which provides the vibrant color that attracts the birds’ attention. However, the flower’s morphology is not ideally suited for the hummingbird’s specialized feeding method. The petals are strongly recurved and open, and the flower is typically downward-facing, meaning the nectar is relatively exposed and does not require the bird to insert its bill into a long, protective tube.
Despite the less-than-perfect shape, the flower’s bright color and the sheer volume of blossoms produced by a mature plant can still draw in hummingbirds, particularly the Rufous Hummingbird in western regions. Some lilies possess small nectar tubes at the base of the petals, which can be utilized by the birds. The plant’s mid-to-late summer bloom time also makes it a valuable resource during the birds’ fall migration period.
What Attracts a Hummingbird?
A flower that has co-evolved with hummingbirds, known as an ornithophilous flower, exhibits a specific set of characteristics. The most important feature is the corolla shape, which is typically long, narrow, and tubular or trumpet-shaped. This structure requires a specialized bill to access the nectar, effectively excluding many nectar-robbing insects that cannot hover. Flowers preferred by hummingbirds are often red, orange, or pink, as these colors are highly visible to the birds and less attractive to many insect pollinators.
The nectar within these specialized flowers provides the high-octane fuel needed for the bird’s high metabolism. Hummingbirds can burn calories at an exceptional rate, requiring them to consume nearly their body weight in nectar daily. Hummingbird-pollinated flowers produce a relatively diluted nectar with a high proportion of sucrose, the sugar they metabolize most efficiently. These flowers generally lack a landing platform and do not have a strong scent, as the birds locate them visually.
Ideal Garden Alternatives for Hummingbirds
Gardeners looking to consistently attract hummingbirds should prioritize plants with the specialized tubular shape that matches the bird’s bill. Excellent choices include perennials like Bee Balm (Monarda didyma), which has dense clusters of tubular flowers. Various species of Sage (Salvia) are also highly effective, as they offer numerous nectar-rich, trumpet-shaped blooms over a long season.
Vining plants, such as Trumpet Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens), are another strong option, producing long, scarlet, tubular flowers. For container gardening or shady areas, plants like Fuchsia and Cuphea offer bright, pendulous, or tubular flowers. Planting these alternatives in dense groupings increases their visual appeal and provides a more concentrated, reliable food source for the visiting birds.