Hummingbirds add vibrancy to any garden with their swift movements and iridescent feathers. Creating a garden that attracts these tiny birds is rewarding. The right plants provide essential nectar, ensuring a consistent food supply and inviting hummingbirds to visit regularly.
Selecting Hummingbird-Friendly Plants
To attract hummingbirds, understand their plant preferences. They are particularly drawn to bright, vivid hues such as red, orange, pink, purple, and yellow. Beyond color, the shape of the flower is also important; tubular or trumpet-shaped blooms are favored because they allow hummingbirds to easily access nectar with their long beaks and tongues. Flowers with high nectar content are preferred, as hummingbirds need a rich energy source to fuel their rapid metabolism.
Incorporating native plants is beneficial, as these species have evolved alongside local hummingbirds and provide a reliable food source. Native varieties often offer more nectar than hybrid or exotic plants. Consider a mix of annuals, which provide continuous blooms throughout a single season, and perennials, which return year after year, to ensure a consistent nectar supply. Selecting plants with staggered bloom times also helps maintain a food source from spring through fall.
Essential Care for Hummingbird Plants
Adequate sunlight is important for most hummingbird-attracting plants, with many thriving in full sun, meaning at least six hours of direct sunlight daily. Some plants can tolerate partial shade, particularly in hotter climates where afternoon shade can prevent stress. Proper light exposure encourages abundant flowering, which in turn provides more nectar for hummingbirds.
Consistent watering is important to maintain plant health and nectar production. Most hummingbird plants prefer moist, well-draining soil, avoiding waterlogged conditions that can lead to root issues. Watering deeply encourages robust root growth. Plants in containers may require more frequent watering due to quicker drying.
Well-draining soil rich in organic matter provides an ideal growing environment. Adding compost can enrich the soil, fostering plant health and beneficial insect life. When fertilizing, use a balanced fertilizer and avoid excessive nitrogen, as too much nitrogen can promote leafy growth at the expense of flower production.
Protecting plants from pests and diseases without harming hummingbirds is important. Natural pest control methods are preferred, as pesticides and insecticides can be detrimental to hummingbirds and their insect food sources. Companion planting, introducing beneficial insects like ladybugs, and regularly inspecting plants for early signs of infestation can help manage pests organically.
Top Plant Choices for Hummingbirds
Salvia, often called sage, is a highly effective choice for attracting hummingbirds, available in both annual and perennial varieties. Many Salvias feature tubular flowers in shades of red, pink, purple, and blue, blooming throughout the summer. Most prefer well-drained soil and thrive in full sun to partial shade, with some varieties tolerating drier conditions once established.
Petunias are popular for their vibrant, often trumpet-shaped blooms and long flowering season, making them a consistent nectar source. While they may not be as nectar-rich as some native wildflowers, their bold colors, especially red, pink, and fuchsia, attract hummingbirds. Petunias are easy to grow in containers or garden beds, requiring full sun and consistent moisture for abundant blooms.
Fuchsia plants, with their pendulous, often bi-colored flowers, are a favorite for hummingbirds due to their perfect shape and abundant nectar. Many fuchsias thrive in partial shade, particularly in areas with hot summers, and prefer moist, well-drained soil rich in organic matter. They are excellent for hanging baskets, allowing hummingbirds easy access to their dangling blossoms.
Bee Balm (Monarda) is a North American native with shaggy, tubular flowers in red, pink, and purple. This perennial is loved by hummingbirds and thrives in full sun to partial shade with consistently moist, well-draining soil. Bee Balm varieties range from one to four feet tall and can spread, providing a significant food source.
Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis) is known for its striking scarlet red, tubular flowers that bloom from July to September. This native perennial thrives in moist to wet soil conditions and prefers partial shade, making it suitable for damper garden areas. Its tall spikes make it highly visible and accessible to hummingbirds.
Maintaining a Hummingbird-Friendly Garden
Deadheading, the practice of removing spent blooms, encourages many hummingbird plants to produce more flowers and extends their blooming season. For plants like Salvia and Petunia, regular deadheading helps maintain plant vigor and a continuous supply of nectar. Pruning can also help shape plants and promote new growth and flowering.
To ensure a continuous nectar supply throughout the growing season, strategic planting of flowers with staggered bloom times is beneficial. Combining early spring bloomers, summer flowers, and late-season varieties ensures hummingbirds have food available from their arrival until their migration. Grouping similar plants together in masses also makes them more visible and attractive to hummingbirds.
Avoiding the use of pesticides and insecticides is important in a hummingbird garden. These chemicals can harm hummingbirds directly or by eliminating the insects that form a part of their diet. Maintaining a chemical-free environment ensures a safe and healthy habitat for these birds and other pollinators.
For gardeners in colder climates, preparing plants for winter, such as winterizing tender perennials or allowing self-seeding annuals to drop seeds, helps ensure future blooms. Some fuchsia varieties, for instance, can be brought indoors to overwinter. Leaving some plant stalks standing over winter can also provide shelter for beneficial insects.