Hummingbirds are among the few birds capable of inspiring equal fascination among birders and non-birders alike. No other bird looks like them or flies like them. These charismatic and fearless tiny birds have captured the imagination of people around the world. Is it any wonder then, that there are whole gardens created around attracting and keeping hummingbirds coming back year after year?
People don't usually think of hummingbirds as pollinators, but they are among the worlds most efficient. Plants from wildflowers to trees benefit from these pint-sized pollinators. Hummingbirds have no sense of smell; it is color that they are most attracted to. If you want hummingbirds, then lay out the red carpet. Planting flowers that are red is like putting out a neon sign that says “Open Buffet!” The shape and color of familiar plants like Cardinal Flower, Trumpet Creeper, even Fuchsia and Christmas Cactus are due in large part to their relationship with hummingbirds.
Gardening for hummingbirds generally requires less intensive management than regular gardens. Most native plants that are adapted to local soils and rainfall will thrive and bloom without fertilizer. Please avoid using pesticides or harsh chemicals as these greatly impact their tiny hummingbird systems.
Plants that will attract hummingbirds:
Trees And Shrubs
Azalea
Butterfly Bush (it's not just for butterflies)
Honeysuckle (while they love it, it is highly invasive)
Mimosa
Red Buckeye
Weigela
Flowers
Bee Balm (it's not just for Bees)
Canna
Cardinal Flower
Columbine
Foxglove
Lupine
Penstemon
Salvia guaranitica ‘Black and Blue’ (it's not just red flowers)
Yucca
Annuals
Fuchsia
Impatiens
Jewel weed
Salvias
You say you have a brown thumb? Or a home without a yard? Don't worry; you can attract hummingbirds with a hummingbird feeder and sugar water. A solution of four parts water to one part white table sugar is simple to prepare and economical too. Sugar water is remarkably similar to the natural nectar found in hummingbird-pollinated plants. The most important thing when feeding hummingbirds from a feeder is to keep it clean! They should be cleaned and filled with fresh sugar water every two to three days. No need for soap, just hot, hot water. Mold is one of the top killers of hummingbirds. If ants become an issue they do make ant baffles but smearing some petroleum jelly from the top of the hanger will prevent them from taking over. Contrary to widespread belief, leaving feeders out in fall will not cause normal healthy birds to delay their migration. It might even help those that got a late start on their migration.
Lisa Bartlett is the Garden Manager of Smith Gilbert Gardens. Kennesaw Georgia's premier public garden, is an established garden with over 3,000 species of plants, many rare. This garden stands out as an exceptional blend of art, history and horticulture, all creating a tranquil retreat from the city.
All articles are copyrighted and remain the property of the author.
By Delilah Onofrey, Suntory Flowers
Photographs courtesy of Suntory Flowers
Planting annual beds of flowers, especially those that are bred to take the summer heat, thereby extending their glory into fall makes a lot of sense.
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