Hummingbird Flowers
A Beginner’s Guide to Hummingbird Flowers
If you want to attract a hummingbird, flowers are one of the best ways to do it. Hummingbirds do not have a sense of smell, but they are attracted to both the nectar and color of flowers. Making a hummingbird garden with all of the bird’s favorite plants will not go unnoticed for long. Red and orange colored flowers are the best choices. A hummingbird garden should also have spots of sun and shade, plenty of branches and twigs for perching, a source of water, hummingbird feeders, and places for hummingbirds to build nests.
You don’t have to be terribly particular about what types of hummingbird flowers to choose. They like annuals, perennials, bulbs and tubers, as well as flowering bushes and trees. They choose both wild and cultivated flowers from which to obtain nectar. Hummingbirds also have long beaks, and they like flowers that have long openings into which they can insert their beaks and extract nectar. This is one of the reasons that flowers like the trumpet climber are popular with hummingbirds.
Perennials--These are a great choice for hummingbird flowers because they will come up again year after year without you having to replant them. Here are some types of perennials which have been known to attract hummingbirds: lupine, foxglove, bee balm, fuchsia, dahlia, verbena, coral bells, butterfly weed, monkey flower, scarlet sage, blue sage, cardinal flower, delphiniums, iris, geranium, cosmos, hollyhock, and columbine. Don’t be surprised if you enjoy these flowers as much as the hummingbirds.
Annuals--There are many beautiful annual plants that attract hummingbirds. The only problem with an annual is that you are going to have to replant it each year. Many perennials can be planted as annuals, particularly if you live in a northern location and the plant cannot withstand frost. If you have limited space, you could give your hummingbirds variety by planting some species one year and others the next. Some annuals that are considered hummingbird flowers include nasturtium, mountain garland, zinnia, petunia, flowering tobacco, spider flower, touch-me-not, beard tongue, jewelweed, and jacobiana.
Vines--Many of the most popular hummingbird flowers grow on vines. Two of these, the trumpet creeper and trumpet vines are among the most well known. Hummingbirds also will visit honeysuckle, cardinal climber, rosary vine, bougainvillea, lantana, and flame vine in their quest for nectar.
Shrubs and trees--Not only does the nectar of flowering trees and shrubs attract hummingbirds, but these plants are also large enough to provide perches on which they can rest and places for building nests. These shrubs and trees are the best choices for attracting hummingbirds: azalea, eucalyptus, hibiscus, lilac, strawberry tree, crabapple, flowering currant, red buckeye, mimosa, butterfly bush, locust and morning glory.