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Transforming your garden into a hummingbird haven can be both an enchanting and rewarding experience. These tiny, iridescent birds are not only a joy to watch but also play a crucial role in pollination. By choosing the right plants, you can attract hummingbirds to your landscape, ensuring your garden is vibrant and full of life. In this blog post, we’ll explore seven plants that hummingbirds love, helping you create a beautiful, bird-friendly garden.
1. Trumpet Vine (Campsis radicans)
Why Hummingbirds Love It:
Trumpet vine, also known as trumpet creeper, features large, trumpet-shaped flowers that are perfect for hummingbirds’ long beaks and tongues. The vibrant orange-red blooms are a magnet for these birds, providing them with ample nectar.
Growing Tips:
- Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade.
- Soil: Well-drained soil.
- Water: Moderate watering; drought-tolerant once established.
- Care: Prune regularly to control growth and prevent it from becoming invasive.
2. Bee Balm (Monarda didyma)
Why Hummingbirds Love It:
Bee balm’s bright, tubular flowers come in shades of red, pink, and purple, attracting hummingbirds with both color and nectar. This plant blooms mid to late summer, offering a consistent food source.
Growing Tips:
- Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade.
- Soil: Moist, well-drained soil.
- Water: Regular watering to keep the soil consistently moist.
- Care: Deadhead spent blooms to encourage more flowers; divide every few years to maintain vigor.
3. Salvia (Salvia spp.)
Why Hummingbirds Love It:
Salvia, or sage, produces spikes of tubular flowers in various colors, including red, blue, and purple, all of which are highly attractive to hummingbirds. They are also rich in nectar, making them a favorite.
Growing Tips:
- Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade.
- Soil: Well-drained soil.
- Water: Moderate watering; drought-tolerant once established.
- Care: Deadhead to encourage continuous blooming; some varieties may need winter protection.
4. Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
Why Hummingbirds Love It:
The cardinal flower boasts striking red blooms that are specifically designed for hummingbirds. Their tubular shape makes it easy for hummingbirds to feed, and the vivid red color is irresistible.
Growing Tips:
- Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade.
- Soil: Moist, rich soil.
- Water: Keep the soil consistently moist.
- Care: Mulch to retain moisture; divide clumps every 2-3 years.
5. Honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.)
Why Hummingbirds Love It:
Honeysuckle vines produce clusters of tubular flowers in various colors, from red to yellow, which hummingbirds find very appealing. The sweet nectar is an added attraction.
Growing Tips:
- Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade.
- Soil: Well-drained soil.
- Water: Moderate watering.
- Care: Prune after flowering to maintain shape and encourage new growth.
6. Fuchsia (Fuchsia spp.)
Why Hummingbirds Love It:
Fuchsia plants produce delicate, hanging flowers in shades of pink, red, and purple. Their unique shape and nectar-rich blooms are perfect for hummingbirds.
Growing Tips:
- Sunlight: Partial to full shade.
- Soil: Moist, well-drained soil.
- Water: Regular watering to keep the soil moist.
- Care: Pinch back the tips to encourage bushier growth; protect from extreme temperatures.
7. Butterfly Bush (Buddleja davidii)
Why Hummingbirds Love It:
The butterfly bush offers long panicles of small, tubular flowers that are ideal for hummingbirds. Available in a variety of colors, these blooms provide a consistent nectar source from summer to fall.
Growing Tips:
- Sunlight: Full sun.
- Soil: Well-drained soil.
- Water: Moderate watering.
- Care: Deadhead to encourage more blooms; cut back in late winter to promote new growth.
8. Coral Bells
Speaking of long-blooming plants that hummingbirds love, coral bells are a great perennial choice for long-season blooms! The tall, wispy blooms are beloved by hummingbirds. The tiny flowers of coral bells are well-suited for the long, extended beak of the hummingbird. Even better, coral bells attract large numbers of butterflies and bees too, helping to pollinate other flowers in your yard.
With a wide array of leaf patterns ranging from green to cream, gold, purple, and more, there is a color to match nearly any landscape. And as a low-maintenance perennial, they are easy to plant and grow without worry. Affiliate Plant Link: Marketplace Heuchera ‘Plum Pudding’ Coral Bell Plant
The blooms are some of the longest-lasting of all perennials. The tiny, bell-shaped flowers form on long, spiky stems and can last for a month or more. Even better, they can bloom multiple times during a growing season.
The flower stems shoot up a full 12 to 18″ above the leaf canopy – which is a near-perfect height for hummingbird feeding and watching!
Creating a Hummingbird-Friendly Garden
Plant in Clusters:
Hummingbirds are attracted to clusters of flowers, which make it easier for them to find food. Planting in groups also creates a more visually appealing garden.
Provide a Variety of Blooms:
To keep hummingbirds coming back, ensure you have a variety of plants that bloom at different times. This way, you provide a continuous source of nectar throughout the seasons.
Add a Water Feature:
Hummingbirds are drawn to moving water. Adding a small fountain or misting device can attract these birds, providing them with a place to bathe and drink.
Avoid Pesticides:
Chemicals can harm hummingbirds and reduce the number of insects they feed on. Opt for natural pest control methods to keep your garden safe for all wildlife.
Include Perches:
Hummingbirds need to rest frequently. Incorporate small trees, shrubs, or garden stakes to provide them with places to perch and survey their territory.
Maintain Your Plants:
Regular maintenance, such as deadheading and pruning, will encourage more blooms and keep your garden healthy. Healthy plants produce more nectar, ensuring a steady food source for hummingbirds.
Conclusion
Attracting hummingbirds to your garden is a delightful endeavor that benefits both the birds and your landscape. By planting a variety of nectar-rich flowers like trumpet vine, bee balm, salvia, cardinal flower, honeysuckle, fuchsia, and butterfly bush, you can create a vibrant, hummingbird-friendly garden. These plants not only enhance the beauty of your garden but also support the well-being of hummingbirds, making your outdoor space a lively and enchanting haven.
So, start planning your garden today and enjoy the mesmerizing presence of hummingbirds as they flit from flower to flower, adding a touch of magic to your landscape.
