Flowers for Hummingbird Gardens is a delightful way to attract these tiny, vibrant birds to your outdoor space. Hummingbirds are attracted to specific types of plants and flowers that provide them with nectar, essential for their high-energy lifestyles. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the best plants and flowers to include in your hummingbird garden, ensuring you create a haven that these birds will love.
Understanding Flowers for Hummingbird Gardens Preferences
Characteristics and Behavior
Hummingbirds are small birds known for their rapid wing flapping, iridescent plumage, and ability to hover in mid-air. They have a high metabolism and feed primarily on nectar from flowers, supplemented with insects for protein.
Nectar Preferences
Hummingbirds are particularly drawn to tubular flowers that are rich in nectar. They have a strong preference for red, orange, and pink flowers, as these colors are easily visible to them.
Choosing Plants for Your Hummingbird Garden
Top Plants and Flowers
When selecting plants and flowers for your hummingbird garden, aim for varieties that bloom throughout the season to provide a continuous nectar source.
1. Bee Balm (Monarda spp.)
Description: Bee balm, also known as Monarda, produces vibrant clusters of tubular flowers in shades of red, pink, and purple.
Attraction: Its bright colors and abundant nectar make it a favorite among hummingbirds.
2. Trumpet Vine (Campsis radicans)
Description: Trumpet vine produces large, trumpet-shaped flowers that are typically orange or red.
Attraction: Its long, tubular flowers are perfectly suited for hummingbirds to feed from.
3. Salvia (Salvia spp.)
Description: Salvias come in various species and colors, including red, purple, and blue, and they bloom from spring to fall.
Attraction: Hummingbirds are attracted to the tubular shape of salvia flowers and their prolific nectar production.
4. Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
Description: Cardinal flower produces striking spikes of bright red, tubular flowers.
Attraction: Its intense red color and tubular shape make it highly attractive to hummingbirds.
5. Columbine (Aquilegia spp.)
Description: Columbines have delicate, bell-shaped flowers in shades of red, pink, yellow, and blue.
Attraction: Hummingbirds are drawn to columbines for their nectar and find their unique flower shape appealing.
6. Fuchsia (Fuchsia spp.)
Description: Fuchsias have pendulous flowers in shades of red, pink, purple, and white, resembling dangling earrings.
Attraction: The shape and colors of fuchsia flowers make them irresistible to hummingbirds.
7. Lantana (Lantana camara)
Description: Lantana produces clusters of small, brightly colored flowers that change hues as they age, from yellow and orange to pink and red.
Attraction: Its continuous bloom and varied colors ensure a long-lasting nectar source for hummingbirds.
Designing Your Hummingbird Garden
Creating a Habitat
To attract hummingbirds, design your garden to mimic their natural habitat, providing both food and shelter.
1. Plant Placement
Arrange plants in clusters or drifts to create visual impact and make it easier for hummingbirds to locate flowers.
2. Shelter and Perching Spots
Include shrubs, small trees, and trellises for hummingbirds to perch on and take shelter.
3. Water Features
Add a small birdbath or fountain for hummingbirds to drink from and bathe in, which can also attract insects for them to feed on.
Maintaining Your Hummingbird Garden
Care and Maintenance Tips
To keep your hummingbird garden thriving, follow these maintenance guidelines:
1. Watering Needs
Ensure plants receive adequate water, especially during dry spells, to support healthy growth and flower production.
2. Soil and Fertilization
Use well-draining soil and apply a balanced fertilizer according to plant requirements to encourage robust growth and abundant blooms.
3. Pruning and Deadheading
Regularly prune plants to maintain shape and remove spent flowers to promote continuous blooming throughout the season.
Enhancing Hummingbird Attraction
Supplemental Feeding
In addition to planting nectar-rich flowers, provide hummingbirds with supplemental feeding using hummingbird feeders.
Choosing Feeders
Select feeders with red parts to attract hummingbirds and ensure they are easy to clean and refill.
Homemade Nectar Recipe
Make your own hummingbird nectar by mixing one part white granulated sugar with four parts water. Boil the water, dissolve the sugar, cool the mixture, and fill the feeder.
Feeder Placement
Hang feeders in a shady spot near your garden to protect the nectar from spoiling quickly in the sun.
Conclusion
Creating a hummingbird garden filled with the best plants and flowers is a rewarding way to attract these fascinating birds to your yard. By selecting a variety of tubular flowers that bloom throughout the season, providing shelter and water sources, and maintaining your garden with care, you can ensure a haven that hummingbirds will frequent. Enjoy the beauty and wonder of these tiny visitors as they flit and feed among your carefully chosen plants.
FAQs
1. How often should I change the nectar in my hummingbird feeder?
Change the nectar in your hummingbird feeder every 3-5 days, or sooner if it appears cloudy or moldy, to ensure it remains safe and nutritious for hummingbirds.
2. What are some low-maintenance plants for a hummingbird garden?
Low-maintenance plants for hummingbird gardens include salvia, lantana, and trumpet vine, which require minimal care once established and provide abundant nectar.
3. Can I attract hummingbirds if I live in a city apartment?
Even in urban areas, you can attract hummingbirds by placing hummingbird feeders on balconies or windowsills and planting potted flowers such as fuchsias and salvias that are attractive to hummingbirds.
4. How can I prevent pests in my hummingbird garden without using chemicals?
To control pests naturally in your hummingbird garden, introduce beneficial insects like ladybugs and maintain plant health through proper watering and fertilization practices.
5. What should I do if hummingbirds stop visiting my garden?
If hummingbirds stop visiting your garden, try planting different varieties of flowers, ensuring your feeders are clean and filled with fresh nectar, and providing adequate shelter and perching spots for them.
| Home | Click Here |
| Hummingbird | Click Here |