Anyone who’s ever hung a hummingbird feeder has probably been appalled by the mayhem that ensues as these aggressive little birds stake their claims to the “nectar.” Providing an array of feeders usually only partially diffuses this territorial behavior.
It is possible to create a low-labor garden that pacifies competitive hummers by dispersing them over a wider area. The visual treat to be gained from cultivating hummingbird-friendly plants is just a bonus.
Hummingbird Garden Basics
- Hummingbirds drink nectar to support their incredibly high metabolic rate, and they eat tiny insects and spiders to fill their protein needs.
- Hummingbirds don’t possess a sense of smell; fragrance is not a key to attracting them.
- A hummingbird garden should consist of a selection of plants whose colors, forms, and nectar production appeal to the birds and also provide a habitat for small arthropods. Pesticides should be avoided.
- The ideal hummingbird habitat contains a succession of blooms that produce nectar from spring through fall’s frosts, but it is always reasonable to supplement natural nectar production with feeders. This can be particularly important at either end of the season, when flowering plants may be scarce but hummingbirds are still present.
- A combination of sun and shade, as well as perching and nesting sites, will add to a hummingbird garden’s desirability. Hummingbird nests—interwoven baskets of grasses, leaves and downy materials such as spider webs, lichen, mosses, or willow catkins—are usually hidden among interlacing branches of shrubs and trees.
- While red-hued flowers and feeders are generally accepted as the most appealing to hummingbirds, the birds will visit nearly any bloom that contains nectar.
- A water source—especially one that provides mist—is a magnet for hummingbirds, since they enjoy bathing. Keep an eye out for predators (snakes, toads and bullfrogs, praying mantises, cats, falcons, etc.) that will position themselves near the hummers’ favorite sites.
Perennial Plants that Hummingbirds Like
Before purchasing any new plants, hummingbird lovers should make sure they won’t be establishing an invasive species (a phone call to one’s county extension agent can save a lot of grief). It also pays to ensure that a given cultivar is suited to one’s local climate, soil conditions, etc.
- Agastache (Licorice mint, hummingbird mint, and others): deep red to orange to bluish-purple; 24-48 inches tall; full sun to partial shade; several xeric varieties; long-blooming
- Monarda (Bee balm, bergamot, etc.): purplish to pink and deep red; up to 36 inches; full sun
- Salvia (Russian sage, etc.): deep blue to purple and red; 12-48 inches tall; full sun to partial shade; xeric varieties; long-blooming
- Penstemon (Beardtongue): white and pale pink to yellow, blue, and deep red; 8-60 inches; full sun to partial shade; xeric and long-blooming
- Aquilegia (Columbine): multiple hues and shapes; single-flowered, long-throated varieties best; 12-40 inches; shade to full sun; early and long-blooming
- Alcea (Hollyhock): reseeding biennials; various colors; up to 6 feet or more; full sun; long-blooming
- Asclepias (Butterfly weed): yellow-orange to reddish; 15-18 inches; full sun to partial shade; xeric
- Trumpet Vine (Campsis, etc.): yellow to red; vigorous, sometimes invasive vines, growing up to 40 feet in one season; full sun to partial shade; some are early bloomers
- Lonicera (Honeysuckle): whitish-pink to reddish-orange; some varieties can be invasive; full sun to partial shade; early and long-blooming; fragrant
Many other plants will attract hummingbirds; the list above provides options for most locales in the US. Once the proper environment is established, it will provide endless hours of entertainment for human observers while supporting a delightful population of vibrant hummingbirds.
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