Top7 Flora Favorites of Hummingbirds
Garden with Fluttering Wings - A Guide to Attracting Hummingbirds
Hummingbirds, those tiny, vibrant creatures, are a captivating sight in any garden. Beyond their enchanting beauty, they play a crucial role in local ecosystems, particularly through pollination. By incorporating hummingbird-friendly plants into your garden, you're inviting these awe-inspiring birds and contributing to the thriving of the environment around you.
Certain plants are evolved to charm hummingbirds, thanks to their tubular flowers and high nectar content. Besides attracting these feathered friends, these plants also add dynamic colors and movements to your landscape. By choosing the right plants, you can create a garden that is not just visually stunning but teeming with life.
Top Picks for Hummingbird Heaven
When selecting plants for a hummingbird paradise, consider their inherent qualities that attract hummingbirds, such as bright colors, high nectar content, and flowers in bloom throughout the growing season. Here are some popular choices:
1. Coral Balm (Monarda didyma)
A crowd-favorite for hummingbirds, the coral balm boasts clusters of red, pink, or purple tubular flowers. These plants flourish well in full sun and prefer well-draining soil, making them a fantastic addition to any garden. Their high nectar content and blooms in early summer maintain the hummingbird population well-fed during this critical period.
Hummingbirds adore the coral balm for its high nectar production, but it also catches the attention of other pollinators like butterflies and bees. Companion plants like coral bells or hummingbird mint can enhance the hummingbird-friendly environment, earning a picturesque lawn that blossoms all summer long. For maximum impact, arrange it in clusters, making it easier for hummingbirds to spot from afar.
2. Larkspur (Delphinium)
Standing tall with striking blooms, larkspur is yet another gardening pride for hummingbird enthusiasts. This herbaceous perennial displays tall spikes of blue, pink, or white flowers, adding height and texture to the garden. Larkspur prefers partial sun to full sun and requires well-draining soil to thrive.
Larkspur's tubular shape complements the unique features of hummingbirds' beaks and tongues, allowing them to access deep nectar sources effortlessly. Plant larkspur alongside other plants like salvia or phlox, ensuring your garden never fails to offer continuous blooms from winter through summer, tempting hummingbirds to visit again and again.
3. Hollyhocks (Alcea)
Hollyhocks exude an old-fashioned charm with their tall, dramatic flower spikes. These hummingbird plants come in an array of colors, including orange, pink, and red. The tubular flowers are perfect for attracting hummingbirds, and hollyhocks perform exceptionally well in full sun and well-drained soil, making them a low-maintenance gardening choice.
Since hollyhocks tower above most other plants, pair them with shrubs like butterfly bush to create a vertical layer of food sources for a diverse landscape. Moreover, place a birdbath near these vibrant blooms, providing a resting spot for the hummingbirds as they fuel up between visits.
4. Phlox (Phlox paniculata)
Fragrant and radiant, phlox is another sweet-smelling treat for both you and the hummingbirds. This herbaceous perennial is renowned for its vibrant, fragrant blooms in shades of purple, pink, and white. Phlox grows best in partial shade or full sun, making it adaptable to diverse garden conditions.
Grow phlox alongside native plants like blue lupine or red columbine to create an intricate and colorful ecosystem. Arranging phlox in clusters optimizes its noticeability to hummingbirds seeking a reliable food source. Besides hummingbirds, this plant attracts butterflies and other pollinators, making it a true asset for any wildlife-friendly garden.
5. Red Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)
A Springtime delight, red columbine is one of the earliest blooms, providing vital energy for early-arriving hummingbirds. Its striking red and yellow tubular flowers lure hummingbirds with their abundant nectar during a time when few other plants are in bloom. Red columbine prefers partial shade and is drought-tolerant, making it suitable for many different garden settings.
For optimal results, plant red columbine alongside flowers that bloom later in the season, such as salvia, to ensure a constant food source for hummingbirds throughout the growing season. This plant blossoms wonderfully in woodland gardens or areas with dappled sunlight.
6. Blue Lupine (Lupinus perennis)
For those aiming to incorporate more native plant species, blue lupine is an excellent choice. This hummingbird plant features tall spikes of blue or purple flowers. As a native plant, it performs optimally in the local habitat, requiring minimal care once established. It thrives best in full sun to partial shade and well-draining soil.
Grow blue lupine with other hummingbird-friendly plants like salvia to generate a varied, layered garden that nurtures hummingbirds across the entire growing season. By doing so, you provide a continuous food source that boosts the charm of your garden.
7. Salvia (Salvia nemorosa)
When it comes to hummingbird plants, salvia is a must-have. Tall flower spikes and an abundance of nectar make it a powerful attraction for these feathered friends and other pollinators. Salvia grows well in full sun, yielding vivid blooms in shades of blue, purple, and red.
Salvia pairs wonderfully with flowers like phlox, and it adds height and structure to any garden. By cultivating it in clusters, you create an easier-to-find food source for the hummingbirds, enticing them to visit your garden repeatedly. Don't forget to include hummingbird feeders nearby to supplement their diet while they enjoy your visually stunning landscape.
Wrapping Up
By carefully choosing the best plants for hummingbirds, you're not merely beautifying your garden; you're creating a sanctuary that supports local wildlife. Plants like larkspur, hollyhocks, and phlox offer the necessary nectar for hummingbirds to thrive, while also adding vibrant colors and fragrances to your garden. Whether you decide to prioritize native species like blue lupine or mix in show-stoppers like salvia, the objective is to provide a continuous food source, shelter, and water to uphold a feast of feathers all season long.
As you design your garden, remember that hummingbirds appreciate a variety of colors, heights, and bloom times. Grow flowers in clusters, offer a mix of sun and shade plants, and create a garden that is as alluring for you as it is for your hummingbird friends. With some thoughtful planning, your garden can transform into an enticing hummingbird magnet, spinning with life and color all season long.
Incorporating hummingbird-friendly plants like coral balm, larkspur, hollyhocks, phlox, red columbine, blue lupine, and salvia into your home-and-garden or lifestyle can create a captivating and thriving environment for these enchanting birds. Each of these plants offers bright colors, high nectar content, and flowers in bloom throughout the growing season, contributing to the visual appeal of your garden while attracting hummingbirds. By selecting (and possibly implementing) these plants, not only will your garden be home to a myriad of colors and life, but it will also play a role in the local ecosystem, particularly through pollination.
