A Beginner’s Guide to Planting Flowers That Will Attract Hummingbirds

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If you want to add a touch of nature's beauty to your garden, then attracting hummingbirds is an excellent way to go. These tiny birds are not only delightful creatures to watch but also help pollinate flowers. In this beginner's guide, we will look at how to plant flowers that will attract hummingbirds including selecting the right locations, understanding their feeding habits, and managing pests.

Why attract hummingbirds to your garden?

Attracting hummingbirds to your garden has many benefits. First, it helps in flower pollination, which leads to fruit production. Secondly, watching the antics of these brilliant birds hovering and darting around can bring a lot of joy and relaxation. Finally, if you are a photography enthusiast, taking pictures of these birds in action can be both challenging and rewarding.

Benefits of having hummingbirds in your garden

Hummingbirds eat insects and aphids, which can help control pest problems in your garden. They also play an essential role in pollinating flowers, resulting in bountiful gardens full of fresh vegetables and fruits.

Flower color and form preferences of hummingbirds

Hummingbirds have an eye for colors and shapes, and they often seek brightly colored flowers with tubular shapes, which gives them easy access to nectar inside. Species like Bee Balm and Salvia are attractive to hummingbirds because of their bright and contrasting colors.

Understanding how hummingbirds feed on nectar

Hummingbirds feed on the nectar produced by flowering plants. They use their long, thin, and tubular tongues to extract nectar from the flower petals. In the process, they transfer pollen from one flower to another. Therefore, planting a mixture of colorful flowers with different shapes, heights, and blooming periods can attract hummingbirds to your garden throughout the season.

Hummingbird-friendly flowers

Trumpet Creeper

The trumpet creeper plant is a native of the southern United States. This perennial plant attracts hummingbirds with its trumpet-shaped crimson flowers, which are usually tubular with yellowish interiors. It prefers full sun locations and can grow up to 15 feet tall.

Bee Balm

Bee balm is also known as Oswego tea or bergamot. Its bright pink, purple, red or white flowers make it attractive to bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Bee balm grows best in full sun to part shade areas and reaches 18-36 inches in height.

Salvia

Salvia, commonly called sage, is a favorite among gardeners due to its colorful blooms and attractive foliage. Most varieties of salvia produce pink or red-colored blooms during the summer months, making them an ideal choice for attracting hummingbirds. They prefer well-drained soil in full sun exposure.

Cardinal Flower

The cardinal flower is a herbaceous perennial that produces stunning deep-red blooms that resemble small trumpets. It grows well in wet soils making it perfect for water gardens or damp areas in your garden.

How to plant a hummingbird-friendly garden

When planting a hummingbird garden, there are a few things to keep in mind to ensure success.

Choosing the right location

Hummingbirds prefer areas that receive plenty of sunlight, so select a location that gets at least six hours of direct sunlight each day. You may also want to choose an area with some natural shelter like trees or shrubs.

Selecting appropriate flowers

Choose a variety of flowering plants that will bloom at different times of the year, providing nectar for hummingbirds throughout the season. Plants with tubular-shaped flowers are ideal because they allow hummingbirds to drink the nectar without difficulty.

Providing shelter and perches

Hummingbirds need both food and shelter. Planting bushes and small trees near the feeders provides a perfect sheltered spot for the birds to perch and rest as they consume their meals.

Creating varied heights and colors

Plant a mixture of tall and short plants to create a layered effect and provide opportunities for hummingbirds to perch in different areas of your garden. Additionally, include flowers of various colors which will attract different species of hummingbirds.

Best locations for hummingbird gardens

Balconies or patios

You don't need a big garden to make a hummingbird-friendly environment. A balcony or patio can be an excellent place to plant a few quality pots with nectar-rich flowers that attract hummingbirds.

Home gardens

Homeowners with a lawn and a little space around their house have many opportunities to create a hummingbird haven by planting different varieties of flowers that bloom at differing times in the season.

Community gardens

Community gardens are good for several reasons other than getting people into nature. They provide opportunities for socializing, learning, healthy eating and a great way to create a shared hummingbird-friendly habitat.

Choosing the right types of flowers for your garden

Perennial vs. annual flowers

Perennials will bloom year after year, while annuals must be planted every season. Both types have their benefit and work well in hummingbird gardens. A combination of these two categories of plants provides an extended season to keep hummingbirds visiting year-round.

Native plants vs. non-native plants

Hummingbirds are most attracted to native flowers as they grow naturally in the environment. However, exotic plants can also provide nectar polls for hummingbirds provided the flowers produce the same nectar pollen levels.

Flower colors that attract hummingbirds

Bright colors like red, orange, and purple are known to attract hummingbirds. Flowers with high-contrast between petal color and pollen pads also help hummingbirds notice the flowers from afar.

Variety of flower shapes and sizes

Hummingbirds prefer a certain flower shape and size depending on their tongue length or bird size. Therefore, variety improves your chances of attracting more hummingbird species.

Caring for your hummingbird garden

Watering and fertilizing

Watering and fertilizing ensures that plants continue to grow strong and healthy, providing much-needed nectar for the hummingbirds. Be sure not to overwater or underwater the plants as this can adversely affect growth and reduce the production of nectar. Fertilizing should be done once a month during the growing season for optimum plant health.

Pruning and deadheading plants

Prune and remove deadheads regularly because flowering plants need to direct energy towards producing new blooms. In actuality, stopping unnecessary growth redirects some of the plants' effort into producing more blooms which, in turn, attracts more hummingbirds.

Managing pests and diseases

The hummingbird-friendly environment draws pests and insects that are also harmful to the plants. To maintain healthy plants and birds in your garden, use natural insect repellents like dish soap or jostling infected leaves over a pail of water.

Creating a hummingbird garden can be an enriching experience for both the gardener and bird enthusiasts. Providing a mix of attractive nectar sources, varied heights and colors of flowers, sheltered perching areas and attentive care will turn your garden into a safe haven for the delicate but breathtaking hummingbirds.

FAQ

What are the preferred flower colors of hummingbirds?

Hummingbirds are attracted to brightly colored flowers such as red, pink, orange, and purple.

Can I grow a hummingbird garden in containers or small spaces?

Yes. You can plant pots or hanging baskets with nectar-rich flowers on balconies, patios or indoors.

Do hummingbirds only feed on nectar from flowers?

Hummingbirds also eat insects and bug, including small spiders.

How can I protect my hummingbird garden from predators like cats?

Install bird feeders at a height unreachable to cats, consider incorporating taller plants or shrubs around the garden perimeter, and adding surface barriers like chicken wire around the hummingbird area.

How often should I water my hummingbird garden?

Water your garden once or twice a week, preferring deep watering to shallow watering to encourage deeper root growth. If it's consistently hot and dry outside, increase your watering schedule.