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Attracting Hummingbirds to your Garden

Attracting Hummingbirds

 

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Hummingbirds are a welcome sight in the garden. Their brightly colored feathers have earned them the title flying jewels. Here is some information on bringing these brilliant birds to your garden.


 

Plant Selection

 

Hummingbirds are drawn to bright red, orange, and pink flowers. They associate these colors with nectar so strongly that a red piece of plastic will be enough to get their attention.

 

Perennials

Agastache foeniculum (Hummingbird mint)                                           

Aquilegia canadensis (Columbine)

Asclepias tuberosa (Butterfly Weed)

Chelone spp. (Turtlehead)        

Delphinium spp. (Larkspur)       

Helianthus spp. (Sunflowers)

Heuchera spp. (Coral Bells) 

Hibiscus moscheutos (Rose Mallow)

Hosta spp. (Hosta)

Lobelia cardinalis (Cardinal Flower) 

Monarda spp. (Bee Balm)

Nepeta spp. (Catmint)                        

Penstemon spp. (Beardtongue)

Phlox paniculata (Garden Phlox)

Salvia spp. (Sage)

Tiarella cordifolia (Foamflower)

 

 Vines

Campsis spp. (Trumpetvine)

Lablab purpureus (Hyacinth Bean)

Lonicera sempervirens (Honeysuckle)

Tropaeolum majus (Nasturtium)

Trees and Shrubs

Aesculus pavia (Red Buckeye)                       

Abelia spp. (Abelia)

Cephalanthus occidentalis (Buttonbush)                

Clethra alnifolia (Summersweet)

Rhododendron maximum (Rosebay Rhododendron)

Weigela florida (Weigela)

 

Feeders

 

Once a hummingbird finds your garden it will return as long as the nectar supply lasts. Since flowers have a limited period of nectar production, a hummingbird feeder ensures that a constant supply is available. A simple nectar substitute can be made by boiling a 4:1 water to sugar ratio for two minutes.  Avoid using honey because it spoils quickly and can spread bacteria that are fatal to hummingbirds. Feeders should be cleaned regularly.

 

 

Sources: Compiled from experience and Attracting Hummingbirds and Butterflies (ed. James D. Blume). For more information visit us on the web at www.behmerwald.comwww.behmerwald.com