Top ten blooms captivating hummingbirds' attention
In a garden teeming with life, few creatures are as captivating as the hummingbird. These tiny, vibrant birds are a delight to observe as they flit and flutter from bloom to bloom, sipping nectar from their favourite flowers. To create a hummingbird-friendly garden, consider planting a variety of flowers that cater to their unique feeding habits.
The cardinal flower, with its deep red tubular blooms, is a fantastic choice for attracting hummingbirds. Its design allows pollen to gently brush against the hummingbird's head during feeding, helping to spread pollen from bloom to bloom. Growing foxglove is straightforward, and these plants can reach impressive heights of up to 5 feet.
For a lively and buzzing garden, consider planting the top 10 flowers favoured by hummingbirds. Pineapple sage, with its vibrant red, tubular flowers rich in nectar, blooms late summer to fall and is attractive to both birds and humans, as it has an appealing scent and can be used in teas and salads.
Lantana, known for its bright, multicoloured flowers with tubular shapes, has a long blooming season from spring to late fall. It thrives in full sun and adds a splash of colour to any garden.
The cardinal climber flower, with its brilliant red tubular flowers, is another hummingbird favourite. It blooms summer to fall and thrives in moist, fertile soil.
Bleeding heart, with its pink and white heart-shaped flowers on arching stems, blooms in spring and prefers shade. Despite its shorter bloom time, it still attracts hummingbirds.
Scarlet sage (Salvia coccinea) is a hummingbird favourite for its vivid red tubular flowers that bloom all summer. It grows in Zones 8-11.
Bee balm (Monarda) is a native plant with red or magenta tubular flowers and is adaptable and long blooming.
Lobelia (Lobelia cardinalis) is a native wildflower with brilliant red tubular flowers from late summer to fall.
Eastern columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) offers red and yellow blossoms with tubular shapes, making it attractive to hummingbirds. It is native and attractive.
Catmint (Nepeta spp.) boasts lavender-blue tubular flowers on tall spikes and is abundant in blooms, making it drought tolerant.
Salvia, with its tubular flowers in red, orange, purple, and other bright colours, is very popular with hummingbirds for nectar. Many varieties are perennials that bloom through summer.
These flowers attract hummingbirds due to their vibrant colours, rich nectar, and potential food sources. The tubular shape fits the hummingbird’s long beak and tongue, allowing easy nectar access. Bright colours, especially red, orange, and yellow, are instinctively preferred by hummingbirds due to their vision adaptations. High nectar production provides essential energy for these high-metabolism birds, and bloom timing ensures a reliable food source during the hummingbird migration and breeding seasons.
By planting these flowers, you can enjoy a lively and colourful garden while watching hummingbirds dance from flower to flower. Other flowers that attract hummingbirds include fuchsias, butterfly bush, rose of Sharon, zinnias, and sunflowers. Lantanas are tough plants that can handle dry spells and require at least six hours of direct sunlight a day. Delphinium, also known as Larkspur, is a tall flower that attracts hummingbirds due to its flashy colours and tall flower spikes. Cardinal climber flowers bloom from midsummer until the first frost, close up at night, and are nectar powerhouses, attracting hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies. Foxglove, with its elegant tubular flowers, is perfectly shaped for hummingbirds to sip nectar and is a great food source for them.
In summary, planting a variety of these red or brightly coloured, tubular, nectar-rich flowers ensures a hummingbird-friendly garden that offers both food and beauty.
- To complement your home-and-garden, consider growing flowers that cater to hummingbirds' feeding habits, such as the cardinal flower, pineapple sage, scarlet sage, bee balm, and Salvia, which offer vibrant colors, rich nectar, and a tubular shape that fits the hummingbird's long beak and tongue.
- For a dynamic home-and-garden lifestyle, create a hummingbird-friendly garden by planting lantana, catmint, lobelia, Eastern columbine, and delphinium – all known for their bright colors, long blooming seasons, and appeal to hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies.
