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Hummingbird Garden

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Attracting Hummingbirds
Hummingbirds are fascinating creatures of the bird world and they're not hard to attract if you know what to plant. A large portion of their diet actually consists of tiny spiders and aphids, but they have a sweet tooth and are attracted to the sweet nectar of flowers, especially tubular or trumpet shaped blooms. It's a beautiful relationship between plant and animal. Many trumpet-shaped flowers are designed to be pollinated by critters with long, sucking mouthparts like those of a butterfly or hummingbird who in return, reward their pollinators with sweet nectar. There are even a few flowers, like the trumpet vine, whose flower tubes are so deep that only the hummingbird’s long bill can reach into the flower far enough to pollinate them. Nature has made certain flowers irresistible to hummingbirds to ensure that pollination takes place. Hummingbirds prefer flowers in shades of bright red and orange. Trumpet Vine is a prime choice as are Bee Balm and native Columbines. Hummingbirds also like red geraniums, which can be planted in containers with nasturtiums or petunias. In place of trumpet vine, honeysuckle vines or shrubs can be planted.

Another way to welcome hummingbirds to your garden is by providing feeders filled with sugar water. Mix one part sugar to four parts water, warm the mixture until the sugar is thoroughly dissolved, then cool. Place feeders throughout your garden and refresh the feeders about once or twice a week or as needed. 

When selecting a site for a hummingbird garden, choose a location that is both sunny and open, preferably with southern exposure. A trellis will be needed for clematis and other twining vines. A trellis is also a good support to tie up delphiniums and rose mallows. Prepare soil sparing the use of manure and fertilizers high in nitrogen. Too much green and not enough color can result in hummers passing your garden by for more appealing area with more food sources. 

Use These Plants

ANNUALS

Antirrhinum majus (Snapdragon)
Fuchsia spp.
Petunia x hybrida multiflora (Petunia) 
Salvia splendens (Red Salvia)
Tropaeolum majus (Nasturtium)


PERENNIALS

Aquilegia canadensis (Columbine)
Campanula carpatica (Carpathian Bellflower)
Campanula persicifolia (Bellflower)  
Delphinium spp.    
Dianthus allwoodii (Allwood’s Pink)
Echinops spp. (Globe Thistle)   
Hemerocallis spp. (Daylily)  
Heuchera sanguinea (Coral Bells) 
Hibiscus moscheutos (Rose Mallow) 
Lilium spp. (Lily)    
Lupinus spp. (Lupine)    
Monarda didyma (Bee Balm)  
Penstemon digitalis (Beardtongue)
Phlox paniculata (tall Garden Phlox)
Physostegia virginiana (False Dragonhead) 
Platycodon grandiflorum (Balloon Flower)


SHRUBS & VINES

Azalea and Rhododendrons    
Campsis radicans (Trumpet Vine)   
Chaenaoeles japonica (Japanese Flowering Quince) 
Clematis spp.      
Weigela florida (Diervilla)