Top 10 Blossoms That Engage Hummingbirds
In the enchanting world of gardening, there are few sights more captivating than the sight of a hummingbird darting among vibrant blooms, sipping nectar from flowers. To create a haven for these mesmerizing creatures, here's a list of the top 10 flowers that are known to attract hummingbirds.
1. **Salvia (Sage)**: With their tubular flowers in shades of purple, blue, pink, white, and red, salvias are a hummingbird's delight. These drought-tolerant perennials bloom for a long period, making them an ideal choice for any garden.
2. **Bee Balm (Monarda)**: The bright red tubular flowers of bee balm reliably attract hummingbirds throughout the growing season. Their aromatic foliage adds an extra sensory experience to your garden.
3. **Penstemon (Beardtongue)**: Known for their long blooming periods, penstemons offer spikes of tubular flowers in red, orange, purple, or blue. These versatile plants are perfect for diverse garden styles and are highly effective at attracting hummingbirds.
4. **Coral Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens)**: This vine features bright red tubular flowers that hummingbirds love. Ideal for fences or arbors, coral honeysuckle adds a touch of vibrancy to any garden.
5. **Agastache (Hummingbird Mint)**: Although not detailed here, agastache is a popular choice for hummingbird gardens and is among the top recommended plants for attracting these beautiful creatures.
6. **Catmint (Nepeta)**: With tiny, tubular lavender-blue flowers, catmint blooms abundantly and attracts hummingbirds, alongside being deer resistant and drought tolerant.
7. **Trumpet Vine**: The native trumpet vine boasts bright orange-red trumpet-shaped flowers, making it an ideal choice for hummingbird gardens.
8. **Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)**: Known for their vivid red tubular flowers, cardinal flowers are a hummingbird magnet.
9. **Petunia**: With tubular flowers in bright colours like red and purple, petunias are popular in gardens and are suitable for attracting hummingbirds.
10. **Fire Pink (Silene virginica)**: This native wildflower offers bright red tubular flowers that attract hummingbirds during the bloom season.
These flowers share common characteristics that appeal to hummingbirds: tubular-shaped flowers that accommodate their beaks, bright colours typically in the red spectrum, and nectar-rich blooms that provide necessary energy. Planting a combination of these will supply continuous nectar sources over the season, supporting hummingbird activity in your garden.
To maximise hummingbird attraction, consider planting a variety of these flowers to ensure blooms from spring through fall, providing shelter and fresh nectar around the clock. Including native species can especially enhance pollinator support.
Other flowers that are favourites among hummingbirds include the rose of Sharon, zinnias, butterfly bush, lantana, and fuchsias. Growing foxglove is straightforward, and these plants can reach impressive heights of up to 5 feet. Sunflowers provide essential late-season food for hummingbirds and are easy to grow from seeds. Delphiniums, also known as Larkspur, are tall plants that attract hummingbirds due to their vibrant colours and nectar-packed blooms. The cardinal climber flowers close up at night and are nectar powerhouses that bloom from midsummer until the first frost, attracting hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies. Lantanas thrive in hot, sunny conditions, needing at least six hours of direct sunlight a day, and are tough enough to handle dry spells well.
This list synthesises information across gardening experts and native plant guides to offer a reliable selection for anyone seeking to create a hummingbird-friendly garden.
- To indulge in a vibrant home-and-garden atmosphere that attracts hummingbirds, consider incorporating Salvia (Sage), Bee Balm (Monarda), Penstemon (Beardtongue), Coral Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens), Agastache (Hummingbird Mint), Catmint (Nepeta), Trumpet Vine, Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis), Petunia, and Fire Pink (Silene virginica) into your lifestyle, as these flowers are renowned for their hummingbird-friendly attributes.
- Further enhancing your home-and-garden's charm and becoming a sanctuary for hummingbirds, you might also include in your garden a variety of additional flowers that are cherished by hummingbirds, such as the rose of Sharon, zinnias, butterfly bush, lantana, fuchsias, sunflowers, delphiniums (Larkspur), cardinal climber, and lantanas.
