Gardening with Hummingbirds

Planting Natural Nectar

Rufus Hummingbird, the aggressive terriers of the hummingbird world, visiting Salvia azurea

By David Salman:

Experience the joy of seeing hummingbirds up close, busily darting from flower to flower, feeding on the natural nectar provided by your colorful flowers. Hummingbird gardening merges the worlds of gardening and bird watching into one. A diversity of flowering plants helps support hummingbird populations as plants provide a source of small insects and seasonal flowers for them to feed on during their spring and fall migrations and summer nesting season. There is also an additional benefit. Feeding hummingbirds natural nectar provides natural, mineral-rich simple sugars that cane sugar and water can't duplicate.  It's like the difference between a Coke or an organic fruit smoothie. Flowers and feeders can co-exist in the garden, but you find that feeders will be much less frequently visited when there are plenty of flowers upon which to sip.

Four Garden Essentials for Happy Hummingbirds

Water

Hummingbirds are particularly attracted to bright orange, pink and red tubular flowers like this agastache.

Providing a source of water is an essential lure for visiting hummingbirds.  Hummingbirds prefer water sources that move, drip or spray.  Fountain of any size that provide cascading or dripping water are ideal. 

Provide a Perch

Although hummingbirds always seem to be on the move, they love to perch. Here, if only for a few minutes, they can rest and look over the garden. When doing your spring clean-up be sure to leave a few dead branches on your trees and shrubs; about 5 to 10 ft. above the ground is ideal. 

Garden Organically

It is essential that we use natural ingredients and organic methods in our yards, especially when it comes to dealing with insects. Insects in the garden are an essential source of protein for hummingbirds and other wildlife. Avoid spraying organic insecticides unless it's an emergency situation. Plants and insects have evolved to co-exist and diverse insect populations are an essential part of the garden ecosystem. Indiscriminant spraying disrupts this balance.  Small insects, like aphids, are a honeydew feast for the hummingbirds, caterpillars are a must for songbird hatchlings. Never use systemic pesticides (commonly promoted and sold in lawn and garden stores) because they are deadly to hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies. These pesticides are translocated into flower nectar and ingested by pollinators.

Hummingbird atop a yucca plant

Planting to Provide Flowers and Natural Nectar

In Colorado, many species of hummingbirds are migratory, moving north in late March/early April and heading south in late summer and early fall. But a good number of hummingbirds will also stay around in summer to nest and feed.  So it is essential to plan for a succession of blooming perennials, shrubs and trees to provide a long season of flowers to provide nectar.  We can also supplement our ground plantings with container gardens filled with ever-blooming annuals.  Bring the potted gardens up close to your porch or portal to interact with the birds more closely. And keep a camera close at hand.

I have also found it helpful to attract larger numbers of hummingbirds by planting groupings of perennials all around the house. By planting around corners, near big shrubs and other visual barriers, it opens up more territory that can't be controlled by single aggressive Rufus (terriers of the hummingbird world). Your garden will attract more birds overall and the social order will be preserved.

Favorite Hummingbird Plants

Here in the western US, we have an amazing number of natural nectar plants with which to attract and feed the hummingbirds.  In general, hummingbirds seek out tubular shaped flowers. They are particularly attracted to bright orange, pink and red tubular flowers. But being industrious feeders, they will test any flower that's large enough and has enough nectar to be worth visiting.  Many western wildflowers such as Penstemon (Beardtongues) and Salvia (Sage) have blue flowers that are eagerly fed upon by our little friends.

Penstemon pseudospectabilisis, a late spring-early summer bloomer beloved by hummers

A Seasonal Parade of Flowering Perennials

For late spring-early summer flowers, plant;

• Beardtongue (Penstemon) - P. eatonii, P. psuedospectabilis, P. strictus, hybrids 'Red Rocks' and 'Pike's Peak Purple' 

• Columbines (Aquilegia) - A. chrysantha, A. desertorum at lower elevations. A. formosa and A. caerulea for higher elevations.

• Coral Bells (Heuchera) - H. pulchella, H. sanguinium 'Firefly', 

• Sage (Salvia) - S.  dorrii blooms with blue, nectar-rich flowers in profusion 

• Texas Red Yucca (Hesperaloe) - Evergreen succulent with pink-red flowers from late spring into mid-summer.

Perennial Salvias like ‘Raspberry Delight’ (above) attract hummindbirds, but annual species in containers are just as appealing.

For summer into mid-fall flowers, plant;

• Hollyhock (Alcea) - heirloom cottage garden flowers. Plant single flowered ones, not doubles

• Sage (Salvia) - use annual species like S. roemeriana, S. coccinea, S. farinacea in container gardens. Perennial types include S. greggii 'Furman's Red', S. darcyi,  S. azurea, hybrid Raspberry Delight®, 'Ultra Violet', S. reptans 'Autumn Saphire'

• Phlox (Phlox) - most are also fragrant. P. paniculata, tall garden phlox, P. nana, P. pilosa

• Red Hot Poker (Kniphofia) -  South African wildflowers. K. uvaria 'Pfitzer's Hybrids', K. hirsuta 'Fire Dance', K. caulescens

• Beebalm (Monarda) - best in evenly moist or damp soils. 'Violet Queen', 'Jacob Cline', M. fistulosa

• Hummingbird Trumpet (Zauschneria) - Z. arizonica, Z. garrettii Orange Carpet® 

• Hummingbird Mint (Agastache) - essential late season flowers. All varieties are easily grown in container gardens. In non-clay soils use A. rupestris,  A. cana, hybrid  'Blue Blazes'

Some Essential Vines, Shrubs and Trees

• Honeysuckle (Lonicera) - native Lonicera sempervirens and hybrids.  Scarlet flowering 'Major Wheeler', yellow flowering 'Sulphurea', semi-shrubby 'Blanche Sandman' are excellent performers.

• Hummingbird Trumpet (Campsis) 

  • Native Campsis radicans is the most cold hardy for the Front Range. Yellow flowering 'Flava' is outstanding.

  • Campsis hybrids like 'Madame Galen' and 'Morning Calm' are excellent for zone 6 and 7 areas of the Western Slope. 

• Current (Ribes) - fragrant,  nectar-rich flowers in early spring and eatable summer fruits for humans. Ribes odoratum 'Crandall' and  Ribes aureum 'Gwen's Buffalo' are tops. 

• Butterfly Bush (Buddleia) -  B. alternifolia 'Argentea' blooms in late spring. Summer blooming  B.davidii cultivars are hummingbird magnets. I stick with old favorites like 'Royal Red' and 'Pink Profusion', but there are many improved hybrids now available.

• Desert Willow (Chilopsis) - A small to medium sized native tree. The large pink, white or bi-colored flowers are a hummingbird favorite. 'Conchas Dam Pink' is a Zone 5 cold hardy selection. Plant everblooming Timeless Beauty® along the Western Slope and protected areas of Denver, Boulder and Colorado Springs. 

For additional information on hummingbirds, visit the Hummingbird Society online at www.hummingbirdsociety.org . This wonderful organization is an excellent source of information about hummingbirds. 

David Salman was the founder of High Country Gardens.