Plants for hummingbirds

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Calliope Hummingbird feeding on Beebalm. (Frank Leung)

Hummingbirds charm us with their tiny size, quick, hovering movements and fearlessness around humans. You can entice them into your backyard wildlife habitat (and possibly onto an outstretched finger) by offering them plenty of nectar-producing flowers. Hummingbirds serve a greater purpose than mere entertainment — they're important for cross-pollination of plants. In fact, more than 130 native plant species rely exclusively on them for cross-pollination.

Hummingbirds migrate and you'll see the heaviest concentration while they move northward in spring to their breeding range and south in the fall to their winter range in Mexico and beyond. Some species do stay all year in California, Oregon and Washington, and an occasional few winter in southern Florida and southern Texas. But most of us must take our enjoyment during the few months they spend with us in summer. Check with your local Audubon Society to find out what hummingbirds you can expect to visit your locale and what months of the year.

Birds have color vision and hummingbirds seem drawn to bright colors, especially red (which is why most hummingbird feeders are at least partly red.) They don't limit themselves, though, and will sip nectar even from white flowers. Be sure to plant flowers in masses of the same color — a single bright flower here and there doesn't scream "come to me" to a bird passing overhead. You'll find this is also more appealing to the human eye.

Hummingbirds like to have many different sources of nectar, so plant several varieties. Be sure to include species that flower at differing times, too, so something is always in bloom. If you include hybridized plants, be sure to select single-bloom species, as hummingbirds prefer them over double-bloom varieties. Some of the plants favored by hummingbirds are listed below.

          Plants for hummingbirds
                                           

Common name	Type	Botanical name	Bloom  Time	Zone
American Columbine	P	Aquilegia canadensis	ES	2-9
Beebalm	P	Monarda didyma	MS-LS	3-9
Blue Flag	P	Iris versicolor	ES	5-9
California Fuscia	P	Epilobium canum	MS-EW	6-7
Canada Lily (plant bulbs only)	P	Lilium canadense	MS-EF	3-9
Cardinal Flower	P	Lobelia cardinalis	LS-EF	2-10
Currant (Golden, Red, Black)	Shrub	Ribes spp.	MSp	V
Coral Bells	P	Heuchera sanguinea	MS	4-9
Coral Honeysuckle	Shrub	Lonicera sempervirens	S-F	4-9
Fire Pink	P	Silene virginica	MSp	4-8
Garden Phlox	P	Phlox paniculata	MS-EF	4-8
Great Blue Lobelia	P	Lobelia siphilitica	ES-EF	3-9
Indian Blanket (Blanket Flower)	A	Gaillardia pulchella	MS-MF	3-10
Indian Pink	P	Spigelia marilandica	LSp-ES	5-9
Lemon Horsemint	A, B	Monarda citriodora	LSp-MS	2-12
Milkweed	P	Common, Marsh, Butterfly	S-F	2-9
Monkeyflower	P	Mimulus cardinalis	MSp-MS	6-9
Mountain Rosebay	Shrub	Rhododendron catawbiense	Sp	4-8
Nasturtium	A	Tropaeolum majus	MS-EF	All
Native Yellow Honeysuckle	P, Vine	Lonicera flava	LSp-ES	4-9
Phlox	A, P	Phlox spp.	MS-F	3-8
Purple Beardtongue	P	Penstemon cobaea	MSp-ES	3-8
Red Buckeye	Shrub	Aesculus pavia	ESp-Sg	5-9
Red Iris	P	Iris fulva	ESp-Sp	5-11
Red Columbine	P	Aquilegia canadense	S-LF	3-9
Red Thistle	B	Cirsium occidentale	Sp	2-9
Rose Verbena	P	Glandularia canadensis	LS-EF	6-9
Royal Catchfly	P	Silene regia	MS-EF	4-8
Scarlet Salvia	A, P	Salvia coccinea	MS	4-10
Scarlet Bugler Penstemon	P	Penstemon centranthifolius	MS	3-8
Scarlet Monkey Flower	P	Mimulus cardinalis	MSp-EF	6-9
Scarlet Sage	A, P	Salvia coccinea	LS-EF	4-10
Southern Blue Iris	A	Iris virginiana	Sp	5-9
Spiked Gayfeather	P	Liatris spicata	MS	3-10
Spotted Jewelweed	A	Impatiens capensis	MS-EF	4-10
Trumpet Vine	P, Vine	Campsis radicans	ES-MF	4-9
Wild Bergamot	P	Monarda fistulosa	MS	3-9
Wild Lupine	P	Lupinus perennis	Sp-ES	3-9
Wild Petunia	A	Ruellia caroliniensis	ES-LF	3-8

          P= perennial; A= annual; Sp= spring; S= summer;  F= fall; E= early; M= mid; L= late
          A,P= annual in cold climates, perennial in warmer locales. V= varies, depending on species