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Discover the Essential 10 Flowers for Attracting Hummingbirds
Pollinator gardeningHummingbirds love bright, colorful flowers that provide a lot of nectar! Of course, you can put up a feeder, too, but flowers are the best source of nectar for hummingbirds.
Hummingbirds are incredible fliers. The National Audubon Society says they can hover by flapping their wings 20 to 80 times a second. Then they can move up and down, forwards and backward. Hummingbirds fly fast, up to 75 miles an hour, and stop instantly. These amazing birds are a delight to watch in your flower garden. If you want to enjoy the spectacle of these birds, add these popular hummingbird flowers.
Tips for Choosing Flowers for Hummingbirds
When planting flowers for hummingbirds, remember the things that will attract them.
- Hummingbirds are attracted to the color red, but any bright color will draw them in.
- Tubular flowers have the right shape for hummingbirds. They can hover and drink at the same time.
- Plant flowers for hummingbirds in large clumps so that the birds can see bright patches to feed on. For the best visibility, tall flowers should go behind shorter flowers. That way, everyone can enjoy watching these beauties flitting in and out of the garden.
Best Hummingbird Flowers to Plant from Seed
Morning Glory
Morning glories have a trumpet shape that advertises the sweet nectar inside. These flowers are gorgeous on a trellis or fence.
Lupine
Lupines attract a lot of attention with their tall spikes of beautiful flowers. They’re another good choice for providing food for hummingbirds during cooler weather.
Cosmos
Cosmos come in bright, attention-grabbing colors. Deadheading these flowers will encourage more blooms and more hummingbirds.
Nasturtium
Nasturtiums depend on hummingbirds as their major pollinator. Their nectar is especially sweet, so plant a lot of these beauties!
Zinnia
Zinnia is so easy to grow and makes a delightful cut flower as well. If you choose not to deadhead these flowers, other birds will enjoy the seeds after the blooms have faded.
Snapdragon
Snapdragon flowers are a good cool-weather choice. In the early spring and late fall, other flowers might not be blooming, but the hummingbird will still be looking for food. Snapdragons come in a variety of colors, and dwarf varieties are also available.
Milkweed
Milkweed is a must-have for pollinator gardens. Hummingbirds also visit these bright, colorful flowers that monarch butterflies depend on.
Columbine
Columbine is a gorgeous flower with an unusual shape that certain insects find harder to navigate. Hummingbirds can navigate to the nectar within easily with their long specialized beaks.
Poppies
Poppies are another easy-to-grow flower that hummingbirds love. Plant them in patches for dazzling, eye-catching color.
Wildflowers
Wildflower mixes are always great choices for hummingbirds. There will be a variety of pollen and nectar flowers in different colors and shapes. These mixes are created to bloom continuously throughout the growing season, so your pollinators will always have a ready snack.
In addition to providing flowers and nectar, one surprising way to support hummingbirds is to leave spider webs intact. Hummingbirds make their nest from spider webs. They also get some valuable protein from insects stuck in spider webs, so if the spider isn’t bothering you, leave it alone.
We hope you can attract hummingbirds all season long. They’re such fun to watch, and if you are careful to prepare the garden for them, they’ll remember you. It’s a delight to see hummingbirds return year after year.
Written by Teresa Chandler
The Hummingbird flower collection contains three large individual packets of gorgeous Snapdragons Tetra Mix, Lupine Russell, and Blue Columbine.
These colorful and productive bloomers look lovely in a native wildflower garden, woodland garden, or landscaped beds. The chute-like flower shape of these varieties is perfect for the long beak of the hummingbird. They are a great way to support your local pollinators.
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