Attracting
Hummingbirds to Your Garden
Attracting
Hummingbirds to your garden can be very easy. All you need to do is follow a
few simple steps and you will have these wonderful creatures visiting your
garden on a daily basis. You do not need to redesign your entire landscape or
hire a professional landscaper to design a Hummingbird Garden for you, because
by providing a few key elemental ingredients and plants you can attract
beautiful hummingbirds to your garden. There are certain plants that are Hummingbird
magnets that you can use to attract Hummingbirds in your area.
To
attract and keep Hummingbirds returning to your garden we need to discuss the
key elements and simple steps to follow:
q Create a habitat
to encourage Hummingbirds to nest and feed.
q Provide at least
3 Hummingbird feeders.
q Provide Nectar
rich, tubular flowers.
Creating a Habitat for Hummingbirds to
Nest and Feed would involve providing trees or places
for the Hummingbirds to nest. This can be provided for the majority of
Hummingbird species by having horizontal tree limbs, and shelter from
surrounding tree limbs. The material used by most Hummingbirds to build their
nest is organic in nature and is available to your Hummingbirds in most back
yard habitats. A few of the organic items used by Hummingbirds are downy plant
material, bits of leaves, bark, fallen leaves, and moss. A Hummingbirds diet consists of 90% of their
food coming from nectar, and the other 10% of their diet consists of insects.
When attracting Hummingbirds to your garden you’ll need to be aware of the use
of insecticides on the plants that the Hummingbirds feed upon. There are two
ways to approach the use of insecticides in the garden. One way would be let
the Hummingbirds take care of your insect problem, or you can use organically
friendly insecticides that are safe for Hummingbirds. By providing a consistent
supply of nectar rich flowers and an additional supply of nectar coming from
the Hummingbird feeders you will have very happy Hummingbirds in your garden.
Providing at Least 3 Hummingbird Feeders
will entice more Hummingbirds returning repeatedly to your garden. By providing
an additional and constant food source you will encourage Hummingbirds to stay
in your garden for food, and to nest. Place your feeders where you can see all
the activity going on. You can place the Hummingbird feeders in any tree limb
near your patio, or hang from eaves outside a kitchen window, or an exterior
window(s) that you frequently visit. By placing your Hummingbird feeder near
the places, you frequently visit outdoors your Hummingbirds will eventually
become accustomed to your presence and no longer be afraid when you are present.
There are two key ingredients to remember when using Hummingbird feeders in
addition to nectar rich plants.
1)
Always keep a good supply of nectar in
the Hummingbird feeders.
2)
Always clean your Hummingbird feeder once
a week to keep your Hummingbirds healthy.
Hibiscus
and More has a beautiful selection of Hummingbird Feeders. Click Here to Order
Your Hummingbird Feeders.
Providing Nectar Rich, Tubular Flowers will give your Hummingbird Garden an additional food source that will keep your Hummingbirds
coming back each year. Attracting Hummingbirds to your garden is an art.
Nutrition for the Hummingbirds, and how to attract Hummingbirds year-round, all
must be taken into consideration. An abundance of nectar rich flowers, at
least 3 Hummingbird Feeders as an additional food source, creates a habitat for
nesting and feeding all need to be provided. The more nectar plants that
are provided and Hummingbird feeders provided will attract more Hummingbirds to
your garden for years to come.
To
bring numerous Hummingbirds to your garden you need to plan for masses and
clumps of nectar rich perennials and annuals. Both perennials and annuals
should be planted, but perennials are more useful since they bloom year-round,
thus attracting Hummingbirds throughout the year. The blooming periods of
the annuals should be staggered also, in order to attract Hummingbirds
year-round. Both flower shape and flower color are important in regard to attracting Hummingbirds to feed are the best. Hummingbirds prefer single
flowers with a tubular shape and upright blooms for feeding, and they also
prefer flowers with bright colors and a distinct scent, with shades of red,
from pink to orange being their favored colors. After planting the plants and
hanging your Hummingbird feeders it will take some time for the Hummingbirds to
find you, and as the year’s progress you will see more Hummingbirds visiting
your garden. Each year the Hummingbirds will come back to the same area as the
year before. My father’s house in Georgia has a Miss Huff Lantana bush and that
same year the bush was planted the Hummingbirds were frequent visitors and continue to this day to visit the Lantana bush each year. Some of the plants
that I will mention will also attract butterflies to your garden as well.
Autumn Sage: Salvia greggii 'Maraschino'. Type: Perennial. Height: 3’ – 4’. Spacing: 18” – 24” apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Additional Uses: Butterfly attractant.
 |
| Autumn Sage |
Bee Balm: Monarda spp. Type: Perennial. Height: 3 – 4”. Spacing: 24 – 30” apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Additional Uses: Butterfly attractant.
 |
| Bee Balm |
Blue Porterweed: Stachytarpheta jamaicensis. Type: Perennial. Height: 2 – 3’. Spacing: 24” apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Additional Uses: Butterfly attractant.
 |
| Porterweed |
Butterfly Bush: Buddleia davidii 'Pink Delight'. Type: Perennial. Height: 4 – 6’. Spacing: 4 – 6’ apart. Light Requirements: Full sun. Additional Uses: Butterfly attractant.
 |
| Butterfly Bush |
Columbine: Aquilegia 'Cardinal'. Type: Perennial. Height: 24 – 28”. Spacing: 18 – 24” apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Additional Uses: Butterfly attractant.
 |
| Cardinal Columbine |
Firebush: Hamelia patens. Type: Shrub. Height: To 15’. Spacing: 3 – 5’ apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Additional Uses: Butterfly attractant.
 |
| Firebush |
Firecracker Plant: Russelia equisetiformis. Type: Perennial. Height: 36” – 48”. Spacing: 3 – 5’ apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Additional Uses: Butterfly attractant.
 |
| Firecracker Plant |
Garden Canna: Canna X generalis. Type: Perennial. Height: Depends on variety but can range from 3 – 5’. Spacing: 1 – 2’ apart for rhizomes, and 3 – 5’ apart for container plants. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Additional Uses: Butterfly attractant.
 |
| Canna |
Homestead Purple Verbena: Verbena canadensis 'Homestead Purple'. Type: Perennial ground cover. Height: 6 – 10”. Spacing: 12 – 24” apart. Light Requirements: Full sun. Additional Uses: Butterfly attractant, heat and drought tolerant.
 |
| Homestead Purple Verbena |
Korean Hyssop: Agastache rugosa. Type:
Perennial. Height: 3 – 4’. Spacing: 12 – 18” apart. Light Requirements: Full
sun. Additional Uses: Butterfly attractant.
Lantana: Lantana camara 'Miss Huff'. Type: Perennial. Height: 4 – 5’. Spacing: 3 – 5’ apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Additional Uses: Butterfly attractant, heat, and drought tolerant.
 |
| Lantana Miss Huff |
Lemon Bottlebrush: Callistemon citrinus. Type: Shrub. Height: To 12’. Spacing: 4 – 6’ apart. Light Requirements: Full sun. Additional Uses: N/A.
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| Lemon Bottlebrush |
Mexican Sage: Salvia leucantha. Type: Perennial. Height: 2 – 4’. Spacing: 3 – 5’ apart. Light Requirements: Full sun. Additional Uses: Butterfly attractant, and drought tolerant.
 |
| Mexican Sage |
Pentas: Pentas lanceolata. Type: Perennial. Height: To 3’, depends on variety. Spacing: 24 – 36” apart. Light Requirements: Full sun. Additional Uses: Butterfly attractant, heat and drought tolerant.
 |
| Pentas |
Petunia: Petunia X hybrida 'Purple Wave'. Type: Annual. Height: 4 – 6”. Spacing: For a thick coverage, 12 – 15” apart, 3’ apart for regular coverage, plants will spread 3 – 5’. Light Requirements: Full sun. Additional Uses: Butterfly attractant, heat and drought tolerant.
 |
| Purple Wave Petunia |
Pineapple Sage: Salvia elegans. Type: Perennial in USDA zones 9 – 11, treat as an annual outside zone 9. Height: 3 – 5’. Spacing: 3 – 5’ apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Additional Uses: Butterfly attractant. Crushed fresh leaves in fruit salads and drinks; the fresh flowers can be used in salads and desserts.
 |
| Pineapple Sage |
Texas Gold Columbine: Aquilegia
chrysantha var. hinckleyana. Type:
Perennial. Height: 18 – 36”. Spacing: 12 – 18” apart. Light Requirements: Full
sun to partial shade. Additional Uses: Butterfly attractant.
Texas Hummingbird Mint: Agastache
cana. Type: Perennial. Height: 24 – 36”.
Spacing: 12 – 18” apart. Light Requirements: Full sun. Additional Uses:
Butterfly attractant, and drought tolerant.
Trailing Lantana: Lantana montevidensis. Type: Perennial, annual outside USDA zone 8. Height: 18 – 24”. Spacing: 3 – 4’ apart, can spread to 5’. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Additional Uses: Butterfly attractant, heat and drought tolerant.
 |
| Trailing Lantana |
Tropical Hibiscus: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis. Type: Shrub, annual outside USDA zone 9. Height: To 12 – 15’, pruning can control height. Spacing: 3 – 5’ apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Additional Uses: Butterfly attractant, and heat tolerant.
 |
| Tropical Hibiscus |
Turk's Cap: Malvaviscus arboreus. Type: Shrub, annual outside USDA zone 9. Height: To 12 – 15’, pruning can control height. Spacing: 3 – 5’ apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Additional Uses: Butterfly attractant, and heat tolerant.
 |
| Turk's Cap |
Wax Begonia: Begonia X semperflorens-cultorum. Type: Annual. Height: 6 – 12”. Spacing: 8 – 12” apart. Light Requirements: Partial shade to shade, the bronze-leaf varieties will tolerate more sun. Additional Uses: None.
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| Wax Begonia |
Yellow Elder: Tecoma stans (Stenolobium stans). Type: Shrub, annual outside USDA zone 7. Height: To 12 – 15’, pruning can control height. Spacing: 3 – 5’ apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Additional Uses: Butterfly attractant, drought, and heat tolerant.
 |
| Yellow Elder |
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