Attracting Hummingbirds to Your Garden
Hummingbirds are beloved by many gardeners, and attracting them to your garden to watch them enjoy your flower blooms is absolutely wonderful. However, not all flowers are as attractive to hummingbirds, so it's important to choose the right varieties. Here are some great tips for selecting the best flower varieties and a few other tips and tricks for attracting hummingbirds to your garden.
Nectar Rich Flowers
The first suggestion is pretty straight forward, but maybe not something people think about as much when selecting flower varieties. We recommend choosing flowers that produce a lot of nectar. Hummingbirds are attracted to flowers that produce nectar, as this is their primary source of food. Some good flower varieties we suggest are bee balm, cardinal flower, columbine, and foxglove.
Bright and Bold!
Also consider the color of the flowers you’re choosing. Hummingbirds are attracted to brightly colored flowers, especially red, orange, and pink. These colors stand out to hummingbirds and are easily visible from a distance.
Long Bloom Time
Hummingbirds are attracted to flowers that produce a consistent supply of nectar, so it's helpful to choose varieties that bloom for a long period of time. Flowers that we suggest for long bloom time include salvia, coneflower, and black eyed susans.
Shape Diversity & Sunny Location
Plant a variety of flower sizes and shapes. Hummingbirds are attracted to different types of flowers, so it's helpful to plant a variety of sizes and shapes to appeal to a wider range of hummingbirds.
Also, grow your flowers in a sunny location. Hummingbirds are more likely to visit flowers that are located in a sunny location, as they prefer to feed in the warmth of the sun.
Best Flowers to Attract Hummingbirds
Here’s a list of some of the best flowers we grow that attract hummingbirds to the garden:
Bee Balm
Cardinal Flower
Columbine
Foxglove
Black Eyed Susan
Trumpet Vine
Zinnia
Salvia
Petunia
Penstemon
Agastache
Mexican Sage
Nicotiana
This list of flowers are ones that are not only beautiful, but they also produce lots of nectar, which is the primary source of food for hummingbirds. All of them also have a range of bright, vibrant colors, such as red, orange, and pink, which are especially attractive to hummingbirds. Planting a variety of these flowers in a sunny location will help to attract hummingbirds to your garden to enjoy these amazing birds.
We hope you learned a few tips you may not have known before about attracting hummingbirds to your garden. By following some of these tips, you’ll pick the best flower varieties for attracting hummingbirds to your garden to enjoy the beauty and charm of these amazing little birds.
Happy gardening!
XX Jenn and Adam
