Ruth de Jauregui
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| Female Anna's Humminbird Credit: BryanHanson / Morguefile.com |
The little buzzing birds that provide hours of amusement and
flock to your feeders enjoy nectar from flowers and tiny insects. While feeders
are wonderful for supplemental and winter nourishment, you can attract more
hummingbirds to your garden by planting a selection of flowering plants, shrubs
and trees that flower in succession through the growing season.
While hummingbirds are attracted to red flowers, they don't
limit themselves. Any brightly colored, tubular flower is a welcome addition to
the garden. Add fast growing annuals to attract not just hummingbirds, but also
bees and butterflies.
The following spring-flowering plants, shrubs and trees are
just a few suggestions for the hummingbird lover. Nearly any flowering plant
that produces nectar will attract a hungry hummer.
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| Lupine Credit: lisaleo / Morguefile.com |
The lupines are early bloomers. Available in both
annual and perennial varieties, the seeds may be planted in early spring in
nearly any climate. Alternately, plant seeds in late spring to overwinter and
produce blossoms the following spring. Lupines prefer full sun and are drought
tolerant once established in the garden. Depending on the variety, lupines
range from 12 to 48 inches tall. An added bonus: Lupines are deer resistant. In
addition to lupines, wildflowers such as California and Mexican poppies, poppy
mallow and red columbine bloom through spring and early summer.
Citrus trees begin blooming in early winter and continue
through spring and summer. Lemon trees may bloom year round in warm climates.
While citrus trees are hardy in USDA zones 9 and 10, dwarf plants may be grown
in pots and taken indoors when cold weather threatens. Hummingbirds not only
flock to the fragrant flowers, they also use the dense, evergreen foliage as
shelter and a nesting area.
Fruit trees, such as apple, cherry, plum and peach also
provide nectar and shelter to hummingbirds, bees and butterflies in spring.
Later in the season, the hummers will feed on the tiny pests that congregate
around trees, such as aphids, fruit flies, gnats and whiteflies.
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| Native Honeysuckle Credit: mrmac04 / Morguefile.com |
Spring blooming shrubs, such as azalea and red buckeye aka
firecracker plant, and vines like trumpet honeysuckle and crossvine, attract
both local and migrating hummingbirds to their profuse blossoms. The vines
happily clamber over fences, walls, trellises and even dead trees.
No matter what flowers you select for the garden, native
plants are usually the best choice for your local climate and soils. Then fill
in with plants adapted to similar climates to ensure that your garden will
thrive without requiring extra water and fertilizer.
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| Ruby-throated Hummingbirds Credit: pippalou / Morguefile.com |
Remember, if you're using sugar water to supplement their
diet, use 1 part sugar to 4 parts water. Boil the solution and let it cool
before filling the feeders. Never use honey or red dye. Change the solution in
the feeders weekly in cool weather and every two to three days in hot weather.
The next In the Garden will focus on summer flowers for hummingbirds.
#hummingbird
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