Hummingbirds are fascinating creatures and one tiny tough bird. Many of my landscape customers want to attract hummingbirds specifically to their gardens. I always begin designing a hummingbird garden with the plants that grow in our area that I know will attract them.
- Hummingbird Attracting Native Plants
You can first build the backbone of your hummingbird garden with the native plants of your area. Hummingbirds are actually attracted to a wide range of native plants. They are most attracted to flowers that are red, but I’ve seen hummingbirds feed off many native plants that aren’t red but purple, pink, or white in color. I’ve also seen them get nectar off plants that didn’t have tubular shapes.
Choose flowers that will bloom in the timeframe that you see hummingbirds in your area. For example, while Wild Columbine is a hummingbird nectar plant, in Kentucky it blooms in spring and I don’t typically see hummingbirds until June in my area of Central Kentucky. However, some family who live in the wooded areas of Eastern Kentucky, say they see hummingbirds in the spring.
- Red Flowers: Bee Balm, Cardinal Flower
- Tubular shaped flowers: Beardtongue, Skullcap, Native Honeysuckle Vine
Red Bee Balm. Photo by EARTHeim
2. Annuals & Plants Native to Mexico/South America
If you don’t have many species of red or tubular shaped native plants, you can attract hummingbirds with annuals which are native to Mexico or South America. Many of these plants come in red color variations. Some of these may act like perennials in your area if you live in a warm enough USDA zone.
- Plants in the Salvia Family: Scarlet Sage, Pineapple Sage, Black & Blue Sage
- Cleome, Calibrachoa, Fushia, Flowering Tobacco, Nasturtium, Mexican Sunflower, Lantana (can be invasive in warm climates where it’s perennial), Zinnias, Snapdragons, Spanish Flag
Salvia. Photo by EARTHeim
3. Water Feature
Hummingbirds love water to bathe and preen in. I once saw a hummingbird taking a bath in the rain, it was so cute! Hummingbirds tend to like water that sprays or mists rather than a pool of water. If you have a pond or bird bath, try adding a feature that will spray or mist water by the water feature.
4. Hummingbird Feeders
Plants alone can be enough to attract hummingbirds. I haven’t put up a hummingbird feeders for years, and I see hummingbirds around my garden several times everyday during their time in Kentucky. A hummingbird feeder however will help attract them to your yard if you’re just getting a garden started or don’t have many hummingbird attracting plants.
- 1/4 Cup White Refined Sugar
- 1 Cup warm water
- Mix into a quart jar. Put the lid on the jar and shake until sugar is dissolved.
Tips
Use white refined sugar only. Do NOT use honey, cane sugar, raw sugar, etc.
Do NOT use food coloring as it can cause health issues for the birds.
Keep nectar fresh by changing it every few days, so it does not ferment.
Hummingbird Feeder with Ant Moat
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5. Pre-Designed Hummingbird Garden Design Plan
If you’d like to create a hummingbird garden in your yard, check out a pre-designed hummingbird plan I created. Many of these plants are native to the Eastern US with some plants native to Mexico or South America. There is also an alternative plant list and a information sheet for every plant in the design! Available in My Etsy Shop.
6. A Hummingbird Garden Viewing Space
Lastly, you need a viewing space to watch the hummingbirds! Consider adding a bench or chair to your garden so you may sit (very still!) and watch the hummingbirds come up to the flowers.
My garden design is great for hummingbird photographers to attract the hummingbirds right to their garden for capturing the moment.
