Susan's Hummingbird Gardens

Hummingbirds love syrupy petunias

Why Do Hummingbirds Chose Petunias And Not Roses?

Why in the world would a hummingbird pass up a heavenly scented rose in favor of a rather non-event petunia! 

Well, you could say the little guy is too busy staying alive to “smell the roses” along the way. But actually, it’s because hummingbirds aren’t drawn to fragrance. What attracts them are color and nectar. 

This is a key element to remember when creating landscape gardens for hummingbirds. Fortunately, there are at least 150 North American flowering plants that attract hummingbirds to your garden… without relying on fragrance.  

Some hummingbird favorites:

Unless you live in “paradise”, make sure to choose those plants that match your area’s hardiness zone. 

Coral Honeysuckle Vine…

(Lonicera sempervirens) Deep green foliage; red tubular flowers with yellow interiors produced freely; long bloom period; average, well-drained soil; sun to shade (full shade reduces flowering). Zones 3-10 (Note: not to be confused with the invasive yellow flowered Japanese species L. japonica).
  

Trumpet Vine…

(Campsis radicans) Deep green foliage; clusters of orange-red tubular flowers; vigorous, high climbing woody vine; full sun. Zones 4-10 (Caution: use a strong support well away from structures, or cut back yearly in late winter to keep it within bounds). 

Red Morning Glory Vine…

(Ipomoea hederifolia) Annual. Neon-red, funnel flowers; re-seeds readily; full sun; all zones. 

Bee Balm…

(Monarda didyma) Perennial. Dense stand of foliage; fringed, whorled flowers appear at end of branches; full sun to partial shade; zones 3-10… species determines sun, shade, and zones. (Note: pull up any spreading roots in early spring as soon as leaves appear). 

Cardinal Flower…

(Lobelia cardinalis) Perennial. Tall, deep-red stems; red, fringed flowers; sun to shade; zones 3-9. 

Petunia…

(yes, the plant that beats out the mighty rose!). (Ruellia brittoniana) Annual. Select red, pink, salmon, and purple varieties with simple flared flowers; all zones (annual). 

Texas Sage aka Scarlet Sage…

(Salvia coccinea) Perennial. Leaves mostly at bottom of branch-like stems; bright red funnel flowers along top several inches of stems; sun to partial shade; zones 7-11. 

Mexican Sage…

(Salvia mexicana) Perennial. Leaves cover bottom of branch-like stems; blue funnel flowers along top several inches of stems; sun to partial shade; zones 8-11. 

Anise-scented Sage…

(scented to us “nostril” beings). (Salvia guaranitica) Perennial. Scented leaves; blue funnel flowers; sun o partial shade; zones 7-12. 

Red Columbine…

(Aquilegia canadensis L.) Perennial. Flowers are downward facing, yellow petals fading to red towards the spur; sun to partial shade; zones 3-8. 

Impatiens…

(Impatiens …) Annual. Select red, pink, salmon, and purple flowered varieties; sun or shade; all zones. 

How to Acquaint Hummingbirds with the Garden You’ve Planted Just for Them…

You might want to hang a feeder or two in order to entice them to visit your new garden. Just make sure to hang the hummingbird feeders close to the new plants to encourage them to check out their new food supply. 

It won’t take long for your neighborhood’s busy little hummers to find the feast you’ve prepared for them. 

Those who say “a rose by any other name would smell as sweet” certainly don’t have a lick of sense when it comes to flowers for hummingbirds – these little tufts of fluff would much rather have petunias!