Attracting Hummingbirds

Welcome Hummingbirds with their Favorite Plants

April 11th is the date shown on the 2014 Natural Events Calendar from the Missouri Department of Conservation as the day the ruby-throated hummingbird arrives.  It would be a good time to have feeders ready for the tiny travelers after their long flight from Central America.  Red is a favorite color.  Better yet, have a variety of plants that they find attractive and hopefully return and possible nest in the area.  The ruby-throats only weigh an eighth of an ounce but they must consume almost half their weight each day in food from nectar and insects - typically mosquitoes, spiders, gnats, fruit flies, and small bees.

Blooming plants may be the best indicators as to when the hummingbirds arrive and some of the first ones they can be seen enjoying are honeysuckle and red/yellow native columbines.  Other native herbaceous plants the ruby-throated hummingbirds visit both for nectar and insects include:  bee balm, bergamot, blazing stars of all types, evening primrose, fire pink, hibiscus, irises, lemon mint, various species of milkweed, obedient plant, Ohio horse mint, penstemons (beard tongues), phlox, rose mallow, rose verbena, royal catchfly, sweet William and turtleheads.  Native trees and shrubs that are effective are black locust, buckeye trees (especially the red-flowered one), gooseberries, hawthorns, New Jersey tea, and tulip poplar.

Gardeners have quite an array of hummer-attracting plants to choose from.  An added bonus of many of these plants is that they also attract butterflies.  Some cultivated flowers and shrubs that attract hummingbirds include beauty bush, butterfly bush, cannas, day lilies, flowering tobacco, geranium, gladiolus, hollyhock, larkspur, lilac, Mexican sunflower, mimosa, montbretia, nasturtium, petunia, phlox, salvias, snapdragon, weigela and zinnia.  

Trumpet creeper is a vine that is frequently visited by hummer; it may be hard to control so find a place it can be itself such as climbing up a fence post along the road or in an area where mowing can keep in in bounds.  Some more controllable vines to consider are cardinal climber, cypress vine, morning glories and scarlet runner bean.

How about those shade areas?  Try ajuga, azaleas, coral bells, hostas and toad lily in addition to shade-loving native plants such as blue lobelia, cardinal flower, columbine, copper iris, figwort, jewelweed and wild geranium.

For more information about growing native plants in this area check out the Grow Native program that serves the lower Midwest including Missouri, eastern Kansas, southern Illinois, and northern Arkansas. A great source for all wild plants is Missouri Wildflowers Nursery located 10 miles south of Jefferson City, MO off Hwy 54 at W. Brazito Road and turn left on Pleasant Hill Road.  It is not visible from Hwy 54.

Other techniques to encourage resident hummers is to deadhead flowers in an effort to lengthen their bloom time and provide resting and lookout perches.  Leaving spider webs is also recommended because female hummers use them to hold their nest together and give it strength.

Hummers feed from dawn to dusk so their antics can be enjoyed by all. Watching them is a delightful way to relax and enjoy your horticultural efforts.

Source:  Anastasia Becker, Integrated Pest Management, UMC

Posted: 4/11/2014