The hummingbirds are really active in the yard right now. With so many natives flowering, there are specific plants that the hummingbirds prefer to nectar upon.
I captured this hummingbird on our Purple Coneflowers (
Echinacea purpurea) just this week. Hummingbirds have long tongues enabling them to reach nectar sources in deep tubular flowers.
They also seem to prefer red but there aren't very many red flowering natives here. I have planted a type of Catchfly - Royal Catchfly (
Silene regia) although its native range is just east of our area in Wisconsin and Illinois. Its tubular red flowers provide mid-season nectar.
A similar looking Red or Cardinal Lobelia (
Lobelia cardinalis) flowers just after the Royal Catchfly finishes in our yard. This is a wetland marginal native, preferring rich, moist soils. It is short lived, and seems to perform better in its northern range near some protection such as a house foundation.
We have some planted in a slightly sunken area, near our garage foundation.
Beebalms are another favorite of hummingbirds. Our native Wild Bergamot (
Monarda fistulosa) is light pink here in the midwest. The eastern Beebalm (
Monarda didyma) has been cultivated by the horticultural trade for improved powdery mildew resistance and bloom color. You can get shades from light pink to red in this Beebalm.
Jewelweed or Touch-Me-Nots (
Impatiens species) are another favorite. If you walk near a wetland when these natives are flowering, you'll often see several hummingbirds.
There's two native Jewelweeds in our area, the orange flowering
Impatiens capensis, and the yellow flowering
Impatiens pallida. I keep a small patch of Jewelweed in the yard for hummingbirds. This native can spread from seed easily and form large patches.
Boy do we think alike! I just posted an entry on this on my other blog (http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ga/blog_03/hummingbird_favorites_in_my_garden/).
ReplyDeleteI wish I could grow jewel weed; I just don't have the wet, sunny area that it needs.
I've seen quite a few hummingbirds along the river lately, they're hard to miss since they always seem to be chasing each other and fussing. I couldn't figure out what they were feeding from, now I know! There's a lot of Jewelweed down there!
ReplyDeleteWonderful! Jewelweed volunteered in my yard and the humming birds certainly do enjoy it - lucky me. Though this year it sort of wilted in the dry spell of heat. I used to have some Cardinal flower but it seems to have disappeared. I will have to add some more in my new area. You certainly have a great variety of flowering plants. Your yard must be such a haven. I bet you have hours of natural entertainment.
ReplyDeleteHi Ellen,
ReplyDeleteHow funny, I guess it's peak hummingbird time.
The Salvia and Buckeye look like some great hummingbird plants. In fact, we have a buckeye tree in the yard and it's one of their favorites in early spring just after they've arrived.
Heather
Hi Julie,
ReplyDeleteYes they can get really territorial, protecting a patch or area of 'turf'. Fun to see them in abundant numbers though.
Heather
Hi VF,
ReplyDeleteThat's great you have jewelweed. You won't need to plant anymore as it readily seeds. Good luck with the Cardinal flower, I think it's one of those perennials you have to replace every couple of years.
Heather
Lovely photos! I've got at least 4 Ruby-throated hummers in my garden right now. Two are always fighting, and while they do that the other two come in to drink. So much fun to watch :)
ReplyDeleteAnd I always thought jewelweed was a weed! I have to correct that thought process now.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea hummingbirds liked echinacea and bee balm. I'll be adding those to my must have plant list in the future. I really like the idea of giving these birds plants to feed from instead of sugar water. Sugar is so bad for us it seems wrong to be giving it to the birds.
ReplyDeleteHI Carole,
ReplyDeleteIsn't it fun to watch them chase each other. They have amazing vocalizations when their territorial.
Heather
Hi Patty,
ReplyDeleteYes Jewelweed is native but can spread aggressively. If you introduce it into your yard, plan on weeding quite a bit out each year.
Heather
Hi Marguerite,
ReplyDeleteI was actually surprised to see them on the Echinacea since there's so many other more desirable plants flowering in my yard. But, Echinacea is always a great introduction, the pollinators and butterflies love it.
Heather