Hummingbird Garden
n the aftermath of our recent bout of bird flu among Minnesota’s poultry and wild bird populations, it’s time to revisit plantings that will help feed our birds rather than rely on bird feeder which can cause overcrowding. This hummingbird garden has been at this location for 20 years and hummers have been sighted here reliably – without a feeder anywhere in sight!!
Hummingbirds are attracted to tubular flower with large amounts of nectar. It’s been said they like the color red, but in truth it’s more likely that they know there will be less competition at red flowers. Bees can’t see red, so they don’t visit red flowers as often thus leaving more for the hummingbirds!
The plants here are a mix of perennials and annuals
Honeysuckle Vine (Lonicera) is the centerpiece of this garden and has earned the title of best all-time hummingbird feeder. The flowers seem to have been created just for them! This plant has been in place for 20 years in this garden.
Scarlet Runner Bean (Phaseolus coccineus) is the annual vine sharing space on the trellis on the north east side. The bright red flowers are lovely and attract both birds and humans.
Around the trellis we have several more perennial flowering plants that hummingbirds like. Since this is their first year, they may not all bloom, but we anxiously await a great performance next year. The perennial plants include:
- Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) with red flowers in early spring
- Hollyhock (Althea) with white blooms on very tall plants in mid-summer
- Delphinium has spikes of blue flowers in summer
- Anise Hyssop (Agastache) has lavender-blue blooms in late summer which attract the bird and butterflies, along with a lovely anise scent that delights humans
- Liatris blooms in lavender shades with bloom time depending on the species, but all are great for attracting bird.
- Beebalm (Monarda didyma) is a clump-spreading perennial with red flowers that hummingbirds adore. This plant was used for tea (Oswego tea is another common name) following the Boston Tea Party when English tea was no longer available in this country.
- Penstemon is a medium height plant with tubular flower spikes. We’re unsure of the variety wo will have to wait until next year to know this particular flower color.
We have included many annuals known to attract hummingbirds. From back of the garden toward the front:
- Nicotiana mutabilis is a species flowering tobacco that grow to 6 feet tall with abundant pink flowers.
- Petunia ‘Tidal Wave Red Velour” is lovely both in ground and in containers and will continue to bloom until a hard freeze, thus providing snacks for migrating birds well into the fall.
- Monarda citriodora is a lovely stocky lavender flowered plant with a light citrus scent
- Nicotiana ‘Crimson King” grows to about 2 feet tall, with abundant crimson flowers that have a heady scent, especially when cut for vases indoors.
- Salvia “Summer Jewel Red” is much different than the typical spiky red salvia. Individual blooms are smaller, and the plant branches freely to form mounds of red blooms 15” tall or so.
- Zinnia “Queen Lime Red” is a tall, All-America Selections, winning zinnia that branches and blooms without deadheading.
- Zinnia “Zahara Raspberry Lemonade Mix” is a mix of rose and yellow single zinnias on low growing, well-branched plants
- Zinnia “Profusion Cherry Bicolor” another low-growing zinnia series available in many wonderful colors.