The Hummingbird Garden

Having hummingbirds visit a garden is a sure sign things are going fine with the soil, the plants, the water--everything a garden needs.

Scrophularia macrantha
Item # 92750 		Scrophularia macrantha
Redbirds in a Tree

each $5.99
3 to 6 $5.79
7 or more $5.59

Item # 99130 		Zauschneria garrettii 'Orange Carpet'®
Creeping Hummingbird Trumpet

each $6.99
3 to 6 $6.79
7 or more $6.59
Monarda x 'Violet Queen'
Item # 70992 		Monarda 'Violet Queen'
Violet Queen Beebalm

each $5.29
3 to 6 $4.99
7 or more $4.79
  • Topic: Hummingbird Gardening
  • Author: Cindy Bellinger
  • Keywords: hummingbirds, hummers, gardening for hummingbirds, hummingbird garden, humming bird
  • Date: July 2006

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I don’t “do” hummingbird feeders anymore. I got tired of fighting the bears. They, too, enjoy the sugar water. Now I just do flowers. Bears don’t seem too interested in them.

Having hummingbirds visit a garden is a sure sign things are going fine with the soil, the plants, the water—everything a garden needs. It almost makes a gardener feel special when these guys come around.

Like any bird, hummingbirds need three basics: water, shelter and food. They prefer water that drips or sprays. For shelter and perching they like the bushiness of conifers or shade trees.

For food, hummers enjoy a diet of insects such as aphids and whiteflies along with the nectar in flowers. Many flowering perennials are favored by hummingbirds.

These three-inch birds will stay until fall when they begin their migration south. While they’re here, provide them with some yummy flower juice. Flowers they like early in the season include the penstemons and columbines.

Now they’ll go for these flowers—* Licorice Mint or Sunset Hyssop (Agastache rupestris)

  • Scarlet Hedgenettle (Stachys coccinea)
  • Texas Red Yucca (Hesperaloe)
  • Redbirds in a Tree (Scrophularia)
  • Beebalms (Monarda)
  • Hummingbird Trumpet (Zauschneria)

Butterfly Bush (Buddleia) is also a great shrub for attracting hummingbirds.

Also, here are some interesting facts about hummers: They flap their wings 80 times a second. Their hearts beat 1,260 times per minute. They weigh 2 grams and construct a soft flexible nest that expands to accommodate the growing brood, usually two.

They are fascinating birds and when they come to your garden you will indeed feel chosen.