HummingbirdGarden

Create a Hummingbird Garden

Hummingbirds are lively and interesting garden companions.

We have dramatically increased the number of hummingbirds in our garden,

without the hassle of feeders, by growing flowers that provide food and

shrubs and trees that provide shelter and nesting sites.

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Hummmingbirds drink nectar from tubular flowers such as this

Red Hot Poker, Kniphofia uvaria. They are very attracted to red flowers and many

red flowers are naturally pollinated by hummingbirds.

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Western Columbine, Aquilegia formosa, is an

example of an early season hummingbird flower.

Note the long, nectar producing flower spurs.

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Long blooming flowers such as the

Pine Needle Penstemon, Penstemon pinifolius,

provide nutrition throughout the season.

Penstemons of every color attract Hummingbirds in our garden.

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California Fuschia, Zauschneria californica,

is a late season bloomer

Hummingbirds also eat small insects like aphids.

Limiting pesticide use in your garden ensures an adequate food source

for hummingbirds and beneficial insects.

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This Ladybug is an example of a beneficial insect.

(More On the Role of Beneficial Insects in Your Garden)

Other Flowers that attract Hummingbirds include:

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Cardinal Flower

Lobelia cardinalis

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Hummingbird Mint

Agastache rupestris

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Cape Fuschia

Phygelius capensis

Hummingbird acrobatics

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Have you ever been buzzed by a hummingbird?

If so, you were likely close to a food source or nest.

Hummingbirds are territorial and will fight off other birds and

even humans who encroach on their territory.

Did you know that during World War II the Navajo Code Talkers

used the Navajo word for hummingbird to refer to dive bombers?