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| If you had to pick one plant to attract hummers what would that plant be? I am looking to use plants to attract the hummers instead of using feeders. I have had a major ant problem in the past, and that's why I have decided not to use feeders.
Thanks,
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Follow-Up Postings:
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- Posted by christy2828 7 MD (My Page) on Sun, Apr 13, 08 at 20:09
| IF I had to pick one, I guess I'd say Bee Balm. My Jack Russel knocks the stems over every year, and I've seen hummers on the ground drinking out of the flowers. Christy :) |
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- Posted by mindysuewho 7 (My Page) on Sun, Apr 13, 08 at 22:27
| Coral honeysuckle vine. They come right up on our deck to get the flowers. |
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| They love cypress and cardinal vine here. I'm calling these "one" plant because I grow them on the same trellis. :) |
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- Posted by costaricafinca Costa Rica (My Page) on Mon, Apr 14, 08 at 11:04
| I would say the purple portersweed. My 7 species of hummers, favourite! |
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| Be awfully difficult to pick one. Here in North Texas in my yard, the hummers love (not in any order & probably leaving out many others): Desert Willow In Florida, you have all those wonderful tropical choices, don't you? Regards, |
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- Posted by lucygreenthumb z4/5 Iowa (My Page) on Mon, Apr 14, 08 at 13:15
| First choice would be "Walker's Low Catmint (Nepeta). It's a lavender blue color - sometimes called poor man's lavender - tho it doesn't have the lavender scent. The hummers love it despite the color and it's a tough-as-nails, drought resisitant perennial that will bloom almost frost to frost if dead-headed. 2nd choice russian sage - another wrong color hummer fav with alot of the same qualities as the nepeta - only taller with a July to frost bloom period. 3rd choice coral honeysuckle, either Dropmore scarlet or Alabama crimson - wonderful vines with good repeat bloom that don't take up too much space. |
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- Posted by susanlynne48 OKC7a (My Page) on Mon, Apr 14, 08 at 15:34
| My hummers love: Passiflora ceurulea (Blue Crown) I bought a Cape Fuchsia (red blooming; Iochroma) this year to try and see how they would like that, too. I've noticed also that they like to have tall sticks and flower stalks to perch on. Susan |
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I would choose Ocotillo, they are blooming as we speak. Very lovely and the hummers seam to really stay on the flowers and later return for more. 
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- Posted by marilyn_fl zone 9b Florida (My Page) on Tue, Apr 15, 08 at 7:22
| Thanks everyone for your replies. Right now I have a coral honeysuckle vine (just planted), and a couple of firespike plants. My firespike was blooming in Oct & Nov and hasn't bloomed since. So I am trying to find something that will bloom longer.I had one little hummer that was visiting until the firespike quit blooming. I know that the hummers are suppose to stay in FL until sometime in March. Hopefully I will have more things blooming by their next visit. |
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- Posted by birding_nut 6 (My Page) on Wed, Apr 16, 08 at 12:11
| For the hummers in my Washington garden, the plant hit the most is Penstemon barbatus. Second would be Agastache 'Acupulco Salmon and Pink'. BN |
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| I need to grow some of the flowers mentioned above. But here, they really love my butterfly bushes (buddleia). When they aren't at my nectar feeders, that's where they are! A 6' buddleia active with butterfies, hummers, and hummingbird moths (sphynx moths?) is a wonderful sight! |
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| I have tried a lot of recommended plants including salvia, agastache, honeysuckle, buddleia and others. Monarda Jacob Cline was the most attractive by far. Black and Blue Salvia was also very attractive. |
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- Posted by mbuckmaster 7B/NC (My Page) on Fri, Apr 18, 08 at 14:27
| Pentas! Hummingbirds can't get enough of them. I grew them as perennials down in Florida...here they have to be annuals. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Pentas
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- Posted by irisheyesaresmilin 02814RI (My Page) on Fri, Apr 18, 08 at 21:11
| Petunias or Buddalia (Butterfly Bush) Maybe the petunia would be preferred- only because of it's season long bloom...... |
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| Mine go after shrimp plants and firespike, red salvia and petunias are favorites also |
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- Posted by bulldogsnbutterflies 10s.fla (My Page) on Sun, Apr 27, 08 at 18:07
| firebush, always in bloom, berries for other birds, and a host plant for a sphynx moth.also not bad to look at and very easy to grow.second choice is red powder puff. |
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