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Best shrub for hummingbirds?
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Posted by stevec_2007 Zone 6-7 (My Page) on Mon, Oct 26, 09 at 11:58
| I need to create a hedge about 80 feet long and am looking for something that will appeal to hummingbirds. I live way out in the country so the hedge row doesn't have to be overly attractive. I would also prefer something that's pretty low maintenance. The area will get full sun for most of the day. Any ideas? |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Best shrub for hummingbirds?
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| Steve now that is a question. Years ago I planted the old type of crept myrtle on either side of my house along with English dogwoods. About 300 feet on either side. I live in the country and wanted to seperated my yard from the fields. Later I I started planting my hummingbird and butterfly friendly plants in front of the dogwoods and myrtles. What a haven for them and mess for me. I got all this other stuff coming up there now. Should have know that would happen. It is low maintance for me because I just cut back all the dead stuff during the winter and mow in the summer. Also has full sun all day long. I also started Evening Primsoses, a old wild flower, along one side of the house. Now in the spring for weeks I have a blanket of those beautiful pink flowers blooming along with the English dogwoods. These are just a good memory from my childhood. |
Pictures
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| These pictures will show you the place I created for the birds and butterflies. It gets to looking real bad but the inhabitants don't seem to mind. 
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RE: Best shrub for hummingbirds?
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| Mimidi - I love your landscaping! I live way out in the country and am also trying to create more wild looking areas around my house. Unfortunately, the dogwoods are too tall and the primrose is too short for my needs. I'm looking for something in the 3 to 4' range that would create a good hedge and attract hummingbirds. Do you get hummers at your myrtle? I have one, but have only seen bees using it. (I did have a Carolina Wren nest in it.) |
RE: Best shrub for hummingbirds?
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| The hummingbirds love the myrtle to hide in. The limbs are just the right size for them. They stay in the them entire season and plan attacks on they fellow hummingbirds. What fun to watch and hear. I have never paid attention the feeding at the myrtles I have all sorts of plants planted here for the hummingbirds and butterflies for the summer. Salvias, lantanas, Mexican bush sage, Mexican sunflower, roses, Indian pinks, iris, zinnias, day lilies, and Mexican petunia to name a few. These all grow where the primoses are blooming. Between now and next February I will cut back what needs cutting back and then mow the rest. I have a crop of oak trees coming up among all this mess. Since I don't have trees in my yards this makes a wonderful place for my little friends. I imagine when one of my children or grandchildren get this house and property a bulldozier will be brought in and everything will be cleaned out. |
RE: Best shrub for hummingbirds?
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| Mimidi, I love your landscape too, and those primroses brought back alot of memories for me as well. I haven't seen them in years. They look lovely in your yard...thanks for sharing the pics. Donna |
Primroses
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| Thank you Donna. I remember them growing in the pasture next to my grandparents home when I was a little girl. I found some growing wild a few years ago and dug some and planted them. I am letting them just grow as they please. Not a hummingbird flower for sure. |
RE: Best shrub for hummingbirds?
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| these are beautiful pics! My cape honeysuckle is huge and also attracts many hummingbirds. It's blooming now here in Los Angeles |
RE: Best shrub for hummingbirds?
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| I did my best to kill my Cape honeysuckle but it is still trying to live. I plan to fertilize it well this winter. In the past it has bloomed late in the season for me but I hope for better results next year. |
RE: Best shrub for hummingbirds?
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| I have a long hedge of Abelia grandiflora. I planted it to keep my son's soccer ball from heading over my sloped beds... It's in about the size range you want, currently loaded with light pink flowers that my hummingbirds love, and nice fall foliage color. see link; there's even a video. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Abelia shrub
RE: Best shrub for hummingbirds?
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| Voodoobrew - That looks perfect! I've been researching this issue for a week and this is the very first time I've even heard of this plant. I wonder why it isn't getting more publicity? |
RE: Best shrub for hummingbirds?
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| A nursery also suggested Weigela florida 'French Lace'. Does anyone have experience with this? Do the hummers like it? |
RE: Best shrub for hummingbirds?
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| My hummingbirds are always in my buttefly bush. A hedge of that, although not native would work fine. Plus, it attracts butterflies and moths galore. BN |
RE: Best shrub for hummingbirds?
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| It looks like the Abelia has a much longer blooming season than the Weigela's. Choose the variety well and you'll enjoy a nice fragrance, too. Mary |
RE: Best shrub for hummingbirds?
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I have a hedge line about 200' feet to block out my neighbors. It's a mix of several bushes. Rhodos, Azalea,
Honey Suckle, Trumpet vine, Rose of Sharon, plus a Mimosa tree and several Lilac bushes. They nest in the Lilacs. I think a mix is the best way to go. A Crepe Myrtle is close by and their favorite to hang in to guard the feeders. They guard the back feeders in the Butterfly bush. Also a favorite. Just some ideas, though I know some are taller than you prefer. |
RE: Best shrub for hummingbirds?
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| Another shrub that gets little attention is bottlebrush buckeye. It blooms later in the season but is used quite a bit during the southward migration. As bdriver stated a mix may be the best way to go because it would maximize your flowering time....early spring to late summer. Most shrubs can be pruned to the size you want and as long as they are pruned at the appropriate time, it wouldn't affect the next years blooms. Weigelias can get to at least 6ft. tall and quite rangy but can be kept shorter and more compact. Spring blooming plants need to be pruned immediately after they are done blooming so as not to sacrifice the next year's blooms. Penny |
RE: Best shrub for hummingbirds?
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| What about fuschia?? They'll go nuts over it!! A good hardy species for you would be fuchsia magellanica. It's hardy to at least zone 6, so you should be fine. |
RE: Best shrub for hummingbirds?
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| Thanks to all of you for your great suggestions. I think I'm going to go with a mixture of 5 or 6 different shrubs. Next spring, when I get it all going, I'll post pictures. |
RE: Best shrub for hummingbirds?
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| Steve, I have one more to add to my Abelia suggestion: Teucrium fruticans I have these shrubs planted alongside the Abelia row, and today I watched my male Anna's hummer (named Sparky... he's very aggressive and doesn't share well, LOL) hit the flowers, even though I have TONS of salvias still in bloom. The foliage is silver/ grey, so it can be a very nice addition to the garden. btw, the Abelia is showing beautiful fall color now [and still blooming], something that we're not exactly famous for in California. :) |
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