Hummingbird Garden

There is a little hummingbird that lives in our plum tree. It wakes up around 6am every morning. In the summer, this hummingbird buzzes around our plum trees and hunts the fruit flies. She zips and zags in midair catching flies.

Tip: leave banana peels under feeder  to attract yummy fruit flies for a lucky hummingbird.

I have decided to plant her a hummingbird garden with a cornucopia of colorful flowers. Hummingbirds have a poor sense of smell and rely on color as a cue to find nectar. Hummingbirds are attracted to bright colors especially red and purple. 

Although there are many red and purple flowers to pick from I prefer those which are non-toxic to cats and dogs to ensure our garden is a safe space for them and curious children.

 There are so many plants and flowers that attract hummingbirds, but some are superstar hummingbird attractors.

10 Plants That Attract Hummingbirds

1. Lions Tail - Evergreen shrub with fuzzy flowers that attract hummingbirds.

Lions tail attracts hummingbirds, is drought resistant and native to Africa.

Lions Tail had a 6-foot spread.

2. Pinnata (aka Lace) Lavender - Blooms early spring to late summer.

3. Petunias - Opt for red or purple ones. Petunias also double as a natural pest deterrent in cabbage, and asparagus beds! 

4. Pineapple Sage - Bright red flowers that hummingbirds flock to.

5. Mexican Sage - Hummingbirds flock to the flowers of Mexican sage like no other plant.

6. Hibiscus - Bright red hibiscus is sure to attract hummingbirds and also make a delicious tart tea for me!

7. Scarlet Beebalm - An beautiful herb in the mint family with many medicinal uses. 

8. Fuchsia

9.  Orange Blossom

10. Lemon Blossom

You can transform any outdoor space into a bird oasis with a simple bird-bath and colorful flowers.

See Audubon Society: How to Create A Hummingbird Friendly Yard

Audubon’s Tips for using Hummingbird Feeders:

• Fill the feeders with sugar water; made by combining four parts hot water to one part white sugar, boiled for one to two minutes. Never use honey, artificial sweeteners, or red dye.
• Hang your feeders in the shade to prevent the sugar solution from fermenting.
• Be sure to change the sugar water regularly -- before it gets cloudy, or about twice a week in warm weather.
• Clean the feeders with a solution of one part white vinegar to four parts water about once a week. If your feeder has become dirty, try adding some grains of dry rice to the vinegar solution and shake vigorously. The grains act as a good abrasive.
• Rinse your feeder well with warm water three times before refilling with sugar solution.