It’s always wonderful when bees and butterflies are at home in your garden. However, another welcome garden visitor is the hummingbird! These fast-flying little pollinators are attracted to specific types of blossoms and plants. While there are many ways to attract hummingbirds, here are some plants that can bring hummingbirds fluttering around your yard.
Honeysuckle
Left: Dropmore Scarlet Honeysuckle, right: Cool Splash Dwarf Bush Honeysuckle
The Dropmore Scarlet Honeysuckle brings vibrant red-orange blossoms into the mix that are sure to liven up your garden with a pleasant fragrance. Growing in a rather informal manner, the Dropmore Scarlet is very adaptable to any garden. Another species to attract hummingbirds is the Cool Splash Dwarf Bush Honeysuckle. The leaves have contrasting green and white color that adds interest to your garden even when it’s not blooming. Dainty yellow flowers throughout June and July brighten the plants and your garden up for the summer. This honeysuckle works well for mass plantings.
Azalea
Pictured, is a Compact Korean Azalea. This lush bloomer produces lilac-purple blossoms in May, and changes from dark green foliage to red-purple foliage in the fall. It loves to spread, filling the space with the vivid purple color. It’s no surprise that hummingbirds are attracted to such a flower!
Butterflybush
Left: Flutterby Petite Tutti Frutti Pink Butterflybush, right: Black Knight Butterflybush
Butterflybush attracts not only butterflies, like its namesake, but also attracts hummingbirds. Pink Delight Butterflybush is a great option for beginning gardeners as it’s very low-maintenance. If you’re looking for something toned a bit darker, the Black Knight Butterfly Bush has rich purple petals with eye-catching red centers.
Quince
Left: Orange Storm Quince, right: Texas Scarlet Flowering Quince
Orange Storm Quince brightens your garden with their unique orange color. They are both low-maintenance, and deer resistant and are thornless, making them not only perfect for hummingbirds, but they can be used for arrangements and bouquets as well. Texas Scarlet Flowering Quince is ideal if you’re looking for more of a groundcover. With small clusters of watermelon-red flowers, it makes for an attractive spring plant.
Weigela
Left: Java Red Weigela, right: Carnaval Weigela
Weigela comes in many varieties and fits practically anywhere! It’s low maintenance, and brings a classic, old-fashioned feel to a landscape or garden. It’s tough, hardy, and also attracts butterflies and bees. Weigela offers long-time blooms that are irresistible to hummingbirds and humans alike.
Lilac
Left: Marie Frances Lilac, right: Miss Canada Lilac
A classic, fragrant favorite, Lilacs are very popular with hummingbirds. Here at McKay, we have eighteen varieties of beautiful lilacs to choose from. They work wonderfully as a hedge, or a specimen in your yard and come in pinks, purples, whites and yellows. They are tolerant and low maintenance, only requiring a small amount of pruning. Include a rich smelling Lilac in your garden to make the spring breeze that much sweeter. We also have tree-form lilacs as well.
By planting some of these varieties, you increase your chances of bringing these lovely pollinators around your garden or yard. Shop our plants online for in-store pickup, local truck delivery or FedEx delivery anywhere in the continental United States. If you’re in the Madison or Oshkosh, Wisconsin area, stop in for plants and landscape supplies.