|
Hummingbirds are mainly attracted to flowers
in the red spectrum, from light orange to deep purple, although they will
frequent flowers with other colors. The reason they prefer red flowers is
that most insects avoid red flowers thus there is more nectar in them for
hummingbirds. The typical hummingbird
flower is a long flared tube, which keeps out rival pollinators and invites
the birds to lap up tasty nectar with their long bills and tongues. While
they subsist primarily on insects during late fall and winter, in spring and
summer the feisty birds also take advantage of the profusion of native blooms.
The following plants are hummingbird favorites and are drought-tolerant once
established.
|
Anna's Hummingbird (Male) |
Allen's Hummingbird (Male)
|
Black-chinned Hummingbird (Male)
|
SPRING
-
Aquilegia formosa,
Scarlet Columbine R
- Berberis
nevinii,
Nevin’s Barberry Y
-
Calliandra californica,
California Fairyduster R and C. eriophylla, Fairyduster
P
-
Ceanothus spp.
B/V, W
-
Chilopsis linearis,
Desert Willow P/W
-
Galvezia juncea,
Island bush snapdragon
and Galvezia speciosa, Baja snapdragon R
-
Heuchera spp.,
Coral bells, Alum-Root
P, R, W Dainty pinkish flowers on long nodding stalks provide “hummingbird
candy.”
-
Iris spp.
and Iris hybrids V, W, Y
-
Mimulus spp.,
Monkey Flower
O, R, Y, W Attractive to both hummingbirds and bees.
-
Penstemon spp.,
B, R, V Bell-shaped
flowers in a range of reds, blues and violets attract hummingbirds and
other pollinators.
-
Phacelia spp.,
Phacelia B, V
-
Salvia spathacea,
Hummingbird sage
R Each rosette of this low-growing plant forms a long stalk of irresistible
carmine flowers in early spring.
|
 |
 |
 |
Costa's Hummingbird
(Female)
|
Anna's Hummingbird
Quicktime Movie (2mb)
|
Anna's Hummingbird
nestlings
|
|
MID-SUMMER
-
Salvia clevelandii,
Cleveland Sage; S. apiana, White Sage; S. mellifera, Black
Sage B, V, W Whorls of fragrant blue, purple, or white
flowers attract hummingbirds and beneficial insects.
-
Trichostema lanatum,
Woolly Blue Curls P/V Hummingbird heaven. Light irrigation
extends the blooming season through summer and fall.
LATE SUMMER AND FALL
-
Epilobium canum
and E. canum
latifolia, California Fuchsia O, R, W A hummingbird
favorite, Epilobium blooms when many other natives are dormant
.
WINTER
-
Native succulents such as Agave spp., Dudleya spp.,
and Yucca spp. P, W, Y
-
Arctostaphylos spp.,
Manzanita P, W
Nectar-rich blooms attract insect prey that helps resident hummingbirds
raise their first brood.
-
Isomeris arborea,
Bladderpod Y Loved by bumblebees and hummingbirds, Bladderpod
blooms almost continuously year-round
|
|
