Hummingbird Gardening: Attracting Hummingbirds with Plants they Like

Pre-Planned butterfly garden plans and layouts

To attract hummingbirds to your garden, a variety of nectar-rich flowers are essential. Although it has been said that hummingbirds prefer red, tube shaped flowers, hummingbirds will enjoy the nectar of many colors and shapes of flowers. In designing a garden favorable to hummingbirds, consider clusters of shrubs so the hummingbird can approach flowers from all sides. Another consideration is to have a variety of plant heights. Different heights will allow protection from weather as well as strategic perching points for the hummingbirds. A variety of sunlight is appreciated by hummingbirds, therefore, more than one garden area may be necessary - perhaps one area in the sun and another area in the shade.

Flowers favored by hummingbirds: Bee Balm Butterfly bush Cardinal flower Columbine Coral bells Daylily Foxglove Geranium Gladiolus Hibiscus Hollyhock Honeysuckle Impatiens Lupine Morning glory Petunia Phlox Salvia Scabiosa Trumpet vine Verbena Yucca

Recipe for homemade nector: 4 parts water to 1 part granulated sugar. In a pan, combine 4 cups of water to 1 cup of sugar. Bring to a boil, stirring frequently to disolve sugar granules. Let cool and then transfer to a clean glass jar. No need to add red food coloring. Store in the refrigerator for up to one week (will start to get "gunky" after a week). Pour cold homemade nectar into hummingbird feeder. Hang the feeder outside and watch the hummers find it. TIP: I like to hang my feeders in an area that gets more shade than sun. This will keep the nectar fresher longer. Change the nectar every few days - hummers don't like stagnant nectar. Remember to wash the feeder well between changings.