
Ruth asks…
What perennials attract hummingbirds?

admin answers:
The variety of plants for attracting hummingbirds is so great that, in the process of building hummingbird gardens, you could also be building a landscape that will be the talk of the neighborhood. In selecting flowers to attract hummingbirds, you are not limited to using red flowers, although the colour red, is notorious for attracting hummingbirds.
Here’s a small list for you to start…Have fun!
Hosta’s
Texas Sage (Salvia coccinea)
Anise Sage (Salvia guaranitica)
Pineapple Sage (Salvia elegans)
Blooms in winter.
Ugly Shrimp Plant (Justicia brandegeana)
This is the winter blooming shrimp plant.
Mexican cigar plant (Cuphea ignea, C. Micropetala, C. David)
Giant Turk’s Cap (Malvaviscus arboreus var. Mexicanus)
Abutilon (A. Pictum)
This is the original flowering maple (not a hybrid); flowers are pale orange bells with red veins.
Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
Butterfly Bush (Buddleia alternifolia)
Firebush (Hamelia patens)
Jewelweed
Bee Balm
Native Trumpet Creeper (Campsis radicans)
Cypress Vine (Ipomoea quamoclit)
Orange Justicia (Justicia spicigera)
Bourardia (Buourvardia ternifolia)
Mexican Bush Sage
Sultan’s Turban
Pagodia Plant (Clerodendrum speciosissimum)
Pentas (Pentas laceolata)
Coral Honeysuckle, or Trumpet Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens)

Michael asks…
What kind of plants attract hummingbirds & butterflies to veg-garden.I hear they help keep pest out of gardens?

admin answers:
The obvious ones are butterfly bush and butterfly weed. Mine are especially attracted to lantana, verbena and zinnias. They really love the zinnias. Here are a couple of sites with some other types of flowers they prefer.
Http://www.thegardenhelper.com/hummingbird.html
http://landscaping.about.com/cs/forthebirds/a/hummingbirds.htm
By the way, hummingbirds love flowers, not only sugar water, and they do eat very small insects. As for butterflies, each species has only one host plant each, which means they will only lay eggs on the one plant that the caterpillars can eat. They will not lay them all over your flowers and vegetables.

William asks…
What can I do to attract more hummingbirds?
I have hummingbird feeders, they seem to enjoy the butterfly bushes, and a hummingbird vine someone gave me (not sure what the real name for it is). What else can i do to attract more? Thanks!
BTW: I live in eastern NC

admin answers:
Hey Live, Laugh, Love,
Depending on where you live, varieties of hummingbirds specialize in different bushes. Honeysuckle, or Jasmine attract many kinds of hummingbirds. Bottlebrush bushes attract them too.
Put out hummingbird feeders with sugar water, keep them clean and full habitually.
If you really want to attract more, start reading information available online – see web sites below.
Plants to Attract and Feed Hummingbirds
Trees and Shrubs
Azalea
Butterfly Bush (Buddleia)
Cape Honeysuckle
Flame Acanthus
Flowering Quince
Lantana
Manzanita
Mimosa
Red Buckeye
Tree Tobacco
Turk’s Cap
Weigela
Vines
Coral Honeysuckle
Cypress Vine
Morning Glory
Scarlet Runner Bean
Trumpet Creeper
:

Maria asks…
I am looking for a perennial, hardy to zone 4 that will attract hummingbirds during both spring and summer.?
Any suggestions?

admin answers:
Plainly as it is… A hummingbird vine! They have orange trumpet like flowers and beautiful dark green leaves… And you can’t beat the hardiness of these vines… They thrive in poor soil too!
You can order it from DirectGardening for cheap.. I just got 2 of them last week for less than 4 bucks altogether.
I’ve listed the webpage below… And here is the information they listed.
“Have you always wanted to attract charming little hummingbirds to your yard? Plant this old-time favorite — hummingbirds find it irresistible. The Hummingbird Vine has dark, shiny green leaves that are smothered in large, showy, orange-scarlet trumpet-shaped flowers from July to November. Hummingbirds appear to collect the sweet nectar and come back year after year. Hummingbird Vine is a vigorous grower — reaches 20 feet or more. Covers almost any kind of support — arbors, brick walls, fences, even covers ugly utility poles. We send hardy plants that will grow in poor soil, sun, or partial shade.”

David asks…
semi-evergreen flowering perennial that attracts hummingbirds?
red blooms on long stems – strong smelling leaves – about 4 ft. tall
This perennial is only about 4 ft. tall. It has long spikes with dark red flowers. The leaves have a strong smell. I thought it was some kind of salvia but now I’m not sure. I love the plant and want to purchase another – I guess I could take a cutting to a plant nursery for identification.

admin answers:
I know that honeysuckle or Hibiscus are attractive for hummingbirds – I can’t tell for sure by your description.
Powered by Yahoo! Answers



















