Hummingbird plants. (3 Viewers)

[MLoyko]

This has been probably asked many times before on the forum but I just wanted to know what to plant to attract hummingbirds. My mom really wants to see a hummingbird and for everything shes done for me in my life (and me being a birder) I thought I would turn this crappy looking section outside of our kitchen window into a butterfly/hummingbird garden. I live in southeastern Pennsylvania in the USA and I wanted to kind of use native plants to the U.S. or even PA specifically if that is possible. Unfortunately she says trumpet vine is out of the question but that isn't native anyways right?

I would love to hear anybody's input so I can start as soon as the weather warms up. Actually it can be bird friendly as well, not just only hummingbird but others as well.

Thank you very mush for your help,
Matt

P.S. It is dark out right now but tomorrow I will venture outside to take a picture of the area I want to convert and post it.

 

[DownyWP]

Here's a link you might find helpful: http://www.rubythroat.org/PlantsNativeTopTen.html

I'm not familiar with your growing zone however, for me Orange Honeysuckle(Lonicera cilosa), Cardinal Flower(Lobelia cardinalis), (Western Columbine)Aquilegia formosa and Bleeding Heart(Dicentra formosa) are indispensible for a native Hummingbird garden but I am sure you get lots of other good suggestions for your area. Good luck and welcome to the wonderful world of hummingbirds!

 

[MLoyko]

Thanks DownyWP,

That link is pretty good. I'll look into some of those.

 

[KC Foggin]

Hi Matt

I've had wonderful luck with Texas Sage, Salvias and even Lantana. Not only attracks hummers but loads of Butterflies too.

 

[MLoyko]

Hi Matt

I've had wonderful luck with Texas Sage, Salvias and even Lantana. Not only attracts hummers but loads of Butterflies too.

Cool KC, I will look into those too and see if I have the right areas for the stuff mentioned. Pretty soon there is going to be construction behind my house turning some good open field habitat with surrounding woods into houses and they have to come down through our yard to put in a sewer pipe. While doing that they have to rip up my side yard including the grown trees, flowers, fern my mom has but afterward I will probably turn that into a big garden also. Good thing they have to replace the trees! But yeah, now I can make two gardens so I'm grateful for the suggestions for both of you!

 

[CreekTreeUSA]

While I don't know what types of plants you have in your area, there are many varieties of honeysuckles and trumpet vines that are great for the hummingbirds. In our area, lantanas in bright colors are good, and require very little care. We'd agree with KCFoggin about Salvias and Texas Sage as well. Good luck with it, and enjoy@

 

[MLoyko]

While I don't know what types of plants you have in your area, there are many varieties of honeysuckles and trumpet vines that are great for the hummingbirds. In our area, lantanas in bright colors are good, and require very little care. We'd agree with KCFoggin about Salvias and Texas Sage as well. Good luck with it, and enjoy@

Thanks,

From what I gather from my research everything each one of you mentioned is a good choice. I guess it doesn't have to be native to my state because I can't seem to find any but there has to be if Ruby's live here. I'm going to post posts of the progress I make on the garden from finish to end, I just hope I can create the image I have in my head :t:

P.S. I didn't get a picture yet but my mom wants the plants to stay at a height that is lower than the window it will be under so that we still can look out. So I can't put a butterfly bush there. I'm going to compensate by hanging feeders from the window, I have one out now but it's probably too early right?

 

[CreekTreeUSA]

Thanks,

From what I gather from my research everything each one of you mentioned is a good choice. I guess it doesn't have to be native to my state because I can't seem to find any but there has to be if Ruby's live here. I'm going to post posts of the progress I make on the garden from finish to end, I just hope I can create the image I have in my head :t:

P.S. I didn't get a picture yet but my mom wants the plants to stay at a height that is lower than the window it will be under so that we still can look out. So I can't put a butterfly bush there. I'm going to compensate by hanging feeders from the window, I have one out now but it's probably too early right?

Here's a migration map for the Ruby-Throated hummingbirds.
http://www.hummingbirds.net/map.html
It's always good to have your feeder out early, and they're getting close now.

 

[MLoyko]

Thanks Nancy! I see they are getting close.

 

[MLoyko]

Well I researched and considered the plants you all have suggested and I think I am getting close. Actually I'm going to Lowe's tomorrow to maybe buy some plants and/or seeds to get this thing movin.

Attached is the garden at the beginning and I'll attach an after shot when its grown. The spot used to be all grass and weeds.

Thanks again,
Matt

 

[marie b]

Well I researched and considered the plants you all have suggested and I think I am getting close. Actually I'm going to Lowe's tomorrow to maybe buy some plants and/or seeds to get this thing movin.

Attached is the garden at the beginning and I'll attach an after shot when its grown. The spot used to be all grass and weeds.

Thanks again,
Matt

Hi Matt,
It's OK if you give us some shots of a work in progress oo:t:
Marie

 

[CreekTreeUSA]

Well I researched and considered the plants you all have suggested and I think I am getting close. Actually I'm going to Lowe's tomorrow to maybe buy some plants and/or seeds to get this thing movin.

Attached is the garden at the beginning and I'll attach an after shot when its grown. The spot used to be all grass and weeds.

Thanks again,
Matt

Good morning Matt, That looks like a great spot for a hummingbird garden, right in front of the window where you can watch them. We'll look forward to seeing what all you put in it and hearing about how well it works, both for hummingbirds and for butterflies. We're actually working on putting together a list of plants that will attract hummingbirds, and plan to arrange it by state. We're still doing our research, but hope to get it posted on our blog before too long.

Keep us posted on your progress.

 

[MLoyko]

Good morning Matt, That looks like a great spot for a hummingbird garden, right in front of the window where you can watch them. We'll look forward to seeing what all you put in it and hearing about how well it works, both for hummingbirds and for butterflies. We're actually working on putting together a list of plants that will attract hummingbirds, and plan to arrange it by state. We're still doing our research, but hope to get it posted on our blog before too long.

Keep us posted on your progress.

Awesome that sounds like a great plan, would the list be of plants native to that state I assume? If so I saw a hummer feeding off of this plants in the woods while birding last summer. (don't know if they are native or not)

BTW I was thinking about these plants but weren't sure if they would attract either butterflys or hummers

1. Hollyhock
2. Foxglove
3. red hot poker or the one that looks like it (hot spike?)
4. morning glory

Any experience with any of those?

 

[KC Foggin]

[Attached is the garden at the beginning and I'll attach an after shot when its grown. The spot used to be all grass and weeds./QUOTE]

Oh wow, I used to have a basement with the entrance just like that. I sure do miss having a basement. Thanks for the memories Matt.

 

[MLoyko]

Oh wow, I used to have a basement with the entrance just like that. I sure do miss having a basement. Thanks for the memories Matt.

No problem, you don't wanna see inside it though :-O

 

[CreekTreeUSA]

Awesome that sounds like a great plan, would the list be of plants native to that state I assume? If so I saw a hummer feeding off of this plants in the woods while birding last summer. (don't know if they are native or not)

BTW I was thinking about these plants but weren't sure if they would attract either butterflys or hummers

1. Hollyhock
2. Foxglove
3. red hot poker or the one that looks like it (hot spike?)
4. morning glory

Any experience with any of those?

Good morning Matt,
Yes, the list of plants that attract hummingbirds we're trying to put together would be by state (and in some cases, Texas and Florida for example, by area within the state).

We've had success with Morning Glory. We have not personally planted the other flowers, but they're all recommended for hummingbirds. In some areas, Japanese Beetles are a problem for Hollyhocks. And they do need good air circulation to prevent rust.

 

[MLoyko]

Good morning Matt,
Yes, the list of plants that attract hummingbirds we're trying to put together would be by state (and in some cases, Texas and Florida for example, by area within the state).

We've had success with Morning Glory. We have not personally planted the other flowers, but they're all recommended for hummingbirds. In some areas, Japanese Beetles are a problem for Hollyhocks. And they do need good air circulation to prevent rust.

Good morning,

Thanks, I don't think I was going to plant the Hollyhock I was just kind of curious. I had a lot of Japanese beetles here last summer so I don't know if we will have a lot this summer again but thanks for that heads up. I will ry the morning glorys.

 

[MLoyko]

Ok well here is a picture of what it looks like so far.

The plants in it right now are some butterfly/hummingbird attractors and some are just to take up some space and for aesthetic reason, plus my mom likes em so...

Plants:

Columbine - blue, pink, burgundy
Salvia
Blue morning glories - planted by that small trelis
Poppy
Snap dragons
Iris
Marigolds
Some type of tall pink flower, I think it said primrose but not sure

That's it for right now, I also started foxglove and red hot poker inside but no sprouts yet. And spread some wildflower mix in a garden in my back yard.

Any suggestions for a filler/ground cover to take up space? My mom has phlox out front she said I could transplant some into there, I know it will spread but I heard it brings in the butterflys and hummers as well, is that true?

-Matt

 

[FrankD]

Matt,

If I might offer some further suggestions?

One, I have very good luck with canus (not sure on the spelling). I planted the bulbs a week or so ago and expect to see them start to bloom by early July for our area of the state. The hummingbirds "flock" to it quite well once it blooms.

Also, you might want to touch base with Arlene Koch. She posts regularly over on the PABirds listserve. She is a bit of the Lehigh Valley guru on hummingbirds. I believe she has actually published a few books on the subject. She lives in Easton.

Hope this helps....and I look forward to seeing further pics of the garden as it develops.

 

[MLoyko]

Matt,

If I might offer some further suggestions?

One, I have very good luck with canus (not sure on the spelling). I planted the bulbs a week or so ago and expect to see them start to bloom by early July for our area of the state. The hummingbirds "flock" to it quite well once it blooms.

Also, you might want to touch base with Arlene Koch. She posts regularly over on the PABirds listserve. She is a bit of the Lehigh Valley guru on hummingbirds. I believe she has actually published a few books on the subject. She lives in Easton.

Hope this helps....and I look forward to seeing further pics of the garden as it develops.

Thanks Frank,

I will look into that, I might send an email Arlene's way now that you informed me of her expertise.