Hummingbird Haven
Pick the best plants to welcome these beloved fast fliers.
1 CARDINAL FLOWER
LOBELIA CARDINALIS, ZONES 3 TO 9
A moisture-loving favorite, bright red cardinal flower grows 3 to 5 feet tall and blooms for most of summer and into autumn. It does well when planted in full sun to partial shade and fertile, moist soil. Hummingbirds and butterflies seek out this plant’s nectar, but don’t expect to see cardinals hanging around nearby—the flower is named merely for the color.
2 BEE BALM
MONARDA, ZONES 3 TO 9
Also known as bergamot, this unusual beauty grows up to 4 feet tall and starts flowering in midsummer, inviting hummingbirds, butterflies and bees to your flower bed. Choose mildew-resistant varieties and plant in full sun for best results. Frequent deadheading keeps this enthusiastic self-sower in check, but then you won’t see songbirds stopping to eat the seeds once the petals die back. The choice is yours!
3 BUTTERFLY BUSH
BUDDLEJA DAVIDII, ZONES 5 TO 9
A top nectar plant for many winged species, heatand drought-tolerant butterfly bush grows up to 15 feet tall in full sun. The arching branches are tipped with tiny purple, white, pink or yellow blooms from midsummer through frost. It’s invasive in some areas, but noninvasive species are available.
4 BUTTONBUSH
CEPHALANTHUS OCCIDENTALIS, ZONES 5 TO 10 It’s the honey-sweet nectar from this plant that brings the hummingbirds in. Shrubs are generally about 6 feet tall but occasionally far surpass that. Plant in full sun to partial shade. Consistently moist soil is a must; downright wet soil, a plus.
5 FOUR-O’CLOCKS
MIRABILIS JALAPA, ANNUAL TO ZONE 10 Almost like clockwork, this often fragrant flower blooms in late afternoon. Each blossom lives for just one day, fading before noon. Flowers are yellow, pink, purple, red, white and lavender— sometimes on the same plant. Additional varieties like the Jingles mix are striped. Plant in full sun.