- Hummingbirds must consume up to 50% of their body weight in nectar each day, feeding every 10 to 15 minutes, which makes the act of eating a full-time job.
- The corolla tube on some flowers creates a barrier that restricts nectar access for insects, making these species ideal for hummingbirds to feed upon.
- Prioritizing flower shape over petal color is just one way to make a thriving hummingbird garden.
- Establishing generous clusters of hummingbird-approved plants is necessary to manage territorial guarding during their migration season.
Ahummingbird or two visiting your backyard garden consistently is truly magical. If you want more moments with hummingbirds, and you want them reliably, all season long, the single best thing you can do is plant the right flowers. What should you plant to attract hummingbirds to your yard? We’ve interviewed a reputable source to bring you the answers.
According to Bob Mulvihill, a Lead Ornithologist at The National Aviary, hummingbirds and flowers have spent millennia shaping each other. “Hummingbirds of all kinds are uniquely adapted to feed on nectar produced by flowers having a long corolla tube, which is a narrow funnel formed by fused petals,” he explains. “This is because hummingbirds and the plants they pollinate have co-evolved to have a mutualistic relationship that benefits them both.”
What plants have evolved to attract hummingbirds best, and what are these delightful little birds truly seeking from your backyard garden? Here’s how you can build an ideal habitat on your own property, a habitat that keeps hummingbirds returning again and again.