Discover 9 Alluring Hummingbird Species Possible in Your Backyard

In North America, the smallest hummingbird species can be found - the Calliope hummingbird, measuring a mere 3 inches in length. These tiny, vibrant creatures are a delight to have in any garden, and with the right conditions, they can be enticed to visit.

Hummingbirds are adaptable birds, thriving in various climates as long as they have access to nectar-rich flowers and clean water sources. Desert landscapes, coastal areas, and woodlands all provide suitable habitats for different species. To attract hummingbirds to your garden, consider planting a variety of brightly colored tubular or trumpet-shaped flowers, especially in shades of red, orange, and yellow, which are most visible and appealing to these feathery visitors.

Some key flower types and species to include are perennials such as Monarda, Agastache, Penstemon, Salvia, Lobelia (notably Cardinal Flower), Physostegia, Chelone, Lonicera (honeysuckle), Heuchera, Aquilegia (columbine), Phlox, Silphium, Liatris, Dicentra, Echinacea, Iris, Kosteletzkya, Manfreda.

Bright annuals and non-invasive plants like Hosta, Hemerocallis (daylilies), Alcea, Kniphophia, and tropical or subtropical flowers can provide nectar throughout the season. Certain native plants, specifically adapted to hummingbird pollination, such as the Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis), Scarlet Hibiscus (Hibiscus coccineus), Coral Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens), American Plum, Aster, Bottlebrush Buckeye, Carolina Jasmine, Crossvine, Downy Phlox, Fire Pinks, Florida Azalea, Indian Pinks, Lyreleaf Sage, Red Buckeye, Tulip Poplar, and Wild Columbine, are also excellent choices.

Vegetables with nectar-rich flowers, like runner beans (red/orange tubular flowers) and okra (large hibiscus-like flowers, pale yellow with red center), can attract hummingbirds and add diversity to your garden. Petunias with trumpet-like blooms in red, pink, purple, and fuchsia shades can also attract hummingbirds effectively.

To ensure a continuous bloom cycle, combine perennials, annuals, and flowering vegetables to provide nectar throughout the hummingbird season. Arrange plants with shorter species in front and taller ones in the back to facilitate easy access and visibility of blooms.

Allen's hummingbirds, native to the coastal strip of California and southern Oregon, are celebrated for their orange neck patches and green backs. Males of the Calliope hummingbird species sport dazzling magenta streaks on their throats. Broad-tailed hummingbirds, thriving at elevations as high as 10,000 feet in the Rocky Mountains, have shimmering rose-red throats, while females display a more subdued green coloring.

To make your garden more hummingbird-friendly, plant a variety of flowering plants with staggered bloom times, avoid using pesticides, add a water feature, and attract bugs that hummingbirds like. Maintaining feeders filled with a simple sugar-water solution can supplement natural nectar from flowers, encouraging hummingbird visits. With these steps, you'll create a vibrant, hummingbird-friendly oasis in your backyard.

To create a hummingbird-friendly garden, consider planting a variety of flowers, like Monarda, Agastache, Penstemon, Salvia, Lobelia, Physostegia, Chelone, Lonicera (honeysuckle), Heuchera, Aquilegia, Phlox, Silphium, Liatris, Dicentra, Echinacea, Iris, Kosteletzkya, Manfreda, Hosta, Hemerocallis, Alcea, Kniphophia, and tropical or subtropical flowers.
Vegetables with nectar-rich flowers, such as runner beans (red/orange tubular flowers) and okra (large hibiscus-like flowers, pale yellow with red center), can attract hummingbirds and add diversity to your garden.
To attract hummingbirds to your garden, arrange plants with shorter species in front and taller ones in the back to facilitate easy access and visibility of blooms.
With a garden filled with nectar-rich flowers, clean water sources, and avoiding the use of pesticides, you'll create a vibrant, hummingbird-friendly oasis in your home-and-garden, enhancing your lifestyle by incorporating gardening decor.