Q. How can I attract hummingbirds to my garden?
Answer
The ruby-throated hummingbird is the only one found regularly in our northeast area. Its arrival in spring coincides with the blooming of certain nectar-producing plants with which it has co-evolved over the millennia.
Nectar plants provide a high-energy food source for these tiny creatures who can produce up to 200 wing strokes per second. Planting native species that the ruby-throated hummingbird knows as a reliable source of nectar is an important consideration in encouraging visitation. These plants include: Monarda didyma, Asclepias tuberosa, Dicentra eximia, Lobelia cardinalis, Ipomoea coccinea, Polygonatum biflorum and Aquilegia canadensis. Some shrubs, although not native, are attractive sources as well: Weigela, Hibiscus and Kolkwitzia.
More here: http://www.hummingbirdsociety.org/index.php
Courtesy of the NYBG Plant Information Service
Comments (0)
Contact Us with your Question by Email
Can't find an answer in our FAQ? Try our Plant and Gardening Guides.
OR, a plant expert will answer your individual plant and garden questions if you contact us by email or use the Quick Form below. Click on the link to send us an email:
