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.

You can find more information on the International Hummingbird Society website.

Courtesy of the NYBG Plant Information Service