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Do marigolds deter hummingbirds?
Marigolds do not effectively deter hummingbirds.
While marigolds are popular for their bright colors and pest-repellent properties, they don’t have a reputation for keeping hummingbirds away.
If you’re wondering whether marigolds keep hummingbirds out of your garden or away from your flowers, the short answer is no.
In this post, we’ll explore why marigolds do not deter hummingbirds, what attracts hummingbirds to your garden, and some better options if you want to keep hummingbirds away.
Let’s dive into the details of marigolds and hummingbird behavior.
Why Marigolds Don’t Deter Hummingbirds
Marigolds are not effective at deterring hummingbirds, and here’s why:
1. Hummingbirds Are Attracted To Nectar, Not Deterred By Certain Plants
Hummingbirds primarily visit flowers to feed on nectar.
Marigolds do produce nectar, and although not the most preferred nectar source, they don’t repel hummingbirds.
Because these birds are after sugar-rich nectar, they aren’t avoiding plants like marigolds that don’t taste bad or have repellant scents for them.
In fact, hummingbirds may even be somewhat attracted to marigolds due to their bright orange and yellow colors, as hummingbirds are drawn to vivid hues.
2. Marigolds Are More Known For Repelling Insects Like Mosquitoes and Aphids
One of the best-known uses of marigolds in gardens is pest control, primarily targeting insects such as mosquitoes, aphids, and nematodes.
Their pungent scent and compounds naturally repel many insects, but hummingbirds are not insects and don’t respond to this kind of deterrent.
So while marigolds are great for keeping some pests away, they don’t deter hummingbirds at all.
3. Hummingbirds Use Sight and Smell Differently From Insect Pests
Hummingbirds rely heavily on sight, especially bright colors like red and orange, and less on smell.
Marigolds do have a scent, but it’s not strong enough or unpleasant to hummingbirds to push them away.
Therefore, marigolds simply don’t have the necessary traits to be a hummingbird deterrent.
This explains why you can often see hummingbirds fluttering happily among marigold flowers.
What Actually Attracts Hummingbirds to Your Garden?
If marigolds don’t deter hummingbirds, what plants and conditions draw them in? Here’s the scoop:
1. Brightly Colored, Tubular Flowers
Hummingbirds love flowers with trumpet or tubular shapes because these shapes hold ample nectar in a way that suits their long beaks.
Red, orange, pink, and purple flowers are especially attractive to hummingbirds, although they visit flowers of many colors.
Examples include trumpet vine, bee balm, fuchsia, and columbine—these plants are magnets for hummingbirds.
2. Nectar-Rich Flowers and Feeders
The main reason hummingbirds visit anywhere is to feed on sugary nectar.
Flowers with a high nectar yield provide that critical energy source hummingbirds need for their high metabolism.
Homeowners also attract hummingbirds by offering sugar water feeders. These are often much more appealing than marigolds since they provide a direct, accessible source of food.
3. Shelter and Perches
Besides food, hummingbirds also look for safe spots to rest and nest.
Gardens with trees, shrubs, and less disturbed areas provide the shelter and perching spots hummingbirds prefer.
It’s not just about the flowers or plants—they want habitat too.
Effective Ways to Deter Hummingbirds If Needed
If you want to discourage hummingbirds, whether because they disrupt your garden or for other reasons, here are some methods that actually work better than planting marigolds:
1. Remove Favorite Food Sources
Cutting down tubular, brightly colored flowers reduces nectar availability.
This is the most straightforward way to discourage hummingbirds since they won’t stick around without food.
Replacing those flowers with low-nectar plants reduces attraction.
2. Cover or Remove Feeders
If you offer hummingbird feeders, removing or covering them removes the easy food source hummingbirds seek out.
Without feeders, hummingbirds might limit visits to your yard.
3. Use Reflective Materials
Hummingbirds can get startled by reflective and moving objects like CDs, shiny foil strips, or reflective tape.
Hanging these around your garden can make it less inviting to hummingbirds.
4. Avoid Bright Red and Orange Colors
Because hummingbirds are attracted to bright colors, eliminating red, orange, and similar color tones in your garden’s flowers, decorations, and feeders may help.
Substituting with white, blues, and yellows can be less attractive to hummingbirds.
5. Use Physical Barriers
Netting or mesh can be installed over plants or garden areas where you want to keep hummingbirds out.
This method physically blocks the birds but can be labor-intensive and impractical for large spaces.
Do Marigolds Affect Other Garden Visitors?
While marigolds don’t deter hummingbirds, they may impact other plant visitors in ways worth noting.
1. Beneficial Insects
Marigolds attract pollinators like bees and butterflies, which help in pollinating your garden plants.
So, using marigolds might actually increase visits from some helpful insects, balancing your garden’s ecosystem.
2. Pest Insects Repellent
As mentioned, marigolds repel many unwanted garden pests such as aphids and nematodes, which can harm other plants.
This makes marigolds a smart companion plant for pest control, although it won’t affect hummingbirds.
3. Some Birds Are Repelled
There’s some anecdotal suggestion that marigolds’ pungent smell may keep away certain seed-eating birds or small mammals, but this is not confirmed to deter hummingbirds.
Hummingbirds do not rely on seed sources and are unlikely to be influenced by marigolds in this way.
So, Do Marigolds Deter Hummingbirds?
To wrap it up, marigolds do not deter hummingbirds.
Hummingbirds are not put off by marigolds’ scent or presence, nor are they discouraged by marigolds’ typical nectar or flower shapes.
If you want to deter hummingbirds, focusing on removing nectar sources, avoiding bright colors, or using reflective deterrents will be much more effective.
Marigolds are excellent for repelling many garden pests but simply aren’t designed to keep hummingbirds away.
So planting marigolds with the goal to deter hummingbirds won’t work as you might hope.
Instead, enjoy marigolds for what they do best—brightening your garden with cheerful blooms and helping control insect pests!
That’s the lowdown on do marigolds deter hummingbirds—no, they don’t, but they still deserve a spot in your yard for other reasons.
Happy gardening!