Hummingbirds are marvelous birds that are a joy to have in your garden. Many shrubs will bring birds to your garden, but only a select few are loved by hummingbirds. Here are some you can plant to bring the buzzy birds to your garden or patio.
Abelia
The Abelia is a shrub known for its delicate, trumpet-like flowers that come in different shades of pink or white during the spring. The fragrant flowers are a favorite for hummingbirds and butterflies, which feed on their nectar.
The leaves turn from yellow to gold and red from spring to fall. In warm climates, abelia is evergreen and deciduous in colder areas. Regular pruning is needed to encourage the growth of new blooms. Abelias mature at 3-6ft high and wide. Thrives in USDA zones 6-9, in full sunlight and well-drained soils.
Crepe Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica)
Crepe Myrtle is a small deciduous tree or shrub native to Asia. It is known for its attractive foliage in the fall and red-rose flowers that bloom from July to September.
The bark peels back in the winter. Hummingbirds and butterflies frequent this shrub. Plant it during the fall to ensure the roots are well established before winter. Regular pruning is necessary to encourage new blooms. It thrives in USDA zones 7-10. The plant does well in full sunlight and moist, well-drained soils.
Weigela ‘Florida Variegata’
The Weigela is a deciduous shrub characterized by tubular flowers, 1-2 inches long. They come in shades of yellow, white, red, and pink. It has glossy foliage with serrated leaves. The trumpet-shaped flowers are popular with hummingbirds due to their nectar.
The plant matures at 10ft high and 12ft wide. It thrives in USDA zones 4-8 in full sunlight and does well in well-drained moist soils.
Hibiscus flowers
The Hibiscus has trumpet, nectar-rich flowers frequented by hummingbirds. They appear in shades of red, orange, white, pink, and yellow. Depending on the region, the flower will appear from mid-spring or late summer.
They come in wide varieties, ranging from perennials to evergreens. Hibiscus plants typically mature at 3-8ft fall and spread 3-5ft wide. They thrive in USDA zones 6-10, under full sunlight and in moist, well-drained soils.
Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)
The Buttonbush is a hardy shrub native to North America. It produces spiky, round, white, fragrant flowers that bloom in the summer. Hummingbirds and bees love them.
The flowers give way to seed pods which provide food to several bird species. It occurs naturally in wetlands. It matures at 6-12ft tall and wide. The shrub produces cephalothin, a toxic chemical that harms pets and humans. It thrives in USDA zones 5-11, in full or partial sunlight and loamy, neutral, well-drained soils.
