As a bird lover myself, I also enjoy the beauty of these awesome fliers.  I bet scientists are still scratching their heads over the fact that they can fly backwards.  Hummingbirds, with their shimmering colors are amazing creatures.  Did you know that their colorful feather platelets, especially their throat patch, are filled with tiny air bubbles?  When light reflects off these bubbles, the refraction makes their feather colors change and appear red and purple iridescent. 

We have an abundance of hummingbirds at the nursery and every year we end up marking a few trees “Not for Sale” because of their tiny nests and jellybean sized eggs.  Of course, at the nursery there are more than enough flowers to attract them.  Fortunately, you don’t need to pack your yard with as many flowers as a garden center to attract hummingbirds.  A little understanding of what attracts them and why can help you make the right choices.   

Red and near red flowers seem to be the primary color choice for hummingbirds.  This may be due to the fact that bees are unable to see the red end of the spectrum and therefore reduces their competition for nectar.  This doesn’t mean that other colors won’t attract them.  Some plants have adapted their flowering shapes to attract hummingbirds because when a hummingbird retrieves nectar, pollination generally occurs.  These flowers are tubular or cylindrical in design to allow for the hummers beak and long tongue to reach the sweet nectar inside.  The flowers are usually spaced farther apart to allow for fluttering wing movement.  There are more than 150 plants in the North America that have specialized and adapted to attract hummingbirds and the hummingbirds seem to know which flowers provide the best food source to supply the energy they need.

When planting a garden to attract hummingbirds use a variety of flowering shrubs with a quantity sufficient to provide an abundance of color all year.  For our southwest gardens, here are some great choices:

Autumn Sage    Best planted in morning sun or filtered light.

Mexican Honeysuckle  May be planted in light shade filtered light or full sun.

Chuparosa  This native to the southwest has bright flowers with a cucumber fragrance and taste.  Plant in full sun.  

Penstemon Varieties    Plant in full sun  these tall stalkers add lots of color.

Buddleia  Plant in full sun or partial shade

Fuchsias  Best used in hanging baskets in shade

Cherry Red Salvia   This fire red plant is best planted in full sun.

Petunias This annual produces great winter in the southwest.  Red is preferred.

Desert Willow  Especially the burgundy variety,  This tree is deciduous during the winter months  Plant in Full sun .

Ocotillo  These Bright red orange flowers can be elusive on new transplants.

Shrimp Plant  This delicate looking plant will grow best in shade.

Lantana spp.  Dallas Red, or Radiation  Plant in full sun  this plant is frost tender.

Cape Honeysuckle  This dark green plant with brilliant orange red flowers can be planted in full sun to partial shade.   

Baja Fairyduster  A native to the sonoran deserts  plant in full sun.

Bottlebrush  plant in full sun to partial shade.

Halls Honeysuckle  This fast growing vine can be planted in full sun to partial shade.

Zauschneria  Plant in full sun.

Cuphea  Plant in partial or in areas with morning sun.