Hummingbirds are fascinating creatures that capture the imagination with their diminutive size, hovering flight capabilities, and seemingly endless energy. These tiny birds have coevolved with flowering plants, relying on the nectar many provide as their main food source. This raises an interesting question – are there any flowers that hummingbirds actively avoid or dislike?
What attracts hummingbirds to flowers?
Hummingbirds are highly attracted to flowers with the following characteristics:
- Brightly colored red, orange, pink, purple flowers
- Trumpet or tubular shaped flowers that provide accessible nectar
- Flowers with high sugar content nectar, up to 25% sugar
- Abundant nectar production
- Little to no scent
These traits have coevolved alongside hummingbirds and draw them in to feed. The lack of scent is interesting, as hummingbirds do not have a strong sense of smell but can see colors very well. They use vision along with memory of rewarding nectar sources to identify optimal flowers.
Do hummingbirds actively avoid any flowers?
There are not many flowers that hummingbirds seem to avoid completely. They are opportunistic foragers and typically sample any abundant nectar source they encounter. However, there are some flowers that may be less preferred:
- Flowers with complex shapes that limit nectar access
- Flowers with bitter or unappetizing nectar
- Red flowers with little nectar
- Flowers with very faint coloration
- Flowers with strong scent
Flowers with these traits may receive fewer or shorter visits from hummingbirds compared to more attractive flowers. But outright avoidance is uncommon. Once a hummingbird finds a decent nectar source, it will usually return to it regularly.
Do hummingbirds dislike geraniums?
Geraniums refer to a large genus of over 200 flower species in the Geraniaceae family. There are several types commonly grown in gardens:
- Zonal geraniums (Pelargonium x hortorum)
- Ivy geraniums (Pelargonium peltatum)
- Martha Washington geraniums (Pelargonium domesticum)
- Wild geraniums (Geranium spp.)
The most common garden geraniums have single or double flowers in shades of red, pink, white, purple, and salmon. Wild geraniums tend to have smaller delicate flowers.
In general, most geraniums are excellent at attracting hummingbirds. Their nectar is appealing, the flowers are brightly colored, and they bloom prolifically through the warmer months when hummingbirds are most active.
However, there is some evidence that hummingbirds may prefer other flowers over geraniums:
- Their nectar is relatively dilute, containing only 5-15% sugar compared to 25% or more in some flowers.
- The fancy double flowered varieties may restrict nectar access.
- Bright red flowers with sparse nectar receive fewer visits.
- They have only a mild sweet scent.
So geraniums do not appear to be a highly preferred nectar source, but hummingbirds still feed from them regularly. They provide a consistent and reliable nectar source, especially types like zonal geraniums. Gardeners will still find hummingbirds happily visiting geraniums to feed.
How to make geraniums more attractive to hummingbirds
While geraniums don’t top the list of hummingbird favorites, there are ways to make them more attractive:
- Choose single flowered varieties which offer easier nectar access.
- Select bright red, orange, or pink varieties over paler colors.
- Plant in groups to create more visual appeal.
- Make sure they are in full sun to encourage nectar production.
- Deadhead spent blooms to extend flowering.
- Provide other favored flowers nearby such as bee balm, trumpet vine, or impatiens.
With these tips, geraniums can become magnets for hummingbirds in home gardens. They may not be the very most preferred, but are still an excellent nectar source in most climates.
Other flowering plants that attract hummingbirds
While geraniums are good for hummingbirds, gardeners can also provide other flowers that are highly preferred by hummingbirds:
| Flower | Color | Bloom Time | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bee balm | Red | Summer | Tubular flowers with abundant nectar |
| Cardinal flower | Red | Summer | Tubular red flowers that hummingbirds love |
| Columbine | Red, yellow | Spring | Nectar-rich with a colorful unique shape |
| Coral honeysuckle | Red | Summer | Beautiful tubular flowers |
| Fuchsia | Red, purple, pink | Summer-Fall | Prolific drooping flowers |
| Impatiens | Red, orange, pink | Summer-Fall | Abundant nectar producer |
| Penstemon | Red, pink | Spring-Summer | Showy tubular flowers |
| Salvia | Red | Summer-Fall | Spikes of tubular flowers |
| Trumpet vine | Red, orange | Summer | Vivid tubular flowers |
| Weigela | Pink, red | Spring | Hummingbird magnet |
This selection provides a sequence of flowers blooming spring through fall. Mixing in some of these hummingbird favorites with geraniums will create an attractive garden.
Conclusion
Geraniums are a good nectar source for hummingbirds and will attract them to gardens, although they are not at the very top of the list of favored flowers. Their bright colors and steady blooming still make geraniums a great choice. Gardeners can optimize geraniums for hummingbirds by careful variety selection and combining them with other more highly preferred flowers. This provides a beautiful, diverse flower garden that meets the feeding needs of hungry hummingbirds throughout the seasons. With a little planning, geraniums can be stars of the hummingbird garden.
