Hummingbirds are a beloved part of many home gardens, with their bright colors and incredible speed making them a joy to watch. Many gardeners wonder if these tiny birds will feed on the flowers and leaves of hostas, a classic shade plant. The short answer is that hummingbirds do not rely on hostas as a food source, but they may occasionally take nectar from hosta flowers under certain circumstances.
In the opening paragraphs, it’s important to directly answer the title question – do hummingbirds feed on hostas? The answer is generally no, they do not feed on hostas regularly or rely on them as a primary food source. However, a more nuanced look provides examples of when hummingbirds might occasionally take small amounts of nectar from hosta flowers. Providing this quick overview helps orient the reader and sets up the more detailed information to come.
Some key follow-up questions arise:
– What do hummingbirds eat?
– Why are hostas not a preferred food source?
– Under what conditions might hummingbirds take nectar from hostas?
– How can you attract hummingbirds to your garden?
This article will explore the reasons behind hummingbirds’ indifference to hostas, but also the exceptions where they may occasional feed on hosta nectar. With over 45 different hosta species and dozens of hummingbird types across the Americas, the interactions between these garden favorites can vary. Understanding hummingbird behavior and needs is key to attracting them without relying on hostas.
Typical Hummingbird Diet
Hummingbirds are specialized nectar feeders. Their diet consists of:
Nectar
– Main food source
– Get sugar from nectar for energy
– Prefer nectar from tube-shaped flowers with little scent
– Especially attracted to red flowers
Small Insects
– Source of protein
– Spiders and tree sap provide other nutrients
This narrow diet is quite different from true birds, who consume seeds, nuts, fruits, and even small rodents and lizards. Instead, hummingbirds have evolved to subsist almost entirely on sugary nectar and tiny insects. Their long, slender beaks and tongues are perfectly adapted to reach into flowers and extract the nectar efficiently.
While hummingbirds will visit hundreds of different flower species, they prefer nectar from tubular, red flowers with little or no scent. Hostas possess very different flowers.
Hosta Flowers
Hostas are prized for their decorative foliage, but they do produce flowers on taller stalks above the leaves in mid-summer. Hosta flowers have these traits:
– Funnel or bell-shaped structure
– White, lavender or purple color
– Fragrant smell
– Contain nectar
The fragrance, color and shape of hosta flowers are very different from the typical red, scentless, tubed flowers hummingbirds favor. This goes a long way towards explaining why hostas are not a preferred nectar source.
However, some species like Hosta plantaginea produce white tubular flowers. This hosta’s blooms resemble the shape most attractive to hummingbirds.
Hosta Flower Nectar
Hosta flowers do contain small amounts of nectar as a reward for pollinators. While bees are their main pollinators, hummingbirds could technically feed on hosta nectar in absence of other flowers.
However, hostas bloom mid-summer when plenty of other flowers are available. Their nectar is likely much less abundant and lower in sugar content compared to specialized hummingbird flowers adapted to feed the birds.
When Might Hummingbirds Feed on Hostas?
Given hummingbirds’ strong preference for tubed, red, fragrance-free flowers with plentiful sugary nectar, they largely ignore hostas. However, exceptions exist when birds might get small amounts of nectar from hosta blooms:
Young Birds
Inexperienced juvenile hummingbirds exploring new territory may sample hosta flowers despite their unfamiliar shape and scent. These attempts are brief and they soon focus on more suitable flowers.
Migration Stopovers
During migrations, hummingbirds stop to rest in unfamiliar terrain. If their preferred flowers are not available, they may reluctantly take some hosta nectar for a quick energy boost before moving on. This would occur very rarely and only last until better flowers are found.
Extreme Weather Events
Freak frosts or droughts can kill off more delicate hummingbird flowers before hardier hostas. In desperate times with few other blooms, hummingbirds might rely on hostas temporarily. This would be very unusual outside of extreme weather conditions.
Individual Preference
Wildlife behavior always includes some individual variation. While rare, an unusual hummingbird might favor hosta nectar if its survival needs were met. This preference would not likely be passed down though natural selection.
Backyard Behavior
In the confined space of a backyard garden, hostas may attract more hummingbird attention. With fewer flower options, they may play a bigger role in a hummer’s limited diet. This is more likely in gardens with few other hummingbird plants.
So while hostas should not be relied on to attract hummingbirds, they may provide marginal sustenance in unique situations for individual birds.
Ideal Flowers to Attract Hummingbirds
While hummingbirds don’t depend on hostas, gardeners can lure them by planting their favorite flowers:
| Flower | Color | Height | Bloom Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bee balm | Red | 18-24 inches | Early to mid summer |
| Cardinal flower | Red | 24-36 inches | Mid to late summer |
| Trumpet creeper | Red, orange | 10-40 feet | Mid summer to fall |
| Impatiens | Red, orange, pink | 1-3 feet | Summer to fall |
| Fuchsia | Red, pink, purple | 9-24 inches | Spring to fall |
| Columbine | Red, yellow | 1-3 feet | Spring to summer |
| Petunia | Red, pink, purple | 6-12 inches | Early summer to fall |
| Flowering tobacco | Red, pink, white | 2-4 feet | Summer to fall |
These tubed or trumpet-shaped flowers in red, orange and other bright colors give hummingbirds their preferred nectar meals.
Other Attracting Tips:
– Use feeders with sugar/water mix (1 part sugar to 4 parts water)
– Add nectar plants at different heights
– Include pollinator plants like daisies and lantana for insect meals
– Don’t use pesticides
– Provide a water source like a mister or fountain
– Offer perches like dead trees or posts
With the right selection of natural, nectar-rich flowers, you can enjoy hummingbirds all season without needing hostas.
Fun Facts About Hummingbirds and Hostas
While hostas don’t play a major role in hummingbird diets, these unique birds and plants have some fascinating connections:
Native Ranges
There are over 330 hummingbird species native to the Americas from Alaska to Chile. Meanwhile, hostas originated in northeast Asia, especially Japan. Hummingbirds and hostas evolved on separate continents until hostas were brought to American and European gardens in the 1800s. This helps explain why hummingbirds are not instinctively drawn to hostas.
Sizes
Hostas can grow quite large, with leave spans exceeding three feet wide. That’s enormous compared to a tiny hummingbird! The bee hummingbird holds the record as the world’s smallest bird at just 2 inches long. A giant hosta leaf could serve as an umbrella for these little guys.
Speed
Hummingbirds are famous for speed. While perching, they beat their wings up to 80 times per second. In a courtship dive display, male Anna’s hummingbirds can reach speeds of over 60 miles per hour. Hostas don’t move at all – it would take eons for them to reach those kinds of speeds!
Midsummer Blooms
Hostas first emerge in spring, then flower in midsummer. This matches nicely with hummingbird migration and nesting. The early summer flowers they depend on fade as hostas start to bloom. Hummingbirds raising their young need lots of food, so hosta flowers might help fill in gaps between flower seasons.
Raindrops
Giant hosta leaves make perfect shelters for hummingbirds when it rains. The wide leaves let raindrops roll off while keeping the tiny birds dry. Their nectar meals are also rain-dependent, so hostas help hummingbirds wait out summer showers.
Pollination
Bees are the primary hosta pollinators. But hummingbirds could play a minor role. When they occasionally feed on hosta nectar, pollen can stick to their beaks and head feathers. When they visit the next hosta, this pollen rubs off to pollinate the flowers.
Red Hostas
Hummingbirds are specially attracted to red flowers. There are no naturally red hostas, though breeders have created cultivars like ‘Big Daddy’ and ‘Cranberry Tea’ with hints of reddish-purple. Genetic engineering or hybridization might someday produce truly red hostas that appeal to hummingbirds.
Artificial Flowers
Plastic and fabric red flowers are sometimes used to attract hummingbirds to gardens. Hummingbirds will initially feed from them but soon learn they have no nectar. Hostas have the opposite issue – their flowers contain nectar but aren’t red! Perhaps some crafty gardener will try dyeing hosta blooms red to entice hummingbirds.
While hostas don’t provide a viable food source on their own, understanding how they intersect with hummingbird biology and behavior helps appreciate these two garden favorites. With a diversity of suitable flowers and feeders, you can enjoy vibrant hummingbirds without relying on hostas to feed them. The two beauties can coexist in a garden without closely interacting.
Conclusion
In summary, hummingbirds do not regularly feed on hostas. The birds rely almost exclusively on nectar from tubed red flowers, unlike the fragrant funnel-shaped blooms of hostas. However, young hummingbirds, migrants, or backyard birds may occasionally take small amounts of nectar from hostas when preferred flowers are scarce. Attracting hummingbirds is best done by planting their favorite nectar sources and avoiding dependence on hostas. With a diverse garden, these two midsummer bloomers can complement each other without directly interacting. While hostas don’t offer enough to sustain hummingbirds, understanding their connections offers insights into the ecology of both species. With careful planning, you can create a garden that leverages the strengths of hostas and hummingbirds while bringing out the best in each.
