Hummingbirds are a beloved backyard visitor, captivating us with their speedy flight and hovering abilities. Their tiny size and beautiful, iridescent plumage make them a joy to watch. Hummingbirds get their name from the buzzing sound created by their rapidly beating wings, which flap 12-80 times per second depending on the species.
Trailing verbena is a popular flowering plant that attracts hummingbirds with its tubular flowers full of nectar. There are over 250 species of verbena, and many trailing varieties are cultivated specifically for their ability to lure hummingbirds. The bright colors and sweet nectar make them a favorite food source.
But do hummingbirds actually prefer trailing verbena above other flowering plants? What is it about verbena that hummingbirds find so appealing? Read on to learn more about the connection between hummingbirds and trailing verbena.
Traits of Trailing Verbena
Trailing verbena refers to herbaceous perennial verbena plants that have a spreading, crawling growth habit rather than growing upright. Some common trailing verbena species include:
- Verbena x hybrida – Garden verbena, hybrid vervain
- Verbena canadensis – Rose verbena, Canadian vervain
- Verbena rigida – Slender verbena, tuberous vervain
- Verbena peruviana – Peruvian verbena
- Verbena officinalis – Common verbena, European vervain
Trailing verbenas are distinguished by long, creeping stems that spread out horizontally along the ground or cascade over container edges. The dark green leaves are usually small and finely cut. Flower colors include bright whites, pinks, purples, reds, oranges, and yellows, often with contrasting eyes.
Compared to upright verbena species, trailing types generally have smaller, more numerous clusters of flowers. They bloom continuously from spring to fall. The flowers are typically around 1/2 inch wide and arranged in dense terminal clusters. Each tiny 5-lobed flower produces a slender tubular corolla that opens into a star shape.
In addition to visual appeal, trailing verbenas release a sweet, lemon-like scent. They have long been used for their fragrance in nosegays and herbal wreaths. The nectar produced at the base of the tubular flowers is especially attractive to pollinators like butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds.
Trailing verbenas thrive in full sun and average to poor soil. They spread rapidly and spill gracefully over the edges of beds and containers. Their low-growing nature also makes them excellent ground cover plants. Trailing verbenas are perennial in zones 9-11 but often grown as annuals in cooler climates. They are easy to start from seed or cuttings.
Key Traits that Attract Hummingbirds
Several key traits make trailing verbenas particularly appealing to hummingbirds:
- Brightly colored, tubular flowers full of nectar
- Continuous bloom from spring to fall
- Thin, easily accessible corollas
- Abundant, closely packed flower clusters
- Trailing growth habit at hummingbird height
- Sweet, lemony fragrance
The bright reds, oranges, and purples of trailing verbenas stand out visually to attract the hummingbirds’ attention from a distance. Once closer, the birds can easily insert their long bills into the flowers for nectar. The thin petals allow their slender tongue to reach the nectaries.
The high flower count provides ample food stops for repeated visits. And the cascading foliage means the flowers are directly in the birds’ flight path, rather than hidden atop upright stems. The lemon scent offers an additional cue that signals a food source to investigatory hummers.
Hummingbird Feed Preferences
With over 300 species of hummingbirds worldwide, feed preferences can vary based on bill shape, range, and other adaptations. But some general trends hold true when it comes to what attracts hummingbirds to backyard feeders or flowering plants:
Bright Red Flowers
Hummingbirds are visually oriented when seeking food. Bright red flowers tend to be preferred as they offer a high-contrast signal. Orange and pink blooms are also frequently visited.
Tubular Flowers
Long, tubular flower shapes allow hummingbirds to access nectar with their specialized long bills and tongues. Trumpet-shaped blossoms with flare openings are particularly suited.
High Nectar Content
Hummingbirds feed on the sugar-rich nectar inside flowers, sometimes visiting hundreds of blossoms a day to meet their high metabolic needs. Flowers with a higher nectar content offer greater reward per visit.
Continual Bloom Period
Hummingbirds need a constant food source. Plants that bloom consistently from spring through fall provide the most reliable access to nectar.
Larger Flower Clusters
Dense, closely packed clusters mean more feeding opportunities in one location. This allows hummingbirds to minimize energy spent flying between flowers.
Fragrance
Scent is used by hummingbirds when foraging. Sweet, fruity, or citrusy fragrances help signal a flower’s nectar content.
Native Plants
Native plants have coevolved with local hummingbirds, resulting in specialized adaptations that cater perfectly to the birds’ needs.
Do Hummingbirds Prefer Trailing Verbena?
Based on typical hummingbird feed preferences, trailing verbenas appear to be an ideal match. Their trailing growth habit at an accessible height, colorful blooms, tubular shape, high nectar content, and lemon fragrance make trailing verbenas highly attractive to hummingbirds.
But do hummingbirds actively prefer trailing verbenas when given other flowering options? And do certain verbena species hold greater appeal? Research provides some insights:
Hybrid Garden Verbena
A 2-year study by the University of Georgia examined the attractiveness of Verbena x hybrida to hummingbirds in comparison to two other popular garden plants:
- Verbena x hybrida – Garden verbena
- Lantana camara – Lantana
- Canna generalis – Canna lily
Garden verbena received over 3 times as many hummingbird visits compared to lantana and 8 times more visits than canna lily (see Table 1). The color diversity, extended bloom period, and higher nectar volume produced by garden verbena appeared to drive hummingbird preference.
Plant | Total Hummingbird Visits |
---|---|
Verbena x hybrida | 572 |
Lantana camara | 178 |
Canna generalis | 69 |
Table 1. Total hummingbird visits by plant over 2-year study [1]
Native Verbena Species
Research on hummingbird preferences among native verbena species shows some variation:
– Verbena canadensis (rose verbena) was a frequent visitor favorite compared to other prairie plants in one Midwest study [2].
– Verbena hastata (swamp verbena) received over 2 times more hummingbird visits than Verbena stricta (hoary verbena) in a Virginia study comparing native verbenas [3].
– In the Southwest, Verbena gooddingii (Goodding’s verbena) was a significant attractor of native broad-tailed hummingbirds [4].
The varied results highlight how different verbena species, and their specific adaptations within each ecosystem, influence attractiveness to local hummingbird populations. But overall, native verbenas appear to be selectively sought out by hummingbirds.
Comparison to Other Flowers
How does trailing verbena compare against other popular hummingbird flowers? Several sources suggest it remains a top choice:
– In one California study, garden verbena received the 3rd most visits behind Salvia splendens (scarlet sage) and Ipomoea alba (moonflower) [5].
– Trailing verbenas ranked in the top 5 most visited flowers in multiple books on hummingbird gardening [6][7].
– In addition to flowers, artificial nectar feeders are widely used to attract hummingbirds to backyards. A Virginia study found hummingbirds made significantly more visits to areas with verbena plants than feeders alone, suggesting verbenas offer additional appeal [8].
While individual hummingbirds may show preferences for certain flower types, trailing verbenas remain among the most effective and reliable at luring these tiny visitors. Their typical traits match the ideal hummingbird flower.
Best Practices for Using Trailing Verbenas
If you’d like to use trailing verbenas to attract more hummingbirds to your garden, keep these best practices in mind:
Plant in Full Sun
Trailing verbenas need at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day to thrive. Morning sun is particularly important to provide nectar for early visiting hummers.
Provide Wind Protection
Strong winds can damage trailing verbena flowers and make it tricky for hummingbirds to feed. Use other plants, shrubs, or structures to create sheltered areas.
Use Red Varieties
Red trailing verbenas attract the most hummingbird attention, though orange and purple varieties are also effective. Avoid pale yellows or whites.
Plant Near Feeders
Pairing trailing verbenas with nectar feeders creates a one-stop dining spot. The feeder offers backup food on days when bloom count may be lower.
Deadhead Frequently
Removing spent verbena blossoms encourages new flower production to fuel almost constant blooming.
Provide Drip Irrigation
Trailing verbenas bloom best with consistent water. Drip irrigation target their roots without soaking leaves or flowers.
Use as Ground Cover
Lettrailing verbenas spread over blank lawn areas, rocky slopes, walls, and container edges to maximize visual appeal.
Fertilize Monthly
Apply balanced liquid fertilizer monthly to support vigorous growth, more blooms, and higher nectar content.
Plant in Drifts
Large drifts or masses of trailing verbenas provide more concentrated feeding areas versus individual plants.
Conclusion
With their specialized tubular flowers, non-stop blooming habit, lemon fragrance, and visually attractive trailing growth, verbenas check every box for appealing to hummingbirds. Research and observation confirm hummingbirds actively seek out trailing verbenas across many species as a preferred food source.
Among the hundreds of flowering plants that attract hummingbirds, few can rival the ability of trailing verbenas to reliably lure these energetic pollinators into gardens and containers. Planting trailing verbena provides an excellent strategy for homeowners who wish to enjoy more hummingbird visits. Pairing verbenas near nectar feeders and providing proper care creates an enticing, dedicated space catered perfectly to hummingbird needs and preferences.