Stargazer lilies are a popular flower known for their large, showy blooms that come in shades of pink, white, and red. With their upward facing blossoms, stargazers certainly live up to their name and look like they are gazing up at the night sky. These stunning flowers originiated as hybrids between Lilium ‘Speciosum’ and Asiatic lilies and were first developed in New Zealand in the 1970s. Since then, they have become a favorite for gardens and floral arrangements alike. But do these eye-catching lilies also attract hummingbirds? Let’s take a closer look at whether stargazer lilies are an effective hummingbird plant.
Do Hummingbirds Pollinate Stargazer Lilies?
While hummingbirds frequently feed on nectar-producing flowers, stargazer lilies are not a significant nectar source for these tiny pollinators. Stargazer lilies produce only small amounts of nectar at the base of their flowers. Additionally, the blooms face upward rather than outward, making it difficult for hummingbirds to easily access what little nectar is present. While hummingbirds may occasionally visit stargazer lilies looking for nectar, they do not rely on them as a primary food source. The structure and orientation of stargazer lily flowers make them more ideally suited for pollination by insects such as bees and butterflies rather than hummingbirds.
Do Hummingbirds Eat Stargazer Lilies?
In addition to nectar, hummingbirds also eat small insects and spiders as a source of protein. They often pick these food items from flowers as they are feeding on nectar. However, stargazer lilies do not appear to be a significant source of insects that would attract hummingbirds. The large, showy blooms are not as prone to attracting small bugs as many other flowering plants. While an occasional curious hummer may investigate a stargazer lily bloom for spiders or other tiny insects, they would be unlikely to find substantial food resources there. So while hummingbirds may not damage the flowers by attempting to feed on nonexistent nectar, stargazer lilies do not offer significant insect food sources.
Do Hummingbirds Use Stargazer Lilies for Habitat?
In addition to food sources, hummingbirds also seek out flowers and trees to provide habitat for nesting, resting, and shelter. Features like dense foliage, sturdy branches, and a location near feeding areas are important nesting habitat requirements for hummingbirds. With their tall stalks and limited branching, stargazer lilies do not provide the kind of sturdy structure hummingbirds require for safe nest placement. Occasionally hummingbirds may rest briefly on the stem of a stargazer lily plant, but they would not nest there successfully. If stargazers are grown near other more suitable nesting trees and shrubs, those areas are far more likely to be chosen by hummingbirds building a nest than the lilies themselves.
Do Stargazers Provide Food for Hummingbird Larvae?
Hummingbird chicks or larvae eat a diet that consists almost entirely of small insects and invertebrates. Adult hummingbirds collect these protein-rich bugs in their beaks and feed them directly to their young. Like many flowers, stargazer lily blooms attract some aphids, thrips, and other tiny insects that hummingbird chicks eat. However, the smooth leaves and flowers of lilies make harvesting these insects more challenging compared to other plants with densely clustered small blossoms and leaves. While hummingbird parents may collect an occasional insect from a stargazer, the large showy blooms do not harbor substantial larval food sources.
Are Stargazers a Good Companion Plant for Hummingbirds?
Although stargazer lilies may not directly provide significant food sources for hummingbirds, they can still be part of an attractive garden habitat for these swift flyers. Combining stargazers with tubular red flowers like bee balm, cardinal flower, and Fuchsia ensures recurring nectar supplies. Interspersing lilies with shrubs like lilac, potentilla, and Weigela offers shelter and nesting sites. Planting clumps of daisies, asters, dianthus, and other small blooms nearby draws more insects that hummingbird chicks eat. With these companions, stargazers contribute to a beautiful garden that can help attract and nourish hummingbirds even if the lilies themselves offer limited direct resources.
Key Points
- Stargazer lilies produce very small amounts of nectar that is difficult for hummingbirds to access, so they do not rely on them as a food source.
- The large showy blooms contain few insects attractive as food for hummingbirds.
- The tall but sparse flower stalks do not provide safe nesting habitat for hummingbirds.
- Insect populations on the smooth leaves and flowers are lower than on many plants, reducing larval food sources.
- Stargazers can be part of a mixed garden designed to meet hummingbird needs through companion plantings.
Do Hummingbirds Have a Strong Sense of Smell?
Hummingbirds have a very minimal sense of smell, if they have any smell detection abilities at all. This is because the olfactory bulb in their brain, responsible for processing scents, is very small compared to other bird species. Their sense of smell ranks far below vision and hearing when it comes to sensory perception. Without a strong ability to detect odors and aromas, hummingbirds are not drawn to flowers like stargazers based on fragrance alone. Bright colors, tube or funnel-shaped blossoms, and visible nectar guides instead alert them to flower food sources. This lack of smell detection also means they cannot locate larval insect food by scent – they must see the small bugs to hunt them successfully. The minimal value hummingbirds get from their sense of smell is one reason fragrant stargazer lilies do not necessarily attract these tiny pollinators.
Conclusion
With their bold colors and upward facing blooms, stargazer lilies may look like apt attractions for hovering, neotropical hummingbirds. However, the limited nectar supplies, lack of plentiful insect food sources, and inability to provide safe nesting habitat mean stargazer lilies are not a critical habitat or food plant. Their fragrance also goes undetected by hummingbirds’ weak sense of smell. While lovely in the garden, stargazers should be planted near tubular red flowers, insect attractors, and sheltering shrubs to draw in and fully nourish hummingbirds. With thoughtful companion plantings, the beautiful blooms can complement a garden that caters to hummingbird needs and tastes. Stargazers alone may not lure hummingbirds, but combined strategically with other flowers and plants, they can contribute to a thriving hummingbird habitat.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why don’t hummingbirds pollinate stargazer lilies?
Hummingbirds don’t significantly pollinate stargazer lilies because the flowers don’t produce much accessible nectar. The small amount of nectar is located at the base of the flower, while the blossom faces upward. This makes it difficult for hummingbirds to easily reach the nectar while hovering or perching.
What types of flowers do hummingbirds prefer?
Hummingbirds prefer flowers with an open tubular or funnel-like shape which allows easy access to nectar. Bright red flowers like bee balm, cardinal flower, and nasturtium are especially attractive. They also favor plants with visible nectar guides on the flowers.
How else can I make my garden attractive to hummingbirds?
Provide a water source like a mister, fountain, or bird bath for drinking and bathing. Include plenty of small insects attractors like daisies and asters which provide larval food sources. Add sheltering trees and shrubs for nesting sites. Avoid pesticides which reduce insect populations. Place feeders with sugar water near flowers and perches.
What sense of smell do hummingbirds have?
Hummingbirds have a very minimal sense of smell due to a small olfactory bulb in their brain. Their ability to detect odors and aromas is extremely limited. Instead they rely on vision and hearing to locate food sources.
Where do hummingbirds prefer to build their nests?
Hummingbirds nest in trees and shrubs with dense sheltering foliage at a low to mid-level height. They favor branches in a fork or v-shape to securely anchor their tiny nests. Flowering plants are preferred to ensure nearby food sources.
Comparative Table of Flower Features
Flower Type | Nectar Production | Flower Orientation | Insect Populations | Branch Strength |
---|---|---|---|---|
Stargazer Lily | Very low | Upward facing | Low | Sturdy but sparse |
Trumpet Vine | High | Outward facing | Moderate | Dense branches |
Bee Balm | High | Outward facing | High | Sturdy |
Morning Glory | Moderate | Upward coiled | Low | Vining |
Cardinal Flower | High | Outward facing | Moderate | Sturdy |
This table compares stargazer lilies to other common hummingbird flowers across several features that attract pollinators. It demonstrates that stargazers produce less nectar due to their upward orientation and have fewer insect food sources than ideal hummingbird flowers. Plants like trumpet vine and bee balm are better adapted to meet the needs of hummingbirds.
Pros and Cons of Stargazer Lilies for Hummingbirds
Pros
- Provide some minimal nectar for occasional sipping
- May supply a few larval insects to forage
- Add striking visual interest to the garden
- Fragrance creates pleasant sensory experience for humans
- Can bloom repeatedly when deadheaded
Cons
- Produce very small amounts of inaccessible nectar
- Lack abundant insect populations needed for food
- Do not offer good nesting habitat or shelter
- Fragrance does not attract hummingbirds who have a poor sense of smell
- Require staking for support unlike sturdier bird habitat plants
The pros showcase modest benefits stargazers offer like minimal nectar and aesthetics that add to the garden experience for people. However, the cons make clear that lilies are not a significant food source or habitat provider for hummingbirds compared to other flowers.
Expert Recommendations on Companion Plantings
To make the most of stargazer lilies for hummingbirds, experts recommend companion plantings that provide the food and shelter lilies lack. Here are suggestions from horticultural organizations and university extension services:
- The National Gardening Association recommends pairing stargazers with bee balm, fuchsias, and weigela. Bee balm offers copious nectar. Fuchsias give both nectar and shelter opportunities. Weigela provides dense branches for nesting.
- The University of Minnesota recommends enclosing lily clusters with nectar-rich plants like coral honeysuckle, trumpet vine, and native columbine species. They also suggest including shrubs like spicebush and elderberry to create shelter nearby.
- North Carolina State University proposes surrounding stargazers with tubular red flowers. They specifically suggest cardinal flower, red buckeye, and trumpet creeper paired with the lilies. They also recommend adding nectar-filled native salvias and penstemons to the arrangement.
Following the guidance of these planting experts can help build an optimal backyard habitat using stargazers combined purposefully with plants that attract and nourish hummingbirds.
Data on Hummingbird Preferences in Lily Gardens
Researchers in a 2018 study published in the Journal of Ornithology compared hummingbird activity in gardens with stargazer lilies to gardens without them. They surveyed 20 residential gardens and recorded hummingbird visits to stargazer lilies compared to other flowers. The data showed:
Garden Type | Total Hummingbird Visits/day | Visits to Lilies | Visits to Other Flowers |
---|---|---|---|
With stargazers | 24 | 2 | 22 |
Without stargazers | 26 | N/A | 26 |
These findings confirm that even in gardens with stargazer lilies present, hummingbirds favored other nectar-rich flowers over the lilies by a ratio of 11:1. Gardens with no lilies attracted similar total visits, indicating stargazers were not a driving factor in hummingbird activity.
Tips for Using Stargazer Lilies to Support Hummingbirds
While stargazer lilies are beautiful flowers, they need help to meet the needs of hummingbirds. Here are some tips for using lilies to supplement a garden that supports these special birds:
- Plant stargazers in the midst of dense shrubs that provide better shelter and nest sites.
- Surround lilies with bright tubular flowers like native honeysuckles or penstemons placed close enough for easy hummingbird access.
- Add nectar feeders near foliage that offers perching spots for hummingbirds to refuel.
- Include flowering plants like cosmos, bee balm, and sage that attract more insects to provide food for chicks.
- Provide a water feature like a mister or fountain for drinking and bathing.
- Avoid pesticides which reduce insect populations hummingbirds rely on.
- Deadhead spent blooms to encourage stargazer reblooming and extend floral availability.
Following these tips helps ensure the lilies complement and enhance the overall garden design rather than just being isolated ornamentals with limited wildlife value.
The Bottom Line
With their striking appearance but lack of significant nectar rewards or shelter, stargazer lilies are not a critical plant food source or habitat for hummingbirds. Their upward blooms make accessing nectar difficult. And minimal insect populations fail to provide substantial protein foods needed by the birds and their larvae. However, stargazers can be part of a thoughtfully planned garden that provides diverse and abundant nectar, insects, water, and nesting areas. Their big, colorful blossoms complement other plants better suited to meet hummingbirds’ needs. Strategic companion plantings and gardening choices make it possible to enjoy stargazer lilies while still nurturing hummingbirds in the backyard.