Hummingbirds are some of the most beloved backyard birds. Their tiny size, lighting fast speed, and ability to hover in place make them a joy to watch. While many people associate hummingbirds with bright, sunny gardens, they will gladly visit shady areas as well. Planting shade-loving annuals that appeal to hummingbirds is one way to attract these tiny pollinators to dimmer parts of your yard.
Why Do Hummingbirds Visit Shade Gardens?
Hummingbirds have incredibly high metabolisms and must feed frequently throughout the day to fuel their high energy levels. They obtain most of their nutrition from drinking nectar from flowers. In the wild, hummingbirds will seek out any flowers they can find, whether in sunny meadows or shaded forest areas. This holds true for backyard hummingbirds as well. They are opportunistic and will gladly visit any nectar source available.
Shaded areas provide an important habitat for hummingbirds. Mature trees or areas on the north side of homes often receive less direct sunlight. This means there are fewer flowers blooming that appeal to hummingbirds. By planting annuals specifically for these shadier zones, you can provide much needed food sources for visiting hummingbirds.
Best Shade Annuals for Hummingbirds
When selecting annual flowers for shade gardens, focus on varieties that bloom profusely, have tubular or trumpet-shaped blossoms, and those with bright, jewel-toned colors. Here are some of the top annuals to include:
Begonias
Begonias are available in a wide array of colors like red, pink, orange, yellow, and white. Their rose-like flowers have an open face with numerous stamens that hummingbirds love. Begonias grow best in partial shade locations. Some popular varieties include:
- Dragon Wing Begonias – Grow up to 2 feet tall with large, dangling flowers.
- Rex Begonias – Grown for their colorful foliage.
- Tuberous Begonias – Produce double blossoms in shades like scarlet, pink, white, and salmon.
Impatiens
Impatiens are excellent hummingbird plants that thrive in shaded beds and borders. They produce flowers continuously throughout the season. Some types to look for include:
- New Guinea Impatiens – Large, vibrant blooms on compact plants.
- SunPatiens – A special hybrid impatiens that can handle some sun.
- Double Impatiens – Ruffled, rose-like flowers.
Fuchsias
The dangling, tubular flowers of fuchsias are magnets for hummingbirds. They do best in partial shade and should be kept moist. Some popular varieties include:
- Shade Loving Fuchsias – Include varieties like ‘Delta Sarah’ and ‘Isis’.
- Trailing Fuchsias – Excellent in hanging baskets and window boxes.
Pentas
With their star-shaped blooms in shades of pink, purple, red and white, pentas are excellent hummingbird plants. They bloom continuously through summer and thrive in hot, humid conditions with afternoon shade.
Lantana
Lantana is a heat-loving annual that produces clusters of small, tubular flowers. Grow them in pots for your shady porch or patio to draw in hummingbirds. Look for color mixes like ‘Lucky Red’ and ‘Pink Caprice’.
Nicotiana
Also called flowering tobacco, nicotiana has lightly scented, trumpet-shaped blooms that appear in shades of red, purple, pink, lime, and white. Grow in partial sun to partial shade. ‘Nikki Yellow’ and ‘Perfume Deep Purple’ are two nice varieties.
Lobelia
Dainty lobelia displays clouds of tiny blossoms along trailing stems. Hummingbirds love the tubular shape of the flowers. Grow lobelia in window boxes or hanging baskets in shaded areas.
Petunias
While petunias thrive in full sun, certain varieties can grow in partial shade as well. Look for shade tolerant types like ‘Supertunia Vista Bubblegum’ or ‘Supercascade Lilac Mist’.
Creating the Best Conditions for Shade Annuals
When planting shade annuals for hummingbirds, create the ideal growing conditions to help the plants thrive and produce abundant blooms.
Select a site that receives morning sun or dappled shade during the day rather than dense, all-day shade. Morning sun will allow flowers to open fully and dry any dew during the day. Areas under trees that receive 3 to 6 hours of sunlight tend to work well.
Improve soil drainage and fertility by mixing in compost or other organic materials. Container gardens may need a potting mix formulated specifically for annuals. Adding slow-release fertilizer at planting time will provide extra nutrients.
Be diligent about watering when growing hummingbird annuals in shade. Check soil moisture frequently and water plants as needed to maintain consistent soil moisture. Consider installing drip irrigation or soaker hoses to easily reach containers or shaded beds.
Prune back spent blooms to encourage continuous flowering. Deadheading faded flowers lets the plant focus energy on producing new buds rather than developing seeds.
Designing With Shade Annuals
When designing a shade garden for hummingbirds, incorporate drifts or clusters of the same annual variety to maximize visual impact. Repeat colors throughout the space for a cohesive look. Here are some design ideas:
- Plant red or orange flowering begonias under a mature tree.
- Edge a shaded pathway with white impatiens for a welcoming look.
- Grow New Guinea impatiens and nicotiana in matching colored pots on a covered patio.
- Fill hanging baskets with trailing fuchsias and petunias on a shaded balcony.
- Mass a drift of bright yellow and orange lantana in a dim corner.
Hummingbirds dart quickly between flowers, so be sure plantings are visible from multiple viewpoints. Elevate some containers on decorative plant stands for added visibility.
Planting a Progressively Blooming Garden
To ensure a constant food source for hummingbirds, stagger plantings over the course of the season. Here is a sample schedule:
| Month | What to Plant |
|---|---|
| April | Pentas, fuchsias, tuberous begonias |
| May | Dragon wing begonias, New Guinea impatiens, lantana |
| June | Trailing petunias, impatiens, nicotiana |
| July | New Guinea impatiens, tuberous begonias, trailing fuchsias |
As each plant finishes flowering later in the season, simply replace it with another type of annual from the list to provide a continuous sequence of blooms.
Providing Other Habitat Elements
In addition to flowers, it is important to provide other habitat elements hummingbirds need. This includes:
- Water – Provide a clean hummingbird feeder or fountain, changing the nectar regularly.
- Shelter – Plants like fuchsias give cover for building nests and resting.
- Perches – Hummingbirds like to perch between flower visits. Add clips that attach to hangers to give them a place to stop.
Avoid using pesticides, as hummingbirds are highly sensitive to chemicals. Keep feeders clean to prevent mold growth.
Providing supplemental nectar in feeders will help attract and sustain hummingbirds even during times when flower availability is low, such as early spring and late fall.
Enjoying Hummingbirds in the Shade Garden
Taking some time to plan and plant a shade garden designed for hummingbirds will allow you to enjoy more sightings of these energetic birds. Pay attention to their favorite flowers and make additions annually to provide season-long appeal.
Watching the lightning speed antics of hummingbirds under the cool canopy of trees creates a special connection with nature. The beauty and activity they add will make your efforts well worthwhile.
Conclusion
Hummingbirds are charming visitors that eagerly seek out nectar-rich flowers in shady areas as well as sunny ones. By choosing annuals that thrive in partial shade and bloom profusely with tubular blossoms, you can attract hummingbirds to gardens with less light. Top shade-loving picks like impatiens, begonias, fuchsias, and lantana provide the food they need. Combine drifts of colors for impact, and stagger plantings over the season for continuous blooms. Add key habitat elements like clean water, shelter, and perches to help hummingbirds flourish. If you take time to plan and plant a shade garden designed for their needs, hummingbirds will reward you with endless entertainment as they zip and dart through your handiwork.
