Hummingbirds are some of the most beloved backyard visitors, with their tiny size and amazing flying abilities captivating nature lovers. Deer can also frequently be seen grazing in backyards, but their presence is not always welcome due to the damage they can do to gardens. When landscaping or planting gardens, it’s important to choose plants that will both attract beautiful hummingbirds and also deter hungry deer. The good news is that there are several flowers that check both of those boxes.
Why Attract Hummingbirds?
Hummingbirds are the smallest birds in the world, captivating people with their speedy flying and ability to hover in midair as they drink nectar from flowers. Their bright, iridescent feathers shimmer in the sunlight, adding a touch of magic to any garden. Hummingbirds play an important role in pollination and adding biodiversity to an ecosystem. Plus, they are simply delightful to watch as they buzz around flowers. Home gardeners looking to enjoy wildlife often specifically seek out flowers that will attract these special birds.
Why Deter Deer?
While deer can be elegant additions to a backyard landscape, they can also wreak havoc on gardens. Deer feed on a wide variety of flowers, plants, and vegetables, sometimes destroying an entire garden in a single night. Deer-resistant plants can reduce damage and save homeowners money and frustration. Excluding deer from the garden is extremely difficult, so choosing plants they tend to avoid is often the best strategy.
Best Flowers for Hummingbirds and Deer Resistance
When selecting flowers, keep these factors in mind:
- Tubular red flowers attract hummingbirds best
- Fragrant herbs like lavender are disliked by deer
- Deer tend to avoid fuzzy or prickly plants
- Toxic plants are ideal for deer resistance
Here are some top flowers that check both the hummingbird and deer resistant boxes:
Bee Balm
Bee balm (Monarda species) is a tubular flower made up of clustered red or purple petals atop a square stem. The bright red varieties are absolute hummingbird magnets, drawing in these tiny birds to feed on their nectar. Bee balm is also very aromatic, with a strong scent from its essential oils. Deer dislike this fragrance and the prickly sensation of bee balm’s leaves and stems, making this an ideal dual purpose plant.
Columbine
Columbine (Aquilegia species) blooms in a dazzling array of colors, though the red and yellow varieties are most attractive to hummingbirds. The flowers have a unique shape, with spurred petals forming a tube and a gentle swaying motion in the breeze that invites hummingbirds to stop by for a drink. Columbine grows in clumps and can spread to form groundcover, making a beautiful statement in the garden. The foliage is toxic to deer and unappealing.
Fuchsia
Few flowers can match the drama and elegance of the fuchsia (Fuchsia hybrids). Though many gardeners grow fuchsia in hanging baskets, some hardy varieties can be planted directly in garden beds. Fuchsia produces dangling teardrop shaped flowers in vibrant shades of red and purple with showy protruding stamens, irresistible to passing hummingbirds. Deer will avoid these plants due to their strong bitter taste.
Lavender
Lavender (Lavandula species) has delicate purple flowers on long thin stems above attractive gray-green foliage. The scent is immediately recognizable and detested by deer, who stay far away from these plants. Lavender also naturally repels mosquitoes and other annoying pests. Hummingbirds are drawn to the tubular flowers and the large patches of color. Plant lavender in full sun and trim plants after flowering to encourage more blooms.
Petunia
Petunias are a popular annual flower with trumpet shaped blossoms in many colors including the hummingbird favorite red. The abundance of petunias throughout the warm months provides hummingbirds with a reliable nectar source. Deer ignore these plants, possibly due to their sticky leaves. Petunias are easy to grow in beds or containers and bloom nonstop with proper deadheading and fertilization.
Salvia
Also called sage, salvia produces tubular flowers in hues of red, pink, purple, or white depending on variety. The red varieties are specially targeted by hummingbirds. Salvia thrives in hot, dry conditions with excellent drainage. The aromatic qualities of salvia cause deer to avoid munching on these blossoms and foliage. Salvia works beautifully as an edging plant or groundcover, providing drifts of color in gardens.
Snapdragons
Snapdragons (Antirrhinum majus) are tall stalks lined with flowers that open and close like little dragon mouths, giving them their common name. Red snapdragons attract hummingbirds, who enjoy crawling inside the tube. Deer leave snapdragons alone due to their distasteful foliage and stems. Snapdragons are easy to grow from seed and bloom in a range of colors all summer long in either full sun or partial shade conditions.
Tropical Hibiscus
Many people think of hibiscus flowers as large and flamboyant, but tropical hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) offers smaller blossoms with all the incredible color. Tropical hibiscus flowers come in red, orange, pink, yellow, peach, purple and more. Hummingbirds can’t resist their tubular shape and sweet nectar. The leaves and stems have a tart taste that deer don’t like. Grow tropical hibiscus in pots that can be moved indoors over winter.
Zinnias
Zinnias produce abundant brightly colored flowers on easy to grow annual plants. The dome shaped blossoms come in a rainbow of shades including the hummingbird favorites red and orange. These quick growing flowers do well even in poor soils and hot conditions. Deer ignore zinnias because their foliage contains an unappealing sticky substance. Plant zinnias from seed directly in the garden for a budget friendly flower that attracts hummingbirds and keeps deer away.
Other Considerations for Hummingbird Gardens
Beyond choosing the right flowers, there are some other tips to create an optimal backyard habitat and attract more hummingbirds:
- Provide a water source like a fountain, mister, or birdbath for hummingbirds to bathe and drink
- Include native plants which provide essential food and shelter for hummingbirds
- Don’t use pesticides which can poison hummingbirds as well as beneficial insects
- Supplement with feeders containing sugar water, especially during migration
- Plant flowers in dense clumps and drifts of color rather than individual plants
- Provide places for hummingbirds to perch such as trees and shrubs
- Mix tubular, bell shaped, and cluster blooms to appeal to all hummingbird species
- Offer flowers with different bloom times to provide nectar spring through fall
Following these tips will create an abundant and diverse habitat filled with life and activity. The joy of watching tiny hummingbirds zip around the garden sipping nectar from beautiful blossoms is a reward all its own.
Deer Resistant Flowering Shrubs
While deer munch on most plants, there are some flowering shrubs that deter them. Here are some top options for adding color while avoiding damage:
| Shrub | Description |
|---|---|
| Barberry | Barberry (Berberis) has prickly foliage that deer don’t like. Small yellow flowers bloom on arching branches in spring followed by bright red berries. |
| Bluebeard | Bluebeard (Caryopteris) blooms with clouds of blue flowers late summer into fall. Gray-green foliage and woody stems deter deer. |
| Boxwood | Boxwood (Buxus) is often used for hedges and resists deer with its thick leathery leaves. New cultivars offer variegated foliage. |
| Butterfly Bush | Butterfly bush (Buddleia) has fragrant panicles of purple, pink, or white flowers. Deer dislike the smell and taste. |
| Crape Myrtle | Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia) provides summer color with frilly flowers in shades of red, pink, purple, or white on attractive peeling bark. |
| Japanese Spirea | Japanese spirea (Spiraea japonica) is prized for its colorful clusters of pink, red, or white springtime blooms. |
| Lilac | Lilac (Syringa) is a classic flowering shrub. It resists deer with its pungent odor and tendency to grow in dense thickets. |
| Sea Holly | Sea holly (Eryngium) has bracts of blue, silver, or green surrounding small flowers. The spiky leaves and stems deter deer. |
| Spruce | Spruce (Picea) is a common evergreen landscape tree. Deer dislike the dense, needle-like leaves and prickly branches. |
| Viburnum | Viburnum offers clusters of white springtime flowers followed by ornamental berries. Leathery leaves are unappealing to deer. |
Incorporate several of these flowering shrubs around the garden to create visual interest and protect vulnerable plants. Avoid planting them right next to delicious edibles and flowers you want deer to avoid. Space deer resistant plants throughout the landscape for the best deterrent effect.
Best Deer Resistant Annual Flowers
Annual flowers only last one growing season, but they add beautiful pops of color to gardens and containers. Choosing deer resistant varieties prevents them from getting munched. Here are some of the best:
| Annual Flower | Colors | Height |
|---|---|---|
| Cleome | White, pink, purple | 3-5 feet |
| Cosmos | White, pink, red, orange | 2-4 feet |
| Marigold | Yellow, gold, orange | 6 inches – 3 feet |
| Morning Glory | Purple, blue, pink, white | Climbing vine |
| Nasturtium | Red, orange, yellow | 1-2 feet |
| Petunia | All colors | 6 inches – 2 feet |
| Sunflower | Yellow | 3-10 feet |
| Verbena | Purple, pink, red | 6 inches – 2 feet |
| Zinnia | All colors | 1-3 feet |
These fast growing annuals add vibrant pops of color to garden beds, borders, window boxes, and containers. Their dislike by deer makes them a smart choice to include in areas prone to deer browsing. Combining several together creates beautiful displays.
Conclusion
With their speedy flight and brilliant iridescent feathers, hummingbirds bring joy and wonder to backyards across North America. But these tiny birds need sources of food and habitat to thrive. Gardens planted with tubular red flowers specially attract hummingbirds seeking the nectar they crave. However, hungry deer can destroy gardens in search of their own food. Choosing plants that deter deer while still enticing hummingbirds results in a lively landscape filled with beautiful wildlife. Combining key factors like fragrance, toxicity, prickly textures, and flower shape allows certain plants to check both boxes.
The flowers and flowering shrubs covered all invite hummingbirds while resisting damage by deer. Incorporate several into garden beds, borders, containers, and landscape design. Supplement with hummingbird feeders, water sources, and native plants. Avoid pesticides which can be harmful to hummingbirds and other pollinators. Follow these guidelines to enjoy the magic of hummingbirds sipping nectar while deer wander elsewhere in search of an easier meal. A garden that welcomes hummingbirds and excludes deer creates an enchanting backyard sanctuary.
