Hummingbirds are attracted to bright, tubular flowers that provide nectar. However, many people want to attract hummingbirds to shadier parts of their gardens. The good news is that hummingbirds will visit shade gardens, as long as there are flowers that provide their preferred food source – nectar. By choosing the right shade loving plants that produce lots of nectar, you can successfully attract hummingbirds to your shaded garden areas.
Some key questions covered in this article include:
– What types of flowers do hummingbirds like?
Hummingbirds are attracted to flowers with a tubular or trumpet-like shape. They like flowers with lots of nectar that they can easily access. Brightly colored, red flowers especially attract hummingbirds.
– Do hummingbirds only visit flowers in full sun?
No, hummingbirds will readily visit flowers in shady areas, as long as those flowers provide a good nectar source. There are many shade loving plants that produce nectar-rich blooms that appeal to hummingbirds.
– What are the best shade loving flowers for hummingbirds?
Some top picks include flowering begonias, impatiens, fuchsia, and columbine. Trees like locust, crabapple and trumpet vines are also good choices. Plants with tubular blooms in colors like red, pink and orange tend to be hummingbird favorites.
Do Hummingbirds Have Color Preferences?
Hummingbirds are attracted to certain colors when seeking out flowers. Understanding their color preferences can help you pick the best flowers to attract hummingbirds to your garden.
Red
Bright red tubular flowers have an irresistible appeal for hummingbirds. The color red attracts the small birds from a distance. Red flowers that hummingbirds favor include fuchsia, bee balm, trumpet vine and others. Having several red hummingbird-friendly flowers in your garden is an excellent strategy to attract these swift flyers.
Orange and Pink
Flowers in orange and pink shades are also very attractive to hummingbirds. Especially bright, almost neon shades of orange and pink will catch a hummingbird’s eye. Flowers like coral honeysuckle, trumpet vine, impatiens and others in these colors are excellent choices.
Purple and Blue
Flowers at the cooler end of the color spectrum, like purple and blue, will also entice hummingbirds. Salvias, morning glories, lilacs and verbena in these shades make good additions to a hummingbird garden.
Yellow and White
While yellow and white flowers have nectar, they are less attractive to hummingbirds than red, orange, pink or purple flowers. However, including some yellow and white blooms alongside other colors provides variety. Examples like pineapple sage and flowering tobacco help round out a space.
Preferred Flower Shapes
Along with color, the shapes of flowers that appeal to hummingbirds can also guide your plant selection.
Tubular Flowers
Flowers with tubular or trumpet-like shapes allow hummingbirds to easily access nectar with their long, slender beaks. Columbine, trumpet vine, bee balm and others all have this ideal shape.
Clustered Blooms
Clusters of small, tubular flowers, like those produced by coral honeysuckle vines, are enticing to hummingbirds. The clusters mean more nectar in one convenient place.
Wide Blossoms
Some flowers, like impatiens and flowering tobacco, have a wider bell or disk shape with minimal to no tubing. These can also work well, as hummingbirds can reach the nectar source.
Very Long Blooms
Avoid selecting flowers with tubing so long that a hummingbird cannot feasibly reach the nectar. For example, very long gladiolus flowers prove frustrating to hummingbirds.
Ideal Nectar Supply
Nectar content is one of the most vital factors in flowers that will attract hummingbirds.
High in Nectar
An abundant nectar supply is critical to appeal to hummingbirds. When scouting for food, they are seeking flowers loaded with their primary food source. Plants like bee balm, red hot poker and others known for profuse nectar are smart choices.
Continuous Bloom
Choose a variety of plants that will bloom from spring through fall, providing a constant nectar supply. Fuchsia, impatiens and petunias are a few that bloom from summer into the fall.
Avoid Low Nectar
Some blooms, like double lilies and double hollyhocks, pack less nectar. Seek out single flower varieties known for higher nectar production.
Best Shade Loving Flowers for Hummingbirds
Here are some of the top shade loving flower varieties, listed by color, to attract hummingbirds to your shaded garden spaces:
Red Shade Flowers
| Fuchsia | Various species and hybrids, depending on climate. Upright and hanging varieties provide bright red blooms in shade. |
| Coral Bells | Heuchera species produce spikes of red flowers above ruffled foliage. |
| Cardinal Flower | Lobelia cardinalis has striking red blooms on tall spikes. |
Orange and Pink Shade Flowers
| Impatiens | Busy Lizzie and New Guinea impatiens produce abundant flowers in bright shades. |
| Begonia | Wax begonias and other tuberous begonia varieties bloom profusely in shade. |
| Penstemon | Penstemon species like firecracker penstemon feature colorful tubular flowers. |
Purple and Blue Shade Flowers
| Columbine | Aquilegia varieties produce blue, purple, pink or white flowers in spring and summer. |
| Gentian | Gentiana varietiesbloom in late summer and fall with vivid blue flowers. |
| Lilac | Old-fashioned lilacs include many purple and blue varieties. |
Yellow and White Shade Flowers
| Nicotiana | Flowering tobacco produces tubular blooms in white and pinkish shades. |
| Foxglove | Digitalis flowers come in purple, pink, yellow and white on tall spikes. |
| Yarrow | Achillea offers flat-topped flowers in whites and pastel shades. |
Shade Loving Shrubs and Trees for Hummingbirds
Incorporating some trees or shrubs into your landscaping is an excellent way to provide shade sources. Fortunately, many bloom with flowers that attract hummingbirds.
Trees
| Mimosa | Albizia julibrissin has fluffy pink blooms that attract hummingbirds. |
| Catalpa | Catalpa species produce white orchid-like flowers in spring. |
| Crabapple | Flowering crabapple trees bloom profusely in spring in white or pink shades. |
| Locust | Black locust trees have abundant white blooms in late spring. |
Shrubs and Vines
| Weigela | Weigela florida has tubular pink or red flowers that attract hummingbirds. |
| Lilac | Old-fashioned lilac varieties produce clouds of scented blooms. |
| Coral Honeysuckle | Lonicera sempervirens is a shade tolerant vine with red tubular blooms. |
| Trumpet Vine | Trumpet creeper has bright orange trumpet-shaped blooms. |
Providing Other Habitat Needs
In addition to food sources from nectar-rich flowers, hummingbirds also appreciate gardens that meet some of their other habitat requirements.
Water
Hummingbirds will use small fountains or even water gardens as a spot to bathe and drink. Providing a water feature will make your garden more attractive.
Shelter
Hummingbirds appreciate small trees, shrubs and vines that offer protected spots to perch and nest. Plants that provide shelter are key garden elements.
Native Plants
Incorporating native plants alongside ornamental flowers provides natural food and shelter sources that hummingbirds rely on.
Feeders
While flowers should provide the bulk of food, including a few hummingbird feeders will provide supplemental nectar, especially during migration seasons.
Avoid Pesticides
Using pesticides and herbicides can reduce small insect populations that hummingbirds rely on. Avoiding pesticide use helps make your garden a healthy habitat. Adding native plants fosters natural insect diversity.
Location and Plant Placement
Proper placement of plants and feeders helps make hummingbirds comfortable visiting your yard.
Protected Spots
Hummingbirds favor protected spots out of strong winds. Use structures, trees and shrubs to create calm pockets and perching locations in your landscape.
Plant in Drifts
Rather than dotting individual plants sporadically, plant flowers in clumps or drifts to create concentrated nectar sources.
Near Feeders
Locate plants within flight distance – 5-10 feet – from any feeders to provide ambush spots for hummingbirds defending a feeder.
Edge Habitats
Edges between sun and shade areas create rich transition zones. Use flowering plants along these habitat edges.
Conclusion
With a bit of planning, you can have colorful, nectar-rich flowers that attract hummingbirds to even the shadiest corners of your landscape. Pay attention to their color and shape preferences, and time plantings to provide nonstop bloom. By incorporating preferred flowers, trees, shrubs and habitat features, you’ll soon have these tiny energetic birds visiting your shade garden regularly. A diverse, pesticide-free garden with shelter, food and water creates an ideal spot that hummingbirds will return to again and again.
