It’s summer in your garden. Suddenly, the air shimmers with color. This luminous flash is accompanied by a distinctive fluttering sound as something darts about. Your senses are not tricking you; it’s a hummingbird with its iridescent feathers and energetic wingbeats.
Summer brings migrating hummingbirds to North Central Texas where heat and drought can limit the birds’ natural water and food sources. Fortunately, area gardens filled with nectar-rich flowers provide valuable resources for these tiny, traveling birds.
It’s possible to lure hummingbirds to your garden by growing the right plants, particularly native plants, which evolved alongside native wildlife. Over time, this evolution fostered a mutually beneficial relationship. The plants adapted to local growing conditions making them tolerant of drought, heat and poor soils. This resilience made them extremely dependable nectar sources.
Hummingbirds are naturally drawn to bright-colored tubular flowers, especially in shades of red, orange, pink and deep coral. This is why flame acanthus is such a fine hummingbird plant. It is a hardy, native shrub that thrives in full sun and dry conditions making it ideal for difficult locations. Flame acanthus produces brilliant orange-red tubular flowers from summer into fall. Hummingbirds flock to its nectar-rich blooms.
Texas betony is another valuable nectar plant. Its vivid red tubular flower spikes are frequented by hummingbirds. In spring and early summer, this mostly evergreen perennial spreads gradually to form colonies. It grows in full sun to partial shade, but prefers dappled shade during the hottest days of the year. Add mulch to boost its heat/cold/drought tolerance.
Native salvias are among the most reliable hummingbird plants in Texas. Perennial autumn sage thrives in heat, drought and alkaline soils while producing abundant blooms in red, pink, coral or purple. Cedar sage is an excellent choice for shaded gardens. It boasts brilliant red blooms in late summer and fall. This salvia requires a very well-drained site. A native perennial, mealy blue sage sports soft blue colored blooms that contribute nectar for bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. The plant is considered deer resistant. Other salvias to try are Mexican bush sage and pineapple sage.
Coral honeysuckle deserves a place in most wildlife gardens. This twining native vine produces clusters of pink trumpet-shaped flowers that hummingbirds eagerly visit. Unlike non-native, invasive honeysuckles, coral honeysuckle coexists well with surrounding plants and supports pollinators throughout the growing season.
Turk’s cap is another dependable Texas native that serves hummingbirds exceptionally well. This perennial thrives in full sun or part shade. Its arching stems and bright red turban-shaped flowers provide continual nectar during the hottest weather – a time when many other plants stop blooming. Turk’s cap also benefits butterflies and songbirds.
Red yucca is a dependable hummingbird plant for sunny locations. It forms graceful arching clumps of narrow, succulent foliage that’s topped by tall red or pink flower spikes. The plants require very little maintenance once established and flowers bloom for months.
A successful hummingbird garden should have a steady supply of nectar from spring through fall. To do so, combine flowering perennials, annuals, shrubs, trees and vines in your landscape. They will bloom at various times, attracting hummingbirds and other pollinators.
Written and Photographed by LGMG Phyllis Webster
