Creating a Year-Round Hummingbird Haven: Best Perennials for Every Season
Introduction
Attracting hummingbirds to your garden is a delightful pursuit for any outdoor enthusiast. These tiny, vibrant birds add a splash of life and color as they flit among the flowers, sipping nectar. However, to keep them visiting, it’s essential to plant a variety of perennials that bloom in different seasons, providing a continuous nectar source. In this guide, we’ll delve into the best perennials for each season, ensuring that your garden is a year-round hummingbird haven.
Spring Blooming Perennials
Spring is the kickoff season for attracting hummingbirds as they migrate back from warmer climates. Here are some spring bloomers that can beacon these fast-flying visitors.
- Lyreleaf Sage (Salvia lyrata): Known for its resilience, this plant tolerates foot traffic and neglect, making it a practical choice for a hummingbird garden.
- Moss Phlox/Creeping Phlox (Phlox subulata): These semi-evergreen early bloomers are drought-tolerant and carpet the ground with colorful blooms, an inviting sight for hummingbirds.
- Blue False Indigo (Baptisia australis): Although slow to establish, its stunning display of blue flowers makes it worth the wait, providing food for hummingbirds.
- Golden Alexander (Zizia aurea): Besides being an attractive plant, Golden Alexander balances the garden ecosystem while providing an excellent nectar source.
Summer Blooming Perennials
Summer is a crucial period to sustain hummingbirds with ample nectars. Let’s explore the best summer bloomers.
- Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa): High in nectar, this member of the mint family supports long-tongue pollinators and is low maintenance. However, knowing how to prevent powdery mildew on monarda is crucial to keep it thriving.
- Whirled Tickseed (Coreopsis verticillata): Versatile as a groundcover, this adaptable plant caters to various soil types, from sandy to clay-heavy soils.
- Coralbells (Heuchera): With full sun-tolerant cultivars, these low-maintenance plants are a staple in many hummingbird gardens.
- False Sunflower/Oxeye Sunflower (Heliopsis helianthoides): Thrives in loamy and clay-heavy soil types, providing a bright spot of color and a reliable nectar source.
- Common Vervain (Verbena hastata): Prefers wet conditions and is deer-resistant but susceptible to rabbit grazing. Its late blooms extend the feeding season into autumn.
- Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta): Despite its drought tolerance, it is best to avoid nutrient-rich soil to prevent legginess. This flower continues to feed hummingbirds into autumn.
- Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea): Known for its adaptability to various cultivars and conditions, it thrives in well-drained soils.
- Gayfeather (Liatris spicata): This slow grower prefers breathable soil, making it an elegant addition for mid to late summer blooms.
- Hoary Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum incanum): A steady spreader popular among pollinators, yet not overly aggressive in growth.
Autumn Blooming Perennials
Late bloomers are essential for extending the nectar availability well into the autumn. Let’s see which plants fit this role perfectly.
- New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novi-belgii): A magnet for pollinators, this messy grower thrives in the climate zones for growing New England aster, from USDA zones 4 to 8.
- Fragrant Goldenrod (Solidago chilensis): Its low maintenance and non-allergenic nature, along with deer resistance of fragrant goldenrod, make it a top pick for autumn gardens.
- Showy Goldenrod (Solidago speciosa): Similar to Fragrant Goldenrod but taller and prefers more sunlight.
- Aromatic Snakeroot (Ageratina aromatica): Thrives in a variety of well-drained soil types, keeping the garden buzzing with activity in late autumn.
“Yes, But” Perennials
Some perennials come with specific requirements but can be highly beneficial to hummingbird gardens when properly cared for.
- Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa): Best in sandy or loamy soil, it requires breathable roots to flourish.
- Bluestar (Amsonia tabernaemontana): Sharing similar soil preferences with Butterfly Weed, this plant supports various pollinators.
Special Tips and Stories
Here are some additional plants and care tips to ensure your garden is a hummingbird haven all year round.
- Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis): Known for the specific watering needs of cardinal flower, it thrives with frequent watering and can be easily grown from seed.
- Coral Trumpet Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens): A hummingbird favorite during spring and summer, this vine prospers in well-drained soils with medium water use.
- Lucifer Crocosmias: Adaptable to Zone 8b, these tall, reliable bloomers provide a dramatic display and attract hummingbirds effectively.
Conclusion
Creating a hummingbird-friendly garden involves selecting diverse perennials that bloom through the seasons, ensuring a continuous supply of nectar. By considering your local climate and specific garden conditions, you can cultivate a vibrant habitat that will attract and nourish hummingbirds year-round. Happy gardening!