ATTRACT HUMMINGBIRDS TO YOUR GARDEN

By Pam Albo

You can create a hummingbird habitat in

your landscape with plants that will not only

grow well in our climate but that will be appreciated by our pollinating friends. Since hummers are attracted to colors rather than smells, they most often prefer plants with reds, oranges, and dark pinks.

Many of these plants also have tubular-

shaped flowers designed specifically for

their beaks.

Plants Hummingbirds Love:

Angelonia/Summer Snapdragon

Salvia like flower spires are covered with snapdragon-like blooms in pink, purples, or

white and blooms spring through fall. Full sun and drought tolerant.

Baja Ruellia (Ruellia peninsularis)

This evergreen shrub produces masses of dense deep blue-purple petunia-like flowers.

Enjoys partial to full sun and needs only occasional watering once established.

Bottlebrush (Callistemon)

This easy-care evergreen shrub boasts masses of scarlet, bottle brush-shaped flowers.

Prefers full sun. Is mildly drought tolerant and requires occasional watering.

Valentine Red Emu Bush (Eremophila maculate)

A dense, evergreen shrub that has small, dark green leaves that get redder in the cold.

Boasts masses of hot-pink to red tubular flowers in late winter. Enjoys full sun, reflected

heat, and low to moderate water.

Coral Fountain/ Firecracker Plant (Russelia equisetiformis)

This semi-evergreen perennial has slender, lush-like stems that eventually fall over into

showy cascades covered in clusters of small firecracker-like tubular scarlet flowers

spring through fall. Prefers partial shade to full sun and regular watering.

Firebush/Hummingbird Bush/Texas Firecracker Bush (Hamelia patens)

Lush ovabl leaves are complimented by clusters of red-orange tubular flowers, followed

by a dark-purple fruit. Foliage turns copper-red in fall. Enjoys full sun to part shade and

moderate watering.

Mexican Honeysuckle (Justicia spicigera)

This lush evergreen shrub boasts bright orange tubular flowers that bloom in clusters.

Prefers filtered sun and moderate irrigation.

Red Yucca (Hesperaloe parviflora)

Tall spikes hold deep rose-pink flowers atop clumps of slender, green, drought tolerant

foliage. Blooms nearly year-round.

Salvia (Lamiales)

Produces attractive flowers spikes in colors of red, purple, blue, or white. These water-

wise drought tolerant plants enjoy full sun and bloom spring into summer. Needs only

occasional watering.

Red Yucca (Hesperaloe parviflora)

Tall spikes hold deep rose-pink flowers atop clumps of slender, green, drought-tolerant

foliage. Blooms nearly year-round.