Hummingbird Garden Plan
Hummingbirds will love this sweet garden.
With so many kinds of hummingbirds, at least one kind can be found in almost every part of the United States, and even in some areas of Canada. You can increase the chances of seeing these winged wonders in your yard by adding a beautiful hummingbird garden.
Simply find a corner in your backyard and plant a smorgasbord of some of their favorite nectar-producing flowers. We've included 12 choices below that are certain to invite hummingbirds to your yard.
Be sure to include a hummingbird feeder filled with homemade sugar water. Once the tiny birds begin feeding at it, move the feeder closer to a window for an even more impressive view of these miniature miracles.
Make your own nectar by mixing 4 parts water to 1 part sugar. Boil about 1 to 2 minutes, then cool and fill your feeder. The leftovers can be stored in your refrigerator for up to 1 week.
The guests will arrive in no time, and they'll certainly appreciate your generosity and thoughtfulness.
1. Dropmore scarlet honeysuckle (Lonicera x brownii)
- Vine
- Hardiness: Zones 4 to 9
- Height: Climbs to 12 feet
- Width: Conforms to trellis or other support
- Light Needs: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil Needs: Humus-rich, moist, well-draining
- Blooms: Summer
2. Butterfly bush (Buddleja davidii)
- Shrub
- Hardiness: Zones 5 to 9
- Height: 6 to 15 feet
- Width: 4 to 10 feet
- Light Needs: Full sun to light shade
- Soil Needs: Fertile and well-draining
- Blooms: Summer through fall
3. Salvia (Salvia splendens)
- Annual
- Hardiness: All zones
- Height: 1 to 3 feet
- Width: 9 to 14 inches
- Light Needs: Full sun
- Soil Needs: Fertile, moist and well-draining
- Blooms: Summer to early fall
4. Foxglove (Digitalis species)
- Perennial/Biennial
- Hardiness: Zones 3 to 10
- Height: 2 to 8 feet
- Width: 12 to 24 inches
- Light Needs: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil Needs: Humus-rich
- Blooms: Summer
5. Rhododendron (Rhododendron-all species and
hybrids)
- Shrub
- Hardiness:Zones 4 to 9
- Height: Up to 10 feet
- Width: 2 to 10 feet
- Light Needs: Light to partial shade
- Soil Needs: Moist, well-draining and acidic
- Blooms: Spring
6. Petunia (Petunia species)
- Annual
- Hardiness: All zones
- Height: 6 inches to 2 feet
- Width:12 to 36 inches
- Light Needs:Full sun to partial shade
- Soil Needs: Well-draining
- Blooms:Summer through fall
7. Dahlia (Dahlia-all hybrids and varieties)
- Annual
- Hardiness: All zones
- Height: Up to 6 feet
- Width: 2 feet
- Light Needs: Full sun
- Soil Needs: Humus-rich and well-draining
- Blooms: Midsummer to frost
8. Lantana (Lantana-all species)
- Perennial/Annual
- Hardiness: Zones 8 to 11 (grown as a summer annual to the north)
- Height: 12 inches to 6 feet
- Width: 1-1/2 to 6 feet
- Light Needs: Full sun
- Soil Needs: Moist and well-draining
- Blooms: Summer through fall
9. Cleome (Cleome spinosa)
- Annual
- Hardiness: All zones
- Height: Up to 6 feet
- Width: 2 feet
- Light Needs: Full sun or light shade
- Soil Needs: Fertile and well-draining
- Blooms: Summer to frost
10. Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus)
- Annual
- Hardiness: All zones
- Height: Mounding types to 12 inches;
vining types to 10 feet
- Width: 12 to 18 inches
- Light Needs: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil Needs: Does well in poor soil
- Blooms: Summer through fall
11. Yucca (Yucca species)
- Perennial
- Hardiness: Zones 4 to 10
- Height: 2 to 3 feet (leaves); in
bloom, 6 to 12 feet
- Width:3 feet
- Light Needs: Full sun
- Soil Needs: Well-draining
- Blooms: Summer
12. Impatiens (Impatiens walleriana)
- Annual
- Hardiness: All zones
- Height: 6 to 24 inches
- Width: 1 to 2 feet
- Light Needs: Shade to partial sun
- Soil Needs:Moist and well-draining
- Blooms: Summer to frost