Birds & Blooms

Top 10 Geraniums to Attract Hummingbirds

Gardening with this list of top 10 Geraniums is a sure bet to attract Hummingbirds to your backyard.

Hummingbirds love scented geraniums. Here's my "Top 10" list to get you started.

  1. Apricot: Bright crimson flowers on an upright plant with deeply lobed, dark green, scented leaves reminiscent of apricot.
  2. Cinnamon: A riot of rosy pink flowers with small crinkly lemon-scented leaves accented by cinnamon. Softly mounding form is great for borders or hanging baskets.
  3. Clorinda: Notably the largest flowering of scented geraniums, with showy orange-flushed, purplish-red blooms. Tall plant with eucalyptus-scented foliage.
  4. Coconut: Masses of magenta flowers with coconut-scented, dark green leaves similar in appearance to apple-scented geranium. Somewhat trailing habit great for hanging baskets.
  5. Ginger: Large, showy rose-lavender flowers with roundish, slightly toothed leaves that smell of fresh ginger with a hint of citrus.
  6. Lime: Large dark pink to purple flowers with upright growth and smooth, roundish leaves with a sweet lime scent. Great for containers.
  7. Mabel Grey: One of the best lemon-scented varieties with large lavender flowers and sharply lobed leaves. A very tall plant, can grow to 6 feet in height.
  8. Orange: Sprays of pale orchid flowers with deep purple markings, upright growth and saw-toothed leaves with a sweet orange scent.
  9. Pretty Polly: Showy pink flowers with deep rose spots and deeply lobed leaves with a slight almond scent.
  10. Variegated Oak: Large, showy lavender flowers and large oak-shaped leaves with irregular cream and white variegations. Slightly pungent, deep woods fragrance.
hummingbird

Growing Tips

For best flowering and scent, grow plants in a sunny, well-drained soil that's kept slightly dry. Allow soil to dry out somewhat between waterings.

In hot weather climates, provide some light shade during the heat of the day.

Being light feeders, compost or an annual application of complete organic fertilizer is all these plants need, as overfeeding will weaken their fragrance.

Pinch stems occasionally throughout the growing season to encourage branching and promote dense, lush growth. Lightly prune plants after they quit blooming.

To overwinter plants in cold winter areas, cut back by a third in the fall, dig up and put in a container and place in a frost-free area of a garage, or overwinter indoors.

More Plant Sources