Should you embrace dandelions to help hummingbirds and other birds? Find out if dandelions are a source of nectar for pollinators.
Do Dandelions Provide Nectar for Hummingbirds?
“I saw a ruby-throated hummingbird trying to get nectar from a dandelion. Is that normal?” asks Birds & Blooms reader Kris Brown of Kaukauna, Wisconsin.
Birding experts Kenn and Kimberly Kaufman say, “Like most other hummingbirds, ruby-throats typically seek out long, tube-shaped flowers—they’re especially attracted to red ones. Dandelion blooms—flat and yellow—don’t fit the usual profile.
But ruby-throated hummingbirds have to be more adaptable than many other hummingbirds because they migrate such a long distance through different habitats, dealing with big variations in weather and climate. It’s an advantage for them to be flexible and to check out whatever flowers are available. Dandelions do contain some nectar, so it’s not necessarily a waste of effort for the bird.”
Check out the top 10 hummingbird wildflowers to grow.
Other Dandelion Benefits
Dandelions get a bad reputation as a weed, but there are reasons to embrace them. The seeds ripen just in time to nourish goldfinches and indigo buntings during their spring migration. Birds may also use dandelion fluff to line their nests.
Humans can enjoy dandelions, too! The greens go great in salads and taste similar to arugula (just make sure the plants were not treated with herbicides or pesticides). All parts of a dandelion are considered edible, from the flowers to the roots.
“Dandelions are my favorite. They may be considered a weed, but don’t tell that to the honeybees who enjoy them,” says reader Martha Russell of Carmel, Maine.
Next, see a list of flowering plants that hummingbirds don’t like.
