Gardening for Hummingbirds

Hummingbirds are always amazing to see. With their brightly colored bodies, their super fast wings, and even faster ability to zoom around, needless to say... we want them in our garden. And it’s easy to attract them to our garden.

Florida has three species of hummingbirds that live here much of the year, and another two can occasionally be seen here in the winter. The ruby-throated is the most commonly seen. This wonder of nature is only about three inches long and weighs as little as a penny.

Hummingbirds get their name from the sound their wings make while beating up to 200 times per second. One of these remarkable birds’ most amazing traits is their helicopter-like flying stunts. Not only can hummingbirds suspend their bodies in midair, they can also fly backwards, upwards, and even upside-down.

To support all their high-speed activity, hummingbirds need to consume large amounts of high-energy nectar. To attract hummingbirds to your garden, choose plants with brightly colored or tubular flowers, like hibiscus, bottlebrush, butterfly bush, or the native coral honeysuckle. Hummingbirds prefer red, orange, and pink flowers, and use their long tongues to sip the nectar found within.

Hummingbirds nest spring through summer and need a lot of nectar during that time, so make sure you have numerous nectar plants available. You can also help meet their needs with a hummingbird feeder.

Put a game plan together for incorporating plants that hummingbirds will love into your garden. These plants can be used as accent plants that bring pop and color to your space.

As always, Sean Mclean Landscaping is here to help you in the design or planting process. Just give us a call at 386-466-8269.