Attracting Hummingbirds to your Garden

Claudette Sims Stayin’ Alive Hummingbirds are killed by • Natural predators: hawks, shrikes • Collision with windows, cars, towers  Predation by domestic cats  Elevate plants  Pesticide use  Feeders  No colouring in feeders  4 parts water, 1 part sugar  Avoid hanging in the sun  Change nectar daily in hot weather Create a Habitat Water

• Bird bath • Mister Shelter

Diversity in plantings Food sources • Insects • Nectar What do all these flowers have in common? Hummingbirds are attracted to red flowers • Tubular flowers are easier for hummigbirds to feed from • Choose single instead of double blooms

Anthirrhinum 'La Bella Red and White' Plant in 4 dimensions Width, depth –Massed flowers create a flower buffet Height in the form of trees, shrubs and vines provides –Shelter –Nesting –Perching –Night roosting Summer Spring Plant over time

Fall 2010 Sightings Ontario Hummingbird Project

•Check that your garden has plants blooming when hummingbirds arrive in the spring

http://ontariohummingbirds.ca/sightings/sightingmap.php Top 10 Hummingbird Plants Number 1 Rhododendron catawbiense Rhododendron catawbiense

• Native in US • Late spring • Moist, rich acid soil • Sun or light shade • 1 to 3 meters • Shallow root system • Zones 4-8 Number 2 Aquilegia canadensis Aquilegia canadensis • Wild columbine • Native wildflower • Dappled shade and full sun • Perennial • Self-seeds • Late spring • 2 to 3 feet • Deer resistant Number 3 Liriodendron tulipifera Liriodendron tulipifera • Magnificent native tree • 20-25 meters • Huge tulip-shaped flowers in May • Large quantities of nectar • Full to part sun • Moist, well-drained soil • Unique leaves golden in autumn • Exotic seed pods • Resistant to gypsy moth • Variegated variety • Zone 5 Number 4 Aesculus pavia Aesculus pavia

• Red buckeye • Small tree (6m) • Bright crimson flowers • Pear-shaped fruit • Full to partial shade • Moist, free draining soil • Dislikes dry soil, exposed • Zone 4 Number 5 Salvia coccinea Salvia • Salvia coccinea ‘Lady in Red’ • ‘Texas Sage’ • Annual • Small-flowered, airy • Full sun, afternoon shade • Moist, well-drained soil • Starts easily from seed Number 6 Lonicera sempervirens Honeysuckle Vine • Native? • Scented… • Needs support • Full or partial sun • Powdery mildew and leaf spot • Well-drained, neutral soil • Avoid Lonicera japonica which is considered highly invasive in the US Number 7 Monarda Bergamot, Beebalm, Oswego Tea Monarda • Monarda didyma (Beebalm) • Monarda fistulosa – Native to Ontario – Wild Bergamot – Moist, part shade – Dry, sunny conditions – Tolerates Juglone – Shorter, with narrower – Longer florets leaves – More difficult for bees to enter – Pinkish or pale lavender – Preferred by hummingbirds flowers – Loved by the bees Number 8 Campsis radicans Campsis radicans

• Ontario wildflower! • Mid summer bloom • Easy to grow • Full sun • 20 m • Pruning beneficial • Suckers • Zone 4-9 Number 9 Lobelia cardinalis Lobelia cardinalis

• Cardinal flower • Native to Canada • Perennial • Hardy wild flower • 60 to 120 cm tall • Moist, rich soil • Grown in containers • Slightly acid soil • Full to partial sun • Fall blooming Number 10 Buddleia davidii Buddleia davidii

• Butterfly Bush • Shrub • Blooms on new wood • Cut back in spring • Full sun • Fertile soil • Blooms August-Sept Useful websites: •Canadian Wildlife Federation Hummingbird information •Ontario Hummingbird Project plant list • Canadale Nurseries Hummingbird plants