hummingbird basics and plants for the nw

Hummingbirds! Beautiful and fast, here are a few tips on keeping hummingbirds around and keeping them healthy. Hummingbirds eat out of feeders specially designed for their bills. Their speed and agility requires a high sugar diet.

THE LIQUID DIET

Sugar Solution:
In a saucepan combine 1 part white sugar to 4 parts water. Bring the mixture to a slow boil for 2 minutes. Let the solution cool completely before pouring it into the feeder. Excess solution will last approximately 4 days in a refrigerator. Do not freeze the solution. Do not substitute. Honey, artificial sweeteners and food dyes have proved to be detrimental to hummingbird’s health.

HOUSEKEEPING

Clean your feeder with hot water every 3 days in hot weather (above 70 degrees) and every 7 days in cooler weather to prevent fermentation and molds. Hummingbirds are picky eaters and will not feed from dirty feeders or old sugar solutions. Glass bird feeders are not frost resistant. We recommend bringing your glass feeders indoors for winter months.

PESTS

To deter ants, we recommend petroleum jelly spread on the mounting hook or on the body of the feeder just below the rubber stopper.
If honeybees are a problem, they prefer feeders in sunlight, so move your feeder into the shade. If they persist, distract them with a shallow dish of very sugary water. They usually go for the easily accessible dish, which you can move further away from the feeder each day. If you have more aggressive yellow jackets, it may be best to let them have the feeder for a while and put up another one for hummingbirds in a different location. When shopping for a hummingbird feeder, look for designs with bee guards or other deterring
features. Look for designs which will not leak or drip.

plants to attract hummingbirds

The following is a list of plants that attract hummingbirds to the garden. Select a grouping of plants that bloom at different times of the year for best results.

Bright red, orange, or tubular flowers are most effective. Single, over double, flowers tend to be preferred. Plants 18" or taller are a comfortable feeding height. For more detailed information, please refer to the individual cultivar signs or consult one of Swansons nursery professionals.

Spring and early summer blooming

BLEEDING HEART Dicentra spp. OREGON GRAPE Mahonia aquifolium

COLUMBINE Aquilegia spp. and cultivars PENSTEMON Penstemon spp. and varieties

ELDERBERRY Sambucus spp. PHLOX Phlox spp. and cultivars

FLOWERING CURRANT Ribes spp. SAGE Salvia spp. and cultivars

FOXGLOVE Digitalis purpurea and cultivars SWEET WILLIAM Dianthus barbatus

LUPINE Lupinus spp. and hybrids WEIGLA Weigla florida and varieties

MIDSUMMER AND FALL BLOOMING

BEEBALM Monarda spp. and cultivars HARDY FUCHSIA Fuchsia magellanica varieties

BUTTERFLY WEED Asclepias tuberosa HOLLYHOCK Alcea spp. and varieties

CAPE FUCHSIA Phygelius x rectus and cultivars HONEYSUCKLE Lonicera spp.

CARDINAL FLOWER Lobelia spp. and cultivars PENSTEMON Penstemon spp. and varieties

CORAL BELLS Heuchera spp. and cultivars PHLOX Phlox spp. and cultivars

WINTER BLOOMING

DAWN VIBURNUM Viburnum bodnantense ‘Dawn’ STRAWBERRY TREE Arbutus unedo

MAHONIA HYBRIDS Mahonia x media SWEET BOX Sarcococca confusa

SASANQUA CAMELLIA Camellia sasanqua WITCH HAZEL Hamamelis x intermedia