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Saturday, April 27, 2002

Q. I know that hummingbirds are attracted to red flowers, but are certain ones more attractive than others?

A. Although red flowers are well known to be attractive to hummingbirds, these high-energy charmers are also attracted to pink and orange flowers. Hummingbirds do not possess a good sense of smell and find nectar-rich flowers by their color. Actually, they will feed on nectar from any flower color, once they find it to their liking. They prefer tubular or trumpet-shaped flowers.

	Send questions to Sandy Feather by e-mail at slf9@psu.edu or by regular mail c/o Penn State Cooperative Extension, 400 N. Lexington St., Pittsburgh 15208. Sandy Feather is a Penn Sate Cooperative Extension consumer horticulture agent Due to volume of mail, personal replies cannot be provided.

Hummingbirds are important pollinators for certain species of native plants, including: Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis), Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis), Fire pink (Silene virginica), Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) and Wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa). Their bills and heads are coated with pollen as they feed, and they transfer that pollen to the next flower they visit.

It is helpful to have a variety of flowers, trees, vines and shrubs that bloom from May through September to guarantee a constant supply of food while hummingbirds are present. Hummingbirds also eat insects, spiders and even tree sap (from holes drilled by sapsuckers or woodpeckers). I usually have two or three visiting my garden and have had the pleasure of watching them snatch cucumber beetles out of the air. Hummingbirds prefer plants clustered together rather than widely scattered throughout the garden.

The following list of flowers, shrubs, trees and vines is broken down by preference for shade or sun. Plants adaptable to partial sun appear in both lists. Plants marked with an have species native to Western Pennsylvania. Please read more about the cultural preferences of these plants to be sure they are suited to your landscape. Some suggested references are listed at the end.

Trees and shrubs for sun: Apple/crabapple (Malus spp.); Beautybush (Kolkwitzia amabilis); Butterfly bush (Buddleia spp.); Coralberry (Symphoricarpos spp.); Hawthorn (Crataegus spp.); Lilac (Syringa spp.); Flowering quince (Chaenomeles spp.); Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus); Tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera); Weigela (Weigela spp.).

	References: "Amazing Annuals" by Marjorie Mason Hogue, Firefly Books. "Annuals for Connoisseurs" by Wayne Winterrowd, Prentice Hall. "Herbaceous Perennial Plants" by Allan M. Armitage, Varsity Press. "Manual of Climbers and Wall Plants" edited by J.K. Burras, Timber Press. "Manual of Herbaceous Ornamental Plants" by Steven M. Still, Stipes Publishing Co. "The Plantfinder's Guide to Tender Perennials" by Ian Cooke, Timber Press. "The Plants of Pennsylvania" by Ann Fowler Rhoads and Timothy A. Block, University of Pennsylvania Press. Ortho's "All About ..." series and the "Taylor's Guide to ..." series are reliable sources of information. Your local chapter of the Audubon Society has excellent information on attracting birds of all kinds.

Flowers for sun (A = annual; B = biennial; P = perennial; TB = tender bulb, not winter hardy): Bergamot/Bee balm (Monarda spp.) P; Blazing star (Liatris spp.) P; Butterfly weed (Asclepias spp.) P & A; Canna (Canna x generalis ) TB; Dahlia (Dahlia spp.) TB; Daylily (Hemerocallis spp.) P; *Fire pink (Silene virginica) P; Four O'Clock (Mirabilis jalapa) A; Foxglove (Digitalis spp.) P & B; Geranium (Pelargonium spp.) A; Gladiolus (Gladiolus x hortulanus) TB; Hibiscus or Mallow (Hibiscus spp.) P; Hollyhock (Alcea rosea) B; Hyssop (Agastache spp.) P; *Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis) A; Lily (Lilium spp.) P; Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus) A; Beard-tongue (Penstemon spp.) P; Petunia (Petunia x hybrida) A; Phlox (Phlox spp.) P & A; Anise-scented sage (Salvia guaranitica) A; Pineapple sage (Salvia elegans) A; Scarlet sage (Salvia splendens) A; Texas sage (Salvia coccinea) A; Snapdragon (Antirhinnum majus) A; Spider flower (Cleome hasslerana) A; Sweet William (Dianthus barbatus) B; Flowering tobacco (Nicotiana spp.) A; Verbena (Verbena spp.) A; Zinnia (Zinnia spp.) A.

Trees and shrubs for shade: Azalea (Rhododendron spp.); Coralberry (Symphoricarpos spp.); Eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis); Rhododendron (Rhododendron spp.).

Flowers for shade/partial shade (A = annual; B = biennial; P = perennial): Bergamot/Bee balm (Monarda spp.) P; Bleeding heart (Dicentra eximia) P; Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis) P; Columbine (Aquilegia spp.) P; Coral bells (Heuchera spp.) P; Daylily (Hemerocallis spp.) P; Fire pink (Silene virginica) P; Foxglove (Digitalis spp.) P & B; Fuschia (Fushia spp.) A; Hosta (Hosta spp.) P; Impatiens (Impatiens wallerana) A; Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis) A; Lily (Lilium spp.) P; Phlox (Phlox spp.) P; Virginia bluebell (Mertensia virginica) P.

Vines (A = annual; P= perennial): Morning glory (Ipomea spp., including cardinal climber and cypress vine) A; Scarlet runner bean (Phaseolus coccineus) A; Mandevilla (Mandevilla spp.) A; Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) P; Trumpet honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.) P; Virgin's bower (Clematis virginiana)P.

All these vines do best in full sun.