Best Flowers to Attract Hummingbirds in Ohio
A garden is a great place for hosting, and we love hosting hummingbirds in our Ohio gardens. Hummingbirds are not only beautiful to look at with their glistening, multi-colored feathers, but they are great to have in your garden as they are dynamic pollinators.
Just like humans, hummingbirds have their favorite flowers. Knowing what to plant can bring you fun backyard birdwatching while increasing your garden’s vitality (including how successful your vegetable garden is). We’re here to lead you on the right track with a list of the best flowers to attract hummingbirds to your Ohio garden.
Why You Should Have Hummingbirds in Your Garden
We all want our gardens to be a lovely place for visitors, humans and pollinators alike. Creating a pollinator-friendly garden will help your plants reproduce and thrive while supporting local insect and animal populations, including hummingbirds!
These cute little creatures are key pollinators as their flight capabilities and slender beaks allow them to pollinate areas insects and other pollinators cannot access, which makes hummingbirds capable critters you’ll want in your Ohio garden.
What Do Hummingbirds Look for in Flowers
Planting hummingbird-friendly flowers is the best way to attract hummingbirds to your garden. While some people use hummingbird feeders, hummingbirds actually feed more efficiently via flowers rather than artificial feeders and flower nectar is healthier for hummingbirds because nectar contains proteins, minerals, and amino acids hummingbirds need to thrive as opposed to pure sugar water (which is what artificial hummingbird feeders use).
Keeping that in mind, hummingbirds look for brightly colored flowers that accommodate their eyesight and nourishment needs, tubular flowers that their beaks are uniquely suited to navigate, and flowers located where they can easily position their hovering bodies.
Without further ado, here are five flowers that hummingbirds love and that fit hummingbirds’ special criteria.
Bee Balm (Monarda)
Bee balm is a great choice for attracting pollinators like hummingbirds due to the plant’s warm-toned, spacious petals. These beautiful flowers are a food source for you and your flying friends, because their flowers are edible and can be made into aromatic teas or salad garnishes. Also, bee balm is great for inviting pollinators to your garden while deterring damaging wildlife like rabbits and deer, which makes it a great choice for you and your Ohio garden.
To successfully grow bee balm, grow this perennial plant in evenly moist soil. Avoid overwatering it to protect the plant against mold and mildew. Also, bee balm can get up to four feet tall, so give them plenty of space in full sunlight to allow room for growth.
Lobelia (Cardinal Flower)
Lobelia (a.k.a. cardinal flowers) are beautiful perennials that are native to Ohio. Depending on the available space in your garden, lobelias can grow 2 to 4 feet tall and can create beautiful garden centerpieces or add vertical intrigue to your home’s landscape. or remain subtly stunning in hanging plants and containers. Either way, hummingbirds and other pollinators will love the burst of bright flowers the lobelia plant offers.
Just like bee balm, lobelias require partial to full sun and ample water. For more information on lobelias and other pollinator-friendly plants, check out our post: Bee a Friend: Native Plants to Help Ohio’s Pollinators.
Cuphea
Cuphea are the perfect plants to attract hummingbirds as they have the three big features these birds love: tubular and bright flowers, as well as adequate height that can reach up to 6 feet depending on the variety. If you’d like to bring hummingbirds and some visual variety to your flower garden, cuphea may be your best bet.
One important thing to know for growing cuphea plants is that despite their size their roots grow very shallow. Because of this, you’ll want to make sure that your soil remains evenly moist for successful blooms and pay attention when balancing their moisture needs with their full sun requirements.
Petunias
Petunias are a great choice due to their vibrant colors and deep centers pollinators love to nestle in. For hummingbirds, these deep-centered flowers are great as their long beaks make it easier for them to reach the flower’s nectar, reducing competition and increasing overall appeal. For gardeners, petunias are both beautiful and easy to grow in a variety of spaces, making them a serious contender for the newest addition to your garden.
Petunias require full sun for at least 6 hours a day in well-draining soil. Once you have these plants established, they require moderate upkeep across multiple seasons, with their lowest surviving possible temperatures getting as low as 35°F. Your main concern with petunias is to plant them in fertile soil while pruning dead flowers to ensure maximum nutrient utilization.
Salvia
Salvia is another great choice for hummingbirds due to their tubular flowers and fragrant, extended blooms. Salvia can also help your garden’s ecosystem as certain species such as salvia lyrata are native to Ohio!
Salvia is a perennial plant that prefers hot over cold climates, so you’ll want to ensure you plant your salvia after the last frost of the season. These heat-loving plants will need a balance of high sun and even moisture to thrive, with the blooming season prolonged through late spring to early fall.
Visit Timbuk Farms for Flowers that Attract Hummingbirds
Need a little more help to get our flying friends over into your yard? We are happy to help down at Timbuk Farms! Our knowledgeable and friendly staff can set you up with the best pollinator-friendly plants which best accommodate your garden. If there’s anything else you need, such as gardening tools, perennial flowers, or even fresh herbs and veggies, we’re happy to help at Timbuk Farms!
