Flowers for bees and hummingbirds

Discussion in 'Flower Gardening' started by 2ofus, Aug 10, 2016.

  1. 2ofus

    2ofus Hardy Maple

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    These flowers seem to have drawn a lot of attention from bees and hummers.
    Larkspur
    Campanula
    coral bells
    salvia
    dianthus
    pink penstemon
    columbine
    I planted Scarlet Bugler Penstemon just for the hummingbirds. It's not the most attractive plant but it is a magnet for hummingbirds.
    Scarlet Buglar planted fpr humming birds (Small).JPG
    What do they like most in your gardens?
     
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  3. marlingardener

    marlingardener Happy

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    The hummingbirds love salvia greggii (aka Autumn Sage), Crossvine, zinnias, and Mexican Petunias (ruellia). The butterflies like all of the same for nectar, and also use the rue, Wafer Ash trees, dill, parsley, and Passionvine as host plants. We also have a good crop of milkweed for the Monarchs when they pass through, but that's in the pasture and Mother Nature takes care of the planting!
     
  4. carolyn

    carolyn Strong Ash

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    I was going to mention zinnias also... I have 4 50' rows of them and they have certainly attracted the bees, hummers and butterflies. Yesterday I saw my first monarch on the zinnias, hooray....
     
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  5. Islandlife

    Islandlife Young Pine

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    I never knew that zinnias attracted humming birds. Good to know and I'll file that one away 'til next spring. Love the hummers.
     



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  6. purpleinopp

    purpleinopp Young Pine Plants Contributor

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    Location:
    Opp, AL, 8b
    Abutilon, flowering maple
    Acanthus,
    Achillea, yarrow
    Aeschynanthus, lipstick plant
    Agapanthus africanus,
    Agastache,
    Aguilegia formosa, western columbine
    Alcea rosea, hollyhock
    Aloe maculata,
    Alstroemeria, Peruvian lily
    Angelonia,
    Antirrhinum, snapdragon
    Asclepias tuberosa, butterfly weed
    Asclepias, various, any = milkweed
    Aster,
    Begonia,
    Bletilla,
    Buddleia, butterfly bush
    Calibrachoa, million bells
    Callicarpa americana, beautyberry bush
    Callistemon rigidus, stiff bottlebrush
    Calotropis,
    Camellia japonica
    Campsis radicans, trumpet creeper
    Cannas,
    Catharanthus roseus, Madagascar periwinkle
    Ceanothus americanus, New Jersey tea, CA lilac
    Centranthus ruber, Jupiter's beard
    Cephalanthus occidentalis, buttonbush
    Chaenomeles Flowering Quince
    Chrysothemis pulchella, sunset bells
    Cleistocactus, monkey tail
    Clematis heracleifolia,
    Clematis virginiana, virgin bower
    Cleome hassleriana, spider flower
    Clerodendrum paniculatum, Pagoda
    Coleus, (Solenostemon, yeah right, NO!) Anyway, both hummers and b'flies love the flowers on these!
    Coreopsis,
    Crocosmia, cardinal flower
    Cuphea, cigar flower
    Curcuma,
    Dahlia,
    Delphinium,
    Delphinium, larkspur
    Dianthus, pinks, sweet William
    Dicentra spectabilis, bleeding heart
    Digitalis, foxglove
    Echinacea, coneflower
    Echium candicans,
    Eupatorium, Joe pye
    Flaveria linearis,
    Fuchsia,
    Gladiolus,
    Hamelia patens, firecracker shrub
    Heliconia,
    Heliotrope,
    Hemerocallis, daylily
    Hesperaloe parviflora, false yucca
    Hesperis, dame's rocket
    Heuchera sanguinea, coral bells
    Hibiscus syriacus, rose of Sharon
    Hosta,
    Hoya,
    Hyssop,
    Impatiens balsamina, jewelweed
    Impatiens capensis, jewelweed
    Ipomoea coccinea, red morning glory
    Ipomoea multifida, cardinal climber
    Ipomoea purpurea, morning glory
    Ipomoea quamoclit, cypress vine
    Ipomopsis rubra Standing cypress, Texas plume, Red Texas star, Red gilia
    Jasminum, Jasmine
    Justicia brandegeeana, shrimp plant
    Kalanchoe luciae, flapjack plant
    Kniphofia, red hot poker
    Kohleria,
    Lantana,
    Lavendula, lavender
    Liatris,
    Lilium, lilies
    Lobelia cardinalis, cardinal flower
    Lobelia siphilitica, blue lobelia
    Lonicera sempervirens, honeysuckle
    Lupine,
    Lychnis, rose campion
    Malva, rose mallow
    Manzanita,
    Maranta, prayer plant
    Mentha, mint
    Mimosa, invasive tree in parts of the world, but good to know it has this quality
    Mirabilis jalapa, 4'o'clocks
    Monarda, beebalm
    Nepeta, catmint
    Nicotania silvestris,
    Nicotiana alata, flowering tobacco
    Ocimum basilicum, Basil
    Odontonema strictum, firespike
    Passiflora,
    Pelargonium, annual geraniums
    Penstemon, beardstongue
    Pentas,
    Petunia, petunia
    Phaseolus coccineus, scarlet runner bean
    Phlox,
    Phygelius, cape figwort
    Physostegia, obedient plant
    Plectranthus 'Mona Lavender',
    Plumbago,
    Rhipsalis,
    Rhododendron, azalea
    Ruellia, Mexican petunia
    Salvia, sage
    Saponaria, soapwort
    Saponaria officinalis, bouncing bet
    Scabiosa, pin cushion flower
    Schlumbergera, Thanksgiving cacti, Christmas cacti
    Senna bicapsularis, Christmas Senna, host for Cloudless Sulphur Caterpillar
    Sidalcea, prairie mallow
    Silene,
    Spaghneticolia trilobata, creeping daisy
    Streptocarpus saxorum, Streptocarpella
    Trachelospermum jasminoides, Confederate jasmine
    Tropaeolum majus, nasturtium
    Tropaeolum peregrinum, canary creeper vine
    Verbena,
    Veronica,
    Vitex, wild grape
    Weigela,
    Wisteria frutescens, American Wisteria
    Zinnia,
     
  7. stratsmom

    stratsmom Flower Fanatic

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    The bees keep my lavender humming :)
     
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  8. 2ofus

    2ofus Hardy Maple

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    Wow, that is quite a list! I've spent quite a bit of time looking them up to see what they are. I have quite a few listed that are hardy in my zone but I've made a wish list of others and some of the annuals also. Thank you VERY much for the list, Purpleinopp.
     
  9. Netty

    Netty Chaotic Gardener Plants Contributor

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    I don't watch for butterfly's as much as my beloved Hummingbirds. For the Hummers I have Salvia, 4 Oclocks, Penstemon, Petunia, Fuschia, Lantana, Crocosmia, Phlox, Lilac, Liatris, Veronica, and Hosta's. I also make sure to plant lots of red to attract them.
     
  10. 2ofus

    2ofus Hardy Maple

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    The hummingbirds seem to like my sedum, especially Autumn Joy but they visit the others too.
     
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