We’ve been thinking about how to make our yard more hummingbird-friendly, so I looked into flowers they love. Love hiw much wildlife we have help cultivate around us so far. We joke that we are turning into a wildlife preserve 😂🤣🦅

Turns out, it’s really about mixing plants that bloom across the seasons—plus, it just makes the garden look better too.

Heres a little but of broken out research and my favorite article on it:

Top Flower Picks (Grouped for Ease) from Chat GPT for anyone else interested around the 6b/7a region of the U.S. :

🌱 Perennials (Come back every year):

• Trumpet Honeysuckle – Red, tubular, native variety only!

• Columbine – Blooms early, loves part shade.

• Hosta – Mid-summer blooms; for shady spots.

• Bee Balm (Monarda) – Big, fringy flowers in red/purple.

• Cardinal Flower – Bright red, thrives in sun/part sun.

• Foxglove – Tall spikes, perfect for cottage gardens.

• Daylily – Multiple blooms per stem, super tough.

• Bleeding Heart – Delicate, shade-loving nectar source.

• Catmint & Delphinium – Purple & blue blooms, pollinator favorites.

⸻

🌼 Annuals (Plant each year but major bloomers):

• Cuphea (Firecracker plant) – Red/orange, loves the heat.

• Fuchsia – Hummingbird hanging basket special.

• Torenia (Wishbone Flower) – Snap-dragon style, spring-to-fall nectar.

• Petunia & Zinnia – Bright, reliable, loved by hummers & butterflies.

• Sunflower – Nectar late in the season when other flowers fade.

⸻

🌳 Shrubs & Bushes:

• Rose of Sharon – Late-season nectar source.

• Lantana – Drought-tolerant color bomb.

• Butterfly Bush – Use non-invasive types; still good for hummers.

⸻

Pro Tips:

• Mix bloom times → Spring to Fall coverage = hummingbird heaven.

• Plant in clusters so birds can find the flowers easily.

• Add water sources like misters—hummers love those too.

• Prefer native species when possible (better for local ecosystems).

• Skip invasive plants like Japanese honeysuckle.

#gardenstr #grownostr #wildlife #wildlifepreserve 🤣