Tips for a Hummingbird Habitat

Plant in blocks of color!

Hummingbird at pride of Barbados.

Tips for creating an inviting hummingbird habitat:

  • Maintain clean, consistent food and water sources.
  • Water in bird baths must be shallow; average bird baths are too deep for hummingbirds, and moving water is much more attractive to them.
  • Stagger bloom times to supply a constant nectar source.
  • Plant a variety of nectar plants at different heights
  • Plant in blocks of color. Red is known to be particularly attractive to hummingbirds, but they love any tubular shaped flower.
  • Mature trees provide shelter and perching areas, and shrubs give cover and secluded nesting sites
  • Hummingbirds eat insects as well as drinking nectar so providing habitat with a diversity of insects will give them more food
Standing Cypress - Ipomopsis rubra
Firebush - Hamelia patens
Coral Honeysuckle - Lonicera sempervirens

Trees

Anacacho Orchid Tree
Desert Willow
Yellow Bird of Paradise

Vines

Coral Honeysuckle
Cross Vine
Cypress Vine
Morning Glory

Shrubs

Barbados Cherry
Bottle Brush
Coral Berry
Abelia
Hibiscus
Caryopteris

Perennials/Annuals

Autumn Sage
Bee Balm
Butterfly Bush (Buddleia)
Cigar Plant
Coral Bean
Firebush
Firecracker Fern
Flame Acanthus
Mexican Oregano
Pentas
Pineapple Sage
Red Yucca
Standing Cypress
Tropical Sage

Hummingbird Nectar Recipe

1 part sugar: 4 parts water

Bring water to boil, stir in sugar, and maintain boil for 2-3 minutes to help delay fermentation.
Allow to cool.

Store remainder in refrigerator for up to 7 days.  Nectar must be discarded if it becomes cloudy or visible fungal growth is present.  Please note:  white cane sugar and filtered water are the only ingredients that should be used.  Preservatives and food coloring are not necessary and can be toxic to hummingbirds!  Clean feeders with soap and hot water and rinse thoroughly every 2-3 days.