Hummingbird Gardens

Hummingbirds are brightly colored birds that are always a wonder to see, and it's easy to attract them to your garden.

In Florida, we see three different types of hummingbirds, but the most common is the ruby-throated. This feathered jewel is only about three inches long and weighs as little as a penny!

To attract hummingbirds to your garden, choose plants with brightly colored or tubular flowers, like hibiscus or the native coral honeysuckle. Hummingbirds prefer red, orange, and pink flowers, and use their long tongues to sip the nectar found within.

Hummingbirds nest spring through summer and need a lot of nectar during that time, so make sure you have numerous nectar plants available. You can also help meet their needs with a hummingbird feeder.

UF/IFAS Sites

• School Gardens: Hummingbird Garden School Project

UF/IFAS Publications

• Attracting Hummingbirds (PDF)
• Hummingbird Plants and Trees
• Scarlet Hibiscus Attracts Hummingbirds to the Garden (PDF)
• Unique Hummingbird Plants (PDF)

Also on Gardening in a Minute

• Birdwatching Basics
• Bottlebrush
• Cigar Flower
• Columbine
• Coral Bean
• Coral Honeysuckle
• Firebush
• Firecracker Plant
• Firespike
• Garden Projects for Kids
• Gardening for Birds
• Hummingbirds
• Landscaping for Wildlife
• Red Buckeye
• Scarlet Salvia
• Shrimp Plant
• Soap Aloe
• Swamp Mallow
• Turk's Cap

Other Sites

• Attracting Hummingbirds to the Garden--Biosphere Nursery (FL) (PDF)
• Fall Brings Hummingbird Enjoyment for Northwest Florida--Walton Outdoors
• A Haven for Hummingbirds--Clemson (SC) Cooperative Extension
• Hummingbirds Love Coral Bean Flowers--Amelia Island (FL) Living
• Plants for Attracting Hummingbirds--Texas Cooperative Extension, Bexar County
• Put Out Welcome Mat for Springtime Hummingbirds--eXtension.org
• Top 10 Hummingbird Plants--Riverview Flower Farm (FL)
• Video: How to Naturally Attract and Feed Hummingbirds to Your Backyard Garden--Kissimmee Valley (FL) Audubon Society on YouTube