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Post by backyarder1 on May 15, 2009 17:05:56 GMT -5
Some of the most favored hummingbird plants in our yard are: firebush cigar plant shrimp plant scarlet sage salmon porterweed honeysuckle
I'm still trying to get some trumpet vine growing but so far, no luck.
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Post by Steve Backes on May 16, 2009 11:22:29 GMT -5
I'm in Valrico (Tampa area) and I've got many plants used by the hummingbirds. I did the research and set out to own one of every hummingbird plant that I could fiind. Along the way I learned how easy it is to kill fuchsia, columbine, bee balm, coral bells, penstamon, and cardinal flower just to name a few.
I still try an occasional new plant but I've come to realize that it's not necessarily the assortment but the quality and quantity of the plants that you have. You can fill a good hummingibrd garden from most nurseries. That said, I still have to have the latest plants discussed in the various forums and lists.
I'm currently on a Cuphea kick having received cuttings and seeds for Cuphea schumannii, Schumann's cuphea, over the winter. I then found a Cuphea llava like my original Bat-faced Cuphea and I've added a number of other llava varieties lately along with a Candy Corn plant.
The list of best hummer plants from my yard would include: Chinese Hat pink Porterweed Firespike (red and purple x2 varieties) Russelia equisitiformis and sarmentosa Various salvia species and cultivar Shrimp plants Firebush (hamelia patens) Flowering Maple (abutilon pictum) an upright blooming bottle brush tree Turks Cap powderpuff - large and dwarf red cannas heliconia coral bean tree
and others that I'm either forgetting or that may get minimal occasional use (and at least one that seems too invasive to recommend).
Steve
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Post by MICHELE on May 20, 2009 11:00:05 GMT -5
I LIVE IN FLAGER COUNTY (BUNNELL) FL.. I HAVE ONE SMALL BOTTLE BRUSH TREE AND A CUPLE OF FEEDERS JUST SUGER AND WATER I MAKE SURE THAY ARE CLEAN. ANY WAY I SEE MY HUMMING BIRDS ALL DAY. NOW IT IS RAININNG AND THAY ARE PURCHING ON MY HANGING BASCIT. AND USEING THE FEEDERS THIS GOES ON ALL DAY.I SEE RUB RED AND DARK GREEN AND A DARKER ON TOO...
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Post by marilynh on Jun 30, 2009 16:02:58 GMT -5
I went over to plant list that is suppose to attract hummers and one of the plants listed is a Jatropha. I have never seen any hummers go near this plant.
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gardengirl
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Where's the baby Romaine?
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Post by gardengirl on Jul 4, 2009 8:40:40 GMT -5
I purchased a Jatropha because I saw it on the Hummingbird list too and I NEVER saw a hummingbird on it! It froze to the ground this winter, but it's coming back now. It's an attractive plant but hummingbird material These do the best for my yard: - Dwarf Firebush
- Coral Honeysuckle Vine
- Porterweed (any color)
- Fruit Cocktail Shrimp Plant
- Firespike
- Scarlet Sage
- Lion's Tail (red variety)
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Post by Steve Backes on Jul 4, 2009 12:09:40 GMT -5
I've seen Jatropha listed as a hummingbird plant by numerous sources but have never had one in my yard. I've known people who swear by them for attracting hummingbirds. A neighbor has some and I believe I've seen hummingbirds feeding on them in the past, although I would not consider them "preferred" flowers. It's possible that they are not preferred flowers but if there aren't many other flowers around they will get regular use. They are red tubular flowers. It may also be that it depends on the individual bird or possibly the landscaping nearby.
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gardengirl
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Where's the baby Romaine?
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Post by gardengirl on Jul 25, 2009 7:28:37 GMT -5
I saw two RTH fighting the other day over a coral honeysuckle vine. I have plants all over my yard for them but they seem to be attracted most to that particular vine that's planted on a pergola, so it's tall. Do you think I should plant another vine on something tall on the other side of the house for them? I have one growing on a picket fence but I haven't seen any on it I just hate to see them fight...
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Post by cheripierce on Aug 15, 2009 16:22:55 GMT -5
I can't grow Jatropha here, it freezes in the winter and doesn't come back, however, someone gave me a cutting from their White Jatropha and I potted it up. It is growing very quickly and is about to bloom. The butterflies love it (at least they did in my friends garden) but I wondered if anyone knew if hummingbirds would use it. So far this one is still in a pot and too small to attract any hummingbirds. My batfaced cuphea is not attracting the hummers either. How big is your batfaced cuphea Steve? Mine is in a large pot and I'm thinking maybe it is too low to be attractive to the hummers.
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Post by Steve Backes on Aug 15, 2009 17:36:44 GMT -5
Hi Cheri,
I don't know much about jatropas other than they are considered "hummingbird plants". I would assume that if the white flower is basically the same size and shape as the red one, they could be used by hummingbirds. It may depend on what other flowers are around.
The "Bat-faced Cupheas", Cuphea llava, are not necessarily "good" hummingbird plants. It also may depend on the variety that you have. I've received a number of reports of disappointment with this flower but at the same time, I've received some pictures of them feeding at a couple of the fancy varieties that were being sold a while back. I believe they've sold as Cuphea llava Twinkle Pink and Ballistic.
I've heard discussion regarding the bat-faced Cuphea and the possibility of the flower being too narrow or the opening being blocked somehow preventing access to the nectar. There may also have been some concern with the height of the plant.
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Post by andrew22 on Sept 7, 2009 12:18:51 GMT -5
I have the Jatropha integerrima and I have seen my hummer use it every now and then. Its not a favorite, but thats ok! I love the plant. It blooms 24/7 and the butterflies seem to like it! ;D
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Post by hikinghughes on Apr 8, 2010 21:05:52 GMT -5
Some of the favorites in our yard are:
-coral honeysuckle -firebush (I've got some sort of native variety my neighbor pulled out of the woods many years ago and a dwarf) -red salvia -cigar plant -red fire spikes -black and blue salvia -mistic blue spires salvia
I just got a lion's tail about a month ago and I'm waiting for it to start blooming so I'll let you know how that works out.
I was talked into an expensive cross vine early last spring by a local nursey and it grew great until the end of the summer. It bloomed quite nicely but I rarely saw hummers stop at it. They would fly over and around it each time traveling between my coral honeysuckle and firebush but would rarely stop. At the end of the summer it died from root rot due to the heavy rains we had that saturated the ground for about a week straight. Fortunately I had a couple of clippings started and my nieghbor and I are going to try again this year.
We also have a bottlebush (a non-weaping type?) but it is in a poor spot right now shaded by our oak tree and doesn't bloom much so I'm not sure how much the hummingbirds like it.
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Post by lpsweitzer on May 31, 2010 19:09:59 GMT -5
I have a newly planted cape honeysuckle. Do they attract well?
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Post by Steve Backes on Jun 2, 2010 6:47:20 GMT -5
Cape Honeysuckle (Tecoma capensis) can be an excellent hummingbird attractor. My complaint with this plant is that, if allowed, it will spread. It sends runners along the ground that send shoots up producing new plants everywhere.
Steve
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cory
New Member
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Post by cory on Jul 4, 2011 17:20:29 GMT -5
I have seen humming birds on my Jatropha tree. The flowers are red. I love the tree... flowers 24/7 52 weeks per year! I have heard that humming birds are attracted to red, deep pink and purple flowers and love the trumpet shape as well. I have had a feeder up for 4 days... no hummers yet. Maybe this is due to migration? I am in south FL. I am going shopping for hummer-friendly flowers next week.
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lynne
New Member
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Post by lynne on Jul 4, 2011 21:23:53 GMT -5
CORY, I LIVE IN SOUTH FL AS WELL, IN JUPITER. I'M PRETTY NEW RE HUMMING BIRDS. JAN OF THIS YEAR WAS MY FIRST EXPERIENCE IN HAVING HUMMERS STAY FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME. 2 SHOWED UP IN JAN. FEEDING ON MY CAPE HONEYSUCKLE TREE WHEN IT WAS IN FULL BLOOM. THEY MAY HAVE BEEN AROUND EARLIER BUT I DIDN'T NOTICE. I PUT UP NECTAR FEEDERS AT THAT TIME BUT THEY WERE IGNORED. WHEN THE ORCHID TREE STARTED BLOOMING I HAD ONE STAY FOR 2 MONTHS FEEDING ON IT. THIS YEAR I THINK I WILL START PUTTING OUT NECTAR IN NOV IN HOPES OF SEEING SOME EARLY. WINTER IS WHEN WE SEEM TO GET THE HUMMERS AND THEY ARE GONE IN APRIL OR MAY. WHAT PART OF S FL ARE YOU IN? GET YOUR PLANTS STARTED NOW SO THEY MAY BE BLOOMING THIS WINTER AND GOOD LUCK ATTRACTING THE HUMMERS. THEY ARE SO MUCH FUN TO WATCH. LYNNE
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Post by klflorida on Sept 5, 2011 9:45:18 GMT -5
Uh oh, I just posted about Bat Face Cuphea being available before I read this post. I purchased two of the plants for my hummingbird/butterfly garden so I hope to have something positive to report back.
I apologize if I lead anyone astray.
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Post by mslabmgr on Sept 29, 2011 11:03:06 GMT -5
I have quite a bit of bamboo in my yard and the hummers like to "hide" in it. They can keep an eye on the nearby feeder and fly out of the bamboo to chase away the interloper. Very entertaining!
Must popular with my hummers: Fire Bush, Yellow Shrimp plant; Honeysuckle; Orange/Red Lantana (in pots, up on tables); and Plumbago (surprised me, but they love it!).
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Post by cunzun on Oct 26, 2012 21:47:06 GMT -5
i just got a Turk's cap hibiscus plant how well do they like this plant steve?
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d
New Member
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Post by d on Oct 27, 2012 5:18:20 GMT -5
Yes they like Turks Cap. Watch this video
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Post by Steve Backes on Oct 27, 2012 7:14:08 GMT -5
Cunzun, Yes, they do. A few years ago while participating in a Christmas Bird Count when we came upon an old yard with an abandoned home. The yard was overgrown including large patches of ten foot Turks Caps. I said if we're ever going to find a hummingbird, it will be here. We played a few chips of a Ruby-throated on an iPad and one immediately flew up. We eventually found a second bird in the yard.
d, I like that your video shows how some birds wind up with a yellow stripe on their head.
Steve
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Post by moboston on Oct 27, 2012 15:05:03 GMT -5
I bought a Jacobina and an Iopena(SP?) today, bth were recommended as hummer plants. I had heard of the Jacobina but not the other. It has long tubular purple flowers. Anyone know about these?
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Post by cunzun on Oct 28, 2012 19:01:27 GMT -5
great video, i'm glad they do i just planted it next to my powder puff and this morning the female rt was all over it
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Post by lilyopath on Oct 28, 2012 21:21:50 GMT -5
Moboston, please post a picture of the "iopena" with the long tubular purple flowers.
Shirley
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Post by moboston on Oct 28, 2012 21:39:53 GMT -5
Shirley - I will get a picture of it tomorrow. I'm not sure what it is - I couldn't read the man's writing on the stick he had in the pot and haven't been able to find it online.
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Post by lilyopath on Oct 28, 2012 21:51:20 GMT -5
Also, take a picture of the writing on the stick. Maybe together we can figure it out.
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Post by lilyopath on Oct 28, 2012 21:52:49 GMT -5
Did you get the purple blooming flower from the same man who sold you the jacobina?
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Post by moboston on Oct 29, 2012 13:29:12 GMT -5
Shirley - I took a picture but can't figure how to put it here. We used to just have a browse button and it was easy to do. I have tried to copy and paste it here but it won't show up.
However, I did google "long tubular purple flowers in clusters and found it. It is an Iochroma. It is in the Nightshade family, along with Brugmansia. Not sure of the exact variety I have but it is deep purple.
I will try to post a picture on my photobucket account. That is mboston_2009. Maybe someone here will let me know how to download pics here. I have one of my immature male I would like to post, too.
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Post by Joe M on Oct 29, 2012 13:41:29 GMT -5
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IochromaMight be an interesting plant and a hummer favorite (time will tell). I would be like to give it a try, looks like a typical tubular Hummer flower!! Joe M. Lakeland
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Post by Steve Backes on Oct 29, 2012 18:36:39 GMT -5
moboston, when you reply to a message, the second row "Attachment" (4 rows above where you type your response) has a box with the browse button to the right. The browse button will let you browse your computer for as photo to attach. Unfortunately, you can't Preview your message after attaching a photo. Previewing will remove the attachment.
Steve
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Post by moboston on Oct 29, 2012 20:12:55 GMT -5
That is the problem - I don't have the "Attachment" (browse) possibility now. Instead, I have "Add tags" with 28 icons for makng print bold, and there is one for "Insert picture' and it puts "img" in brackets in the message box but it won't let me copy a picture over from my desktop or picture library. I have not seen this before, I always had the option of "Attachment" before and have used it successfully.
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