Hummingbirds
Hummingbirds are the only birds that can fly backwards. Named for the humming sound that their wings make when they are in flight, they are among the smallest bird species. The females are larger than the male birds. They have an incredibly dense neuron network for their eyes in order to be capable of navigating while flying so fast. Consuming high sugar content nectar is necessary for them since they have the highest metabolism among animals.
I have always been filled with joy anytime I can sit at a window and watch hummingbirds. Seeing them perched and not a flurry of motion in the air, seems like an amazing chance occurrence. It is exciting to see how they can navigate up to a nectar source and hold their head and beak steady and perfectly aimed while their bodies are whirling along. Well, let’s discuss how to make them a welcomed visitor in our yards now…
First, lets talk about the proper flower…
Hummingbirds definitely prefer red. They also like the other colors in the red side of the spectrum: orange, pink, purple. Flowers that are brightly colored (especially ones that are tubular shaped) and have lots of nectar are the proper choice.
While yuccas will attract them, white does not work as well… Focus on plants with the proper flower colors until you have plentiful plants to attract regular visits from hummingbirds and butterflies, then you can add plants with other colors. The bonus is the plants that attract hummingbirds also attract butterflies too.
Next…you want to keep them coming…
In order to establish your home as a great place for hummingbirds to visit, there are other factors to consider as well. You want to have a plentiful supply of the flowers that they like. Then, to be even more attractive, you have flowers consistently blooming throughout the season. Guidance about location choices and bloom timing to help you landscape your yard well are found at the end of this blog after the plant information.
Grow zone map
If you are unsure of the grow zone that is the area where you live…the is the best detailed information I have seen for this. This can help you in your planning…
GROW ZONE USDA GOVT INFO
This hummingbird plant guide layout:
The headings to the plant material sections are color coded to help you find the one you want. I have given priority to live plants since winter is the best time for shipping these dormant plants. Live plants are really best, you don’t have to worry about seed viability and conditions for each plant nearly as much. You can get to a healthy plant opening blooms in your yard faster too.
Variety mix
Vines
Bushes
Trees
Climate perennials
Perennials
Biennials
Annuals
Proper light
Timing of Blooms
Toxic plant discussion
Additional things that can be done to attract hummingbirds and butterflies
Variety mix for both Hummingbirds and Butterfly
HUMMINGBIRD/BUTTERFLY SEED MIX
500 SEEDS, 3.4 OUT OF 5 STARS FOR OVER 200 REVIEWS, ZONES 4 AND UP
Coneflower, Tickseed, Cornflower, Rocket Larkspur, Blanketflower, Indian Blanket, Drummand Phlox, Scarlet Sage, Candytuft, Yellow Cosmos, Sweet William, Cosmos, Wallflower, Lemon Mint, Tuber Vervain, Standing Cypress, Black-eyed Susan, Shasta Daisy, Plain Coreopsis, Butterfly Weed, Sweet Alyssum, Spurred Snapdragon
Shenandoah Wildflower
Seed mix 3.5 ounces, 5 out of 5 for 1 review
Forget-Me-Not, Butterfly, Shooting Star, Lupine, Columbine, Iris, Fireflower, Daisy, Penstemon, Coneflower, Marigold, and Poppy
Bulk Wildflower Seeds Butterfly and Hummingbird mix – ¼ lb bag
30,000 annual and perennial seeds, 3.7 out of 5 stars for over 140 reviews
Butterfly Milkweed, Snapdragon, Cosmos Sensation Mix, Mrs. Scott Elliot Columbine, Aster, Foxglove, Chinese Forget Me Not, Larkspur Giant Imperial Mix, Bird’s Eye, Treemallow, Toadflax, Alyssum Carpet of Snow, Maltese Cross, Four O’Clock, Lemon Mint, Red Corn Poppy, Penstemon, Tobacco Plant, Scarlet Sage, Catchfly, Marigold Crackerjack, Nasturtium Dwarf Jewel Mix, Zinnia
Vines
Trumpet vine (Hummingbird vine)
Campsis radicans
Atomic red, 2 gallon pot, 5 out of 5 stars for 1 review
Flamenco
Pink, 2.5” pot, 4 out of 5 stars for over 30 reviews, Zone 4 to 10
Campsis radicans
Orange, 2 gallon, 4 out of 5 stars for 1 review, Zone 4 to 8
Honeysuckle vine
Rangoon Creeper
Pink and red, 4” pot, 4 out of 5 stars for 4 reviews, Zone 9 to 11
Lonicera Mandarin
Orange, pot plant, 5 out of 5 stars for 1 review, Zone 4 to 9
Clematis
Ernest Markham
Magenta-red, 2.5” pot, Zone 4 to 8, 4 out of 5 stars for 25 reviews
Jolly Good
Light purple, 4.5” pot Quart plant, 4.1 out of 5 stars for 2 reviews, Zone 4 to 9
Pink mink
Pink, 4” pot, 4.4 out of 5 stars for 9 reviews, Zone 4 to 9
Wisteria
Amethyst Falls
Amethyst, 3” Quart pot, 3.6 out of 5 stars for over 125 reviews
Zone 5 to 9
Amethyst Falls
Amethyst, 3″ pot, 3.9 out of 5 stars for over 12 reviews, Zone 5 to 9
Royal purple, 3 year old plant, 3.8 out of 5 stars for 11 reviews Zone 6 to 9
Bushes
Butterfly Bushes (Buddleia) Zone 5 to 9
MISS MOLLY RED
SANGRIA RED 1 QUART, 3.7 OUT OF 5 STARS FOR 11 REVIEWS
NANHO PURPLE
1 GALLON, 5 OUT OF 5 FOR 1 REVIEWS
“BUZZ” PURPLE (SOFT LAVENDER) BUTTERFLY BUSH
3 PLANTS IN 4” POTS, 4.5 OUT OF 5 STARS FOR 2 REVIEWS
BLACK KNIGHT
1 QUART, 4.2 OUT OF 5 STARS FOR 13 REVIEWS
INSPIRED VIOLET
4.5” 1 QUART, 4.1 OUT OF 5 STARS FOR 19 REVIEWS
BLACK KNIGHT BUTTERFLY BUSH (DAVIDII)
3” pot plant, 4.1 OUT OF 5 STARS FOR 11 REVIEWS
MISS MOLLY BUTTERFLY BUSH
DEEP PINK, 4.5” 1 QUART, 3.9 OUT OF 5 STARS WITH 27 REVIEWS
PINK MICRO CHIP DWARF BUTTERFLY BUSH 1 QUART NO RATING
BI-COLOR BUTTERFLY BUSH
PURPLISH PINK AND YELLOWISH ORANGE, 5 OUT OF 5 STARS WITH 2 REVIEWS 2” x 3” POT
Weigela (Weigela)
ZONE 5 TO 8
Pink flowers & variegated leaves
DWARF VARIEGATED WEIGELA
Pink flowers & variegated leaves, 1 QUART, 4.5 OUT OF 5 STARS FOR 5 REVIEWS
VARIEGATED WEIGELA
Pink flowers & variegated leaves, 1 GALLON, 4.4 OUT OF 5 STARS FOR 2 REVIEWS, ZONE 5 TO 9
GHOST
4” POT GOOD TO ZONE 9, 5 OUT OF 5 STARS FOR 3 REVIEWS
Deep pink flowers & burgundy leaves
WINE & ROSES
Deep pink flower & burgandy leaves, 2 GALLON, 5 OUT OF 5 STARS FOR 1 REVIEW, ZONE 4 to 8
FINE WINE
4” POT, 5 OUT OF 5 STARS FOR 2 REVIEWS, GOOD TO ZONE 4
SPILLED WINE
Magenta flowers & burgundy leaves, 4” POT, 4.7 OUT OF 5 STARS FOR 7 REVIEWS
Lipstick red flowers
RED SONIC BLOOM 4” POT, 4.2 OUT OF 5 STARS FOR 9 REVIEWS
Azalea
Hershey red
1 gallon plant, 5 out of 5 stars for 4 reviews
Red Ruffles
1 gallon plant, 5 out of 5 for 1 review
Autumn Fire Encore
true red w dark green leaves, 1 gallon plant, 5 out of 5 stars for 1 review
Autumn Amethyst Encore 3 gallon plant 5 out of 5 stars for 1 review
Fireball Orange
Orange red with bronze red leaves that turn green
1 gallon plant, 4.5 out of 5 stars for 2 reviews
Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus Syriacus)
Purple Pillar
4.5” pot 1 Quart plant, 5 out of 5 stars for 9 reviews
Purple Pillar
4” pot, 5 out of 5 stars for 1 review, Zone 5 to 9
Lavender Chiffon
Lavender, 2.25” pot, 4.3 out of 5 stars for 17 reviews
Dusty Rose
1 gallon, 4.1 out of 5 stars for 7 reviews, Zone 5 to 9
Aphrodite
Pink, 3.5” pot, 3 plants, 4.8 out of 5 stars for 11 reviews, Zone 5 to 8
Hibiscus (Chinese Hibiscus)
Rosa-Sinensis
Double Red, 3 gallon pot, Zone 9a to 11a
Rosa-Sinensis
Double Red, 3 gallon pot, Zone 9a to 11a
Trees
Silk tree (Mimosa) – pink flowers
3 plants, Pink, 3.7 out of 5 stars for over 70 reviews
Not available ID, OR & WA, Zone 6 to 9
Persian Lilac tree (syringe persica)
3 Bare root plant, Zone 4 to 7
1 starter bare root plant, Zone 3 to 7
Climate perennials
These grow like perennials in warm regions annuals in cooler climates. They are cold hardy perennials.
Monarda (Bee balm)
300 SEEDS MIX OF COLORS (INCLUDES RED), 4 OUT OF 5 STARS FOR OVER 80 REVIEWS
4 PACKS, Monarda citriodora, Monarda didyma, Monarda punctata, Monarda fistulosa, 1500 SEEDS, 4.4 OUT OF 5 STARS FOR 7 REVIEWS
Heuchera(Coral Bells)
ZONE 4 TO 8 PREFER PARTIAL SHADE
100 SEEDS, FIREFLY RED, 4.1 OUT OF 5 STARS, ZONE 3 TO 9
PALACE PURPLE
4” POT, 3 PLANTS, 5 OUT OF 5 STARS FOR 1 REVIEW
CARAMEL
4” POT 5 PLANTS, 5 OUT OF 5 STARS FOR 3 REVIEWS
PEACH PARFAIT
1 QUART POT, ZONE 5 TO 9
PURPUREA
1000 seeds, PINKISH-WHITE FLOWERS WITH COPPERY PURPLE LEAVES, 5 OUT OF 5 STARS FOR 1 REVIEW, Zone 4 to 9
SILVER SCROLLS
2 potted plants WHITISH FLOWERS WITH BURGANDY, SILVER, AND BLACK LEAVES Zone 4 to 8
OBSIDIAN
VERY DARK PURPLE LEAVES 4” POT 3 PLANTS, 5 OUT OF 5 STARS WITH 1 REVIEW GOOD TO ZONE 9
Aquilegia Canadensis (Wild Columbine or Canadian Columbine, Sierra Columbine, Fragrant Columbine)
POISONOUS
These are all the best plant choice for the category and come as seeds. They are all unrated yet though…
100 seeds, Red Canadian Columbine, Zones 3 to 8
25 seeds, Hot Red Canadian Columbine, Zones 3 to 9
Siberian Iris
20 seeds, VARIOUS COLORS, 4.7 OUT OF 5 STARS FOR 4 REVIEWS
100 seeds. Mix of Yellow, White, Blue, Purple, 4 OUT OF 5 STARS FOR 1 REVIEW
Nepeta (Catmint)
– this category includes catnip
Nepeta faassenii
1 GALLON, LAVENDER FLOWERS, ZONES 3 TO 8, 4.9 OUT OF 5 STARS FOR 6 REVIEWS NOT CALIFORNIA
OVER 200 SEEDS, lavender flowers, ZONE 3 TO 9, 5 OUT OF 5 STARS FOR 1 REVIEW
Pentas (Pentas)
RED PENTA
unpotted plant is 6” container size, ZONES 9 TO 11, 4.3 OUT OF 5 STARS FOR 2 REVIEWS
Verbena (Verbena)
4000 SEEDS, VIOLET, ZONES 5 TO 9, 4.2 OUT OF 5 STARS FOR 3 REVIEWS
Homestead Purple, 1 gallon, 5 out of 5 stars for 1 review
Perennials
Astilbe
Purple Astilbe
Little Vision In Purple, 1 Quart pot, 5 out of 5 stars for 1 review Zone 4 to 8
Younique Cerise Pink Pink 10,000 seeds 5 out of 5 stars for 1 review Zone 6 to 8
Mix, 100 seeds, violet, red, pink, cream, and white, 4 out of 5 stars for 1 review
Dianthus caryophyllus (Carnation/Clove pink/grenadine)
2000 seeds, various styles and colors, 5 OUT OF 5 STARS FOR 1 REVIEW
13500 seeds, Sweet William, Pink, 4 OUT OF 5 STARS FOR 1 REVIEW
TINY RUBIES
PINK, 1 QUART, 5 OUT OF 5 STARS FOR 3 REVIEWS
5000 SEEDS, FRINGY LOOKING CARNATION, VARIOUS COLORS, 5 OUT OF 5 STARS WITH 2 REVIEWS
5000 SEEDS, CARNATION, VARIOUS COLORS, 5 OUT OF 5 STARS WITH 2 REVIEWS
Hosta (Plantain Lily)
Hosta mix, 6 bare root plants, 3.9 out of 5 stars for over 40 reviews Zone 3 to 8
Elegans (bluish color to leaves, white flowers), Mediovariegata (showy variegated leaves, lavender flowers), August Moon (pale green leaves, pale lavender flowers), and Aureomarginata (green and gold variegated leaves, lavender flowers)
Patriot
1 Quart size bare root plant, variegated leaves, lavender flowers 4 out of 5 stars for 12 reviews, Zone 3 to 9
Empress Wu
Largest of the hosta, pale lavender flowers, 5 out of 5 for 18 reviews Zone 3 to 8
Kniphofia (Red-hot poker or Torch lily)
– Zone 5 to 9
Red and Yellow
Bulbs
2 bulbs, 3.8 out of 5 stars for 18 reviews
Bulb with roots and trimmed back leaves quantity of 1 to 10 possible
Seeds
50 seeds, 5 out of 5 for 3 reviews, Zone 6a to 10b
50 seeds, 5 out of 5 for 1 review
25 seeds, 5 out of 5 stars for 1 review, Zone 4 to 9
Orange
1 year old plant in 3.5”pot, 5 out of 5 stars for 1 review
Gladiolus (Sword lily)
Isabella
Red sensation, 10 bulbs 5 out of 5 stars for 1 review
Purple Passion mix, 5 bulbs, 4 out of 5 stars for 1 review
Dwarf Glamini mix, 10 bulbs, 4 out of 5 stars for 1 review
Olympic Flame
10 bulbs, Apricot-orange and peachy yellow, 5 out of 5 stars for 1 review
Lilium (Lily)
Asiatic lily mix
10 bulbs, orange yellow red and white and pink, 3.7 out of 5 stars for over 55 reviews
Stargazer lily
Lonicera sempervirens (Scarlet Trumpet honeysuckle)
Zone 8B, 9 to 11, Starter plant in 4” pot, Red orange, 3.6 out of 5 stars for 14 reviews
Lupinus (Lupine)
Zone 4 to 8
RED
Approximately 15 seeds, Red, 4.5 out of 5 stars with 5 reviews
MIX
Minarette semi-dwarf seeds, mix of colors, 5 out of 5 stars for 1 review
Tuti fruit seed mix, purple, blue, pink, white and yellow, 4.5 out of 5 stars with 3 reviews
Hemerocallis (Daylily)
Zone 4 to 11
Pardon Me Daylilies
Red, 25 bulbs, 5 out of 5 stars for 3 reviews
Pardon Me Daylilies
Red, 10 bulbs, 3.6 out of 5 stars for 15 reviews
Cranberry Baby daylily
10 bulbs, Very dark rose color, 4.4 out of 5 stars for 24 reviews
Little Business daylily
10 bulbs, rose raspberry, 5 out of 5 stars for 2 reviews
Orange
Wild day lily HEMEROCALLIS FULVA
ORANGE, 25 BULBS, 4.2 OUT OF 5 STARS FOR 16 REVIEWS
BI-COLOR
French Lingerie daylilies
Soft rose-pink to lavender with yellow on the edges and center, 5 bulbs
Penstemon (Beardtongue)
Zone 8 to 10
Scarlet Queen
red, 1000 seeds, 4.3 out of 5 stars for 2 reviews, Zone 8 to 10
Phlox paniculata (Summer phlox)
Cotton candy pink
1 gallon pot, 5 out of 5 stars for 1 review, Zone 3 to 9
Garden Phlox (Phlox paniculata)
Shades of white and purple violet
Over 10 seeds, 4.1 out of 5 stars for 2 reviews, Zone 2 to 9
Robert Poore
Red-purple, 1 Quart pot, 5 out of 5 stars for 1 review
Larkspur (Perennial is Delphinium)
– 300 kinds TOXIC
Rocket mix of colors: blue,pink,purple,white
1,000 seeds, 4.5 out of 5 stars for 2 reviews, Zone 3 to 9
Giant imperial mix
500 seeeds, mix of colors: Vibrant double blue, pink and white flowers
5 out of 5 stars for 1 review
Dwarf Delphinium
400 seeds, 4.1 out of 5 stars for 4 reviews, shades of white, pink, purple, and blue
Sapanaria (Soapwort)
– belongs to the carnation family
Pink, 1000 seeds, 5 out of 5 stars for 1 review
Pink and white
1000 seeds, 5 out of 5 stars for 3 reviews
Purple-pink
100 seeds, 2 promotions for this where you save money on multiple order
Salvia splendens (Scarlet Sage)
Zone 9 to 11
Red, 1 starter plant, Zone 9 to 11
Furman’s red
starter plant, 4 out of 5 stars for 1 review, 3 promotions for discount on multiple order
Saucy wine
starter plant, 4 out of 5 stars for 1 review
Red
500 seeds, 4.8 out of 5 stars for 7 reviews
Scarlet red 5000 seeds 4.4 out of 5 stars for 7 reviews Zone 6 to 9
Pink
Hot Lips, hot pink, 6 plants, 5 out of 5 for 1 review Zone 8 to 10
Hot lips
hot pink, 1 gallon, 5 out of 5 for 1 review
Mix
500 seeds, 3.4 out of 5 stars for over 200 reviews, 80% germination rate
Biennials
Hollyhocks
Zone 3 to 9 bloom in summer
These grow multiple flowers on a long stem and the flowers that are single petal layer are hibiscus-like, the multilayer ones are carnation-like. This is because Hollyhocks are in fact cousins of Hibiscus. They are both members of the Malvaceae family.
Mix
Hollyhock carnival mix, 1000 seeds, 4.2 out of 5 stars for 9 reviews
Pink
Salmon Queen, pink, 30 seeds, 76% germination
Annuals
Cleomes (Spider flowers)
David’s Garden seeds
200 open pollinated seeds
5 out of 5 stars
30 seeds, Hot purple, 4 out of 5 stars for 2 reviews
1 ounce package of seeds, many colors: rose, violet, cherry, white, 5 out of 5 stars for 1 review
25 seeds, Hot pink & white, 4 out of 5 stars for 1 review
Impatiens
Balsam
500 seeds, many colors: salmon, violet, scarlet, rose and white, Zones 3 to 10, 4.4 out of 5 stars for 20 reviews
Balsam
500 seeds, 5 out of 5 stars for 1 review, 2 promotional discounts for multiple item orders, germination rate of 80%
Double camellia balsamina
100 seeds, Shades of pink, red, purple, and white, 4.5 out of 5 stars for 2 reviews
Double Athena Coral pink 100 seeds 5 out of 5 stars for 1 review
Fiesta sparkler cherry
Deep pink and white, 65 seeds, 78% germination rate, 5 out of 5 stars for 1 review
Petunias
Supertunia Bordeaux
4 plants in 4.25” pots, light purple and plum, Zone 10 to 11, 4.6 out of 5 stars for 3 reviews
Dwarf Mixed
2,000 seeds, shades of red, rose, scarlet, salmon, violet and white
5 out of 5 stars for 2 reviews
Heirloom dwarf mix
10,000 seeds, Red, Rose, Scarlet, Salmon, Violet and White
5 out of 5 stars for 1 review
Phlox
Red Drummand
Red, 700 seeds, 4.7 out of 5 stars for 2 reviews
Larkspur (annual is Consolida)
Rocket Larkspur Seeds Giant Mix (Delphinium ajacis) Annual Flowers
New Rocket, Red, blue, purple, yellow, and white, Germination rate of 85% Over 200 seeds
Flag (Iris)
– includes Japanese Iris/Butterfly Iris
Tiger Iris, Red, 10 bulbs, Zone 8 to 10
German Bearded Iris War Chief
Ruby red, bulb (1 to 10), 4 out of 5 stars for 2 reviews, Zone 3 to 8
Fancy mixed bearded Iris
3 Rhizomes, Red, Yellow w red, Blue, 5 out of 5 stars for 2 reviews Zone 4 to 9
ORANGE
Avalon Sunset Bearded Iris
Yellowish Orange, 1 rhizome, 5 out of 5 stars for 1 review, Zone 3 to 8
PURPLE
Dwarf Bearded German Iris
Purple 4” pot plant, 4.5 out of 5 stars for 2 reviews, Zone 3 to 8
Alcazar Bearded Iris
4 rhizomes, Shades of purple, 5 out of 5 stars for 1 review, Zone 3 to 9b
Bicolor – Bronze and violet
20 bulbs, 4.2 out of 5 stars for over 15 reviews, Zone 5 to 10
Dutch Iris Tiger bulb mix
bicolor mix, 10 bulbs, 4.4 out of 5 stars for 2 reviews, Zone 5 to 10
Siberian Iris Mix – Blue, Purple, Yellow, and White
Zone 3 to 9, 20 seeds, 4.7 out of 5 stars for 4 reviews
Over 100 seeds 4 out 5 stars for 1 review
Variation in all 3 flower categories (annual, biennial, perennial)
Scabiosa (Pincushion flower)
Deep red, 30 seeds, 4 out of 5 stars for 2 reviews
Atropurpurea – Imperial mix
50 seeds, shades of pinks, purples, and white, 5 out of 5 stars for 1 review, 85% germination
Atropurpurea – Imperial mix
160 seeds, rose, pink, maroon, white & lavender, 4 out of 5 stars for 1 review
Proper light
These like shade:
Perennials: Hosta, Astilbe, Coral Bells, Bee Balm, Siberian Iris
Annuals: Cleome, Fuschia, Impatiens, Larkspur
These like full sun:
Perennials: Daylily, Verbana, Bee Balm, Hibiscus
Biennial: Hollyhock
Annuals: Petunia
These like full sun or partial shade:
Rose of Sharon, Silk tree (Mimosa), Lupine
Timing of blooms
Spring
Petunias, Iris, Honeysuckle vine (some through to fall), Clematis (April or May and no later than July), Wisteria, (occasionally summer too), Persian Lilac (May), Columbine
End of Spring
Azalea, Weigela, Carnation
Spring and Summer
Butterfly Bush, Siberian Iris, Hibiscus, Gladiolus, Beardtongue
Early Summer
Coral Bells
Summer
Fuschia, Gladiolus, Holly hocks, Torch Lily, Silk tree (Mimosa), Bee Balm, Pentas, Verbena, Hostas (June or August), Larkspur
Late summer
Hibiscus
Summer to Fall
Trumpet vine (Hummingbird vine), Torch lilies, Astilbe, Lupine, Daylily, Scabiosa
Spring to Fall
Catmint, Impatiens, Petunias, Scabiosa
Timing of blooms is specific to the variety
Azalea
I skipped one choice
Foxglove is a plant choice that is not included here. That is because it is very poisonous. You would probably recognize the other name for it… Digitalis. If you really want these flowers, they will also work great for attracting hummingbirds and butterfly. I must warn that even consuming very small doses of this plant is dangerous and has a strong effect on the heart and the ability to breath.
If this plant is consumed by your pets…they are probably smaller than people, and therefore will be effected by consumption of this plant much faster and even more severely than us. As you can see by the information in this blog, there are many of other plant choices with flowers just as, if not prettier, than Foxglove.
The poisonous plant that I have included here…
Larkspur are also toxic. Be aware of this. These include a perennial by the name of Delphinium (around 300 varieties) and an annual by the name of Consolida (around 40 varieties). Like the Foxglove, all parts of the plant are toxic and animals are more vulnerable than people.
For humans this may just be indigestion and skin irritation. You can evaluate the worth of Larkspur to you.
Additional things that can be done to attract hummingbirds and butterflies
Hummingbird feeders
This device dispenses artificial nectar (syrup) to hungry hummingbirds. The mix to put in the feeder should be 1 part sugar to 4 parts water. These are the 2 best seller feeders.
First is 4.2 out of 5 stars for over 1800 reviews.
Second is 4.5 out of 5 stars for over 1300 reviews.
Additional dietary considerations for hummingbird food…
Hummingbirds also like to eat fruit flies. This is an important source of protein for them. If you have a way of leaving fruit out to break down and attract these flies, this is a benefit for these little birds.
Butterfly feeders
For this feeder, you soak a sponge where the butterflies can land and feed. Like the hummingbird artificial nectar, the mix to put in the feeder should be 1 part sugar to 4 parts water. You can also leave them fruit. Some great choices for this are apples, bananas, cantaloupe, grapefruits, kiwi, nectarines, oranges, peaches, strawberries, and watermelon.
Mineral stations
If you have ever seen butterflies feeding on the wet banks of a pond or stream, this device works in the same way. Butterfly puddler stones attract them very well. This decorative device is designed to evaporate the water placed in it in a way that leaves behind the minerals that butterflies are seeking. Much like bees, they will remember the location where they can find what they like and will regularly return.
In conclusion…
If you are serious about attracting both butterflies and hummingbirds, you can work out a fruit sharing system for both of them. You could leave tiny bits of fruit in the butterfly feeder while they are good. The fruit that is not utilized by the butterfly can then be placed in the location you have reserved for the breaking down fruit to attract fruit flies. Some people tack them to trees. If you are in an area where leaving out fruit will cause you trouble, like bear country for instance…don’t do it.
If you live where fruit and sugar water will make you miserable with nuisance animals…and that is the case with every place I have lived…don’t do feeders for the hummingbirds and butterflies. You can stick to the pretty landscaping plants that do the job. These will not cause this aggravation. That is the most natural and I think, the best way, to attract them.