Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) or Canadian columbine, a perennial favorite of mine and Ruby Throated hummingbirds because it is one of the first flowers of the spring season. The tubular shaped flowers are those preferred, but not exclusively, of hummers. The relative, Colorado Columbine, is blue in color and provides a nice contrast to the local native.
Commercially available are seed packets that offer a spectrum of color of these easily grown and long lasting plants.
Hummingbird gardens are popular and after an amount of time supplying nectar to the avian species, you may have an imposter showing up to your yard. Whereas east of the Rocky Mountains, there is only one species of hummingbird in Missouri, the Ruby Throated Hummingbird, there are over 50 species in the Lepidotera family refered to as Hummingbird Moths. Although smaller in size than the Ruby Throated, they mimic them quite well.
Pictured:Hummingbird Clearwing - Missouri Department of Conservation photo - Noppadol Paothong
Below is a brief list of “Hummingbird” plants and corresponding bloom times I have seen hummers feeding on plants in my yard..
April/ May
Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis
Eastern Redbud tree (Cercis canadensis)
Rose Verbena (Glandularia canadensis)
Sand Phlox (Phlox bifida)
Purple Poppy Mallow -(Callirhoe involucrate)
Bee balm, or Wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)
June/July
Blue False Indigo (Baptisia australis)
Missouri evening primrose (Oenothera macrocarpa)
Foxglove beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis)
Copper Iris (Iris fulva)
Butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa)
Bottlebrush Blazing star (Liatris mucronata) basically any of the Liatris species
August/September
Indian Pink (Spigelia marilandica)
Rock Pink (Phemeranthus calycinus)
Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)
Rose mallow (Hibiscus lasiocarpos)
Texas Green Eyes (Berlandiera betonicifolia)
New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) and several other in the Aster family
Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) and several others in the Echinacea or coneflower family
