Hummingbirds are delightful creatures known for their iridescent plumage and graceful flight. By planting flowering trees in your yard and garden, you can create a welcoming habitat that attracts these tiny marvels of nature. Let’s explore eight flowering trees that will not only beautify your outdoor space but also entice hummingbirds to visit.
Flowering Trees and Hummingbirds
Flowering trees serve as beacons of beauty in any landscape, but they also play a crucial role in supporting local ecosystems by providing food and habitat for wildlife. Among the most captivating visitors attracted to flowering trees are hummingbirds, whose slender bills and rapid wingbeats make them expert pollinators and a joy to behold.
Red Buckeye (Aesculus pavia)
Description: The red buckeye tree is characterized by its bold red flowers that bloom in spring, creating a stunning spectacle in the garden.
Characteristics of its flowers: The flowers of the red buckeye are tubular in shape, making them perfectly suited for hummingbird feeding. Their vibrant color and abundant nectar make them irresistible to these tiny avian visitors.
Attractiveness to hummingbirds: Hummingbirds are drawn to the red buckeye’s nectar-rich blooms, which provide them with a valuable source of energy during their migrations.
Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis)
Description: The Eastern redbud tree is renowned for its delicate pink or purple flowers that emerge in early spring, often before the leaves appear.
Appearance of its flowers: The flowers of the Eastern redbud are small and clustered along the branches, creating a profusion of color that is highly attractive to hummingbirds.
Role in hummingbird attraction: As one of the earliest blooming trees in spring, the Eastern redbud provides essential sustenance for hummingbirds as they begin their annual migration northward.
Mimosa Tree (Albizia julibrissin)
Description: The mimosa tree, also known as the silk tree, boasts fluffy pink flowers that emit a sweet fragrance, attracting not only hummingbirds but also bees and butterflies.
Features of its flowers: The flowers of the mimosa tree are delicate and feathery, resembling clusters of pink powder puffs. Their sweet scent and abundant nectar make them a magnet for hummingbirds seeking sustenance.
Hummingbird appeal: Hummingbirds are drawn to the mimosa tree’s flowers for their high sugar content and easy accessibility, making them an important food source during the spring and summer months.
Trumpet Vine (Campsis radicans)
Description: The trumpet vine is a fast-growing woody vine that produces trumpet-shaped flowers in shades of orange, red, or yellow.
Characteristics of its flowers: The trumpet-shaped blooms of the trumpet vine are ideally suited for hummingbirds, offering ample nectar and a convenient landing pad for feeding.
Hummingbird attraction: The trumpet vine’s vibrant flowers and copious nectar production make it a favorite among hummingbirds, who eagerly visit these blossoms throughout the summer and into fall.
Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida)
Description: The flowering dogwood is a beloved native tree prized for its showy white or pink blooms that herald the arrival of spring.
Appearance of its blooms: The flowers of the flowering dogwood are characterized by their four petal-like bracts surrounding a cluster of tiny yellow flowers. This unique structure provides ample nectar for hummingbirds while creating visual interest in the garden.
Relationship with hummingbirds: Hummingbirds are frequent visitors to flowering dogwood trees, where they can be observed sipping nectar from the delicate blooms with their specialized bills.
Japanese Snowbell (Styrax japonicus)
Description: The Japanese snowbell is a small deciduous tree known for its graceful form and fragrant bell-shaped flowers that dangle from the branches in spring.
Features of its flowers: The bell-shaped flowers of the Japanese snowbell exude a sweet fragrance that attracts hummingbirds from afar. Their delicate appearance and pastel hues make them a charming addition to any garden.
Hummingbird allure: Hummingbirds are drawn to the Japanese snowbell’s flowers for their rich nectar content and enticing fragrance, making this tree a popular choice for hummingbird enthusiasts.
Bottlebrush Tree (Callistemon spp.)
Bottlebrush Trees are named for their distinctive, bottlebrush-shaped flower spikes that come in vibrant shades of red, pink, or purple. These flowers are rich in nectar, making them a favorite among hummingbirds.
Care Tips: Bottlebrush Trees thrive in full sun and well-drained soil. They are relatively drought-tolerant and can grow to about 10 to 15 feet tall, though some varieties can get larger.
