Hi, everybody!
I found this very nice NCSU website while looking for vines to attract Hummingbirds that I thought I would share:
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/factsheets/birds/text/hbird_vines.html
I have started seeds for Cardinal Climber, Spanish Flag Vines, Cypress Vines (using the wintersowing method) and will try a few morning glories, too.
I think the vines are a neat idea for attracting hummingbirds because they don't take up a lot of additional garden space and I can find a tree, woodpile, or birdhouse pole, window box or something to train them up or over. And they're pretty too (if you believe the pictures!)
Let's see...what else will attract hummingbirds? I'm thinking monarda? The salvias? What else? I am particularly interested in plants for the late summer. I'd like to have the HBs around longer in the season...
Thanks. t.
Time to plant your Hummingbird Garden (with vines?) !
T: you've got to plant Lonicera sempervirens, if you haven't already. It darn near blooms year 'round for me, climbing around my porch railing with no care in heavy clay. There was even a single bloom on it earlier this week, when the days were sunny and near 60º (not snowy like today). Bonus are the bright red/orange fruit for birds.
It isn't a pestilence like Lonicera japonica. I've propagated it via cuttings, but have never seen a seedling. I don't know what the regime is for seed germination.
Yes, we have a couple of very nice Lonicera sempervirens. They are well loved by the hummingbirds. We have a little trouble with a mildew on them but they can get by nicely through the season.
tabasco,
A restaurant that is situated at a busy intersection in my community has a trumpet vine that has reached its second story roof the hummer show throughout the season certainly relieves the road rage. Wouldn't it be great if the franchise stores that think they need bigger brighter signs all planted hummer attracting vines. Katy
I had to do some research to know what y'all were talking about...coral honeysuckle? I've got one of these that no matter how I ignore it I can't get rid of it. It's not bothersome but I just can't get it to do anything but sprawl all over the ground. Helpful hints please?!
T, you reminded me that I might have TONS of Cypress vine come up this year. ugh...I had red and white growing on 2 shepherd hooks then across some wire to make an arch. It got so thick and heavy that I had to cut it down 2 times. It reseeds so profusely that I might be so sorry. AND with all that I only had one little hummer last year!!! I had all this vine growing in front of my windows where the feeder hangs and was hoping for my 3 regulars. I was so disappointed that they we so scarce.
I had a Cardinal Climber last year on the same fence with my purple Passionvine. I heard it comes up from seed but not as much as Cypress vine.
I've got 3 new Clematis that I'm waiting to see what they do! I plant white and purple Hyacinth bean vines and blue Morning Glories yearly too. The blue and white is beautiful!
I have to get another Mexican Flame vine this year too! I think that's all the room I have for vines. Except that I am going to try and grow some loufa's this year!
Tabasco: yeah, if I'd read some of your other posts I'd see that you've got quite a collection already. Duh. Aphids are the pest du jour here on our vines, but are just a nuisance level item.
I have propagated from a native local vine in one of our parks, a yellow form Lonicera sempervirens var. flava (or 'Flava'). I'm not sure if it will be as big a draw as the the species red flowered form, but it'll add to the mix. I plan to try to make more of it...
I also have Bignonia capreolata in the porch vine mix, though I don't have firsthand knowledge of whether it's just pretty or actually plays a part with HBs or BFs.
It's orange, and often reblooms in the fall here. This is July status...
Tabasco,
I neglected to mention earlier that I have a Harlequin Glorybower trained as a standard that is a late season (mid Aug-Sept ) hummer magnet. I am nearly certain it is hardy to zone 6 but you might want to double check. Katy
I'll be checking back to see how your Spanish Flag does. Mine last year grew beautifully until some sort of pest or virus hit the new growth, making it curl tight and become dry and crumbly. My flower buds turned to bacon bits and I didn't see a bloom until late October, which is way too late here.
Good information, dawnsharon, I will report later in the summer!
I always think of Massachusetts as colder than zone 7a-- more like 5a, but I guess not, runktrun, ...
I hope I can get a glory flower going...
Bought a few trellises at 'Big Lots' yesterday in anticipation of my vine crop!
Now I am going to try to figure out which vines can grow in combination with each other I have a thread going on 'vines and climbers' http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/572849/
I had very aggresive red cypress vine. It reseeds readily and comes up in places like cracks of sidewalk, understepping stones, even in the thick lawn grass. I planted one near my shed and it grew up over the top of the shed and part of it even grew thru the window screen.
I did see hummers on the vine, but the yellow butterflies were prevelant. I pulled up all of the new shoots that I found last year. It is a pretty vine, if it can be kept under control.
Tobasco, Last fall, I planted cape honeysuckle. This spring I ordered in my Spring shipment, an L. Sempervirens 'Sulphurea(sp?)' I understand from a local landscaper that the Sulphurea are less invasive than the Cape Honeysuckle and attract many more hummingbirds. The Cape Honeysuckle I planted last year is growing very slowly. I guess it will do most of its growth in the spring.
Thanks,
Chuck
CBernard-- Is this one from High Country similar to your honeysuckle?
http://www.highcountrygardens.com/66325.html
I have the 'coral/yellow' version of it, I think, which the HBs like, but I have been having a little trouble with mildew and will try to move it to spot with better air circulation this spring. I haven't noticed whether the BFs like it or not.
purplepetunia-- in your climate I suppose the red cypress can really get going... I have a 'wild' area on our property that might be a good spot to try it...I'd like to see what butterflies like it although it looks like it's awfully invasive and I may be very sorry! It sounds like konkreteblond has had a bad experience with it, at least.
runktrun-- I am intrigued by the idea of growing a vine/tree such as the harlequin glorybower http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ST171 trained as standard and perhaps in a big pot. I believe we are just within the hardiness range for it.
I also purchased some frames for vines at Big Lots this week and I am looking forward to trying this idea out. I noticed on TomTom's threads she had some success with vines as standards, and her results were amazing.
Tabasco,
Between HighCountry Gardens, Parkview Nursery in Riverside, Las Pilitas Nursery in Escondido and Seedsavers Exchange, I get most of my plants. I don't use Seedsavers Exchange that much except for their sunflower seeds. As a matter of fact, I am waiting for the 13th of March when High Country Gardens are sending me 35 plants. I ordered them last Christmas and I am waiting eagerly for them. Most of them are for butterfly nectar plants. S I won't get to go to Las Pilitas Nursery for native butterfly hosts again until April. Parkview Nursery has the best passiflora vines that I have found here in Riverside County. They also provide reliable zinnias and allyssum. This summer and fall should be beautiful in my garden, I hope. I think that this is the gardeners greatest tool...the future of the garden. If you can suggest any other nurseries that I have overlooked, please let me know.
Thanks,
Chuck
Oh, no, I can't really advise you of any nurseries--you are probably in the 'garden spot' of nurseries out there in Riverside County. Until 2 years ago we lived in Pasadena CA and loved visiting all the great places from there out to Indian Wells. Used to go to the Plant Sales at the Zoo in Palm Desert-- lots of butterfly plants there and lots of fun, too. Also would drive down to Fallbrook (to see my sis) and visit all the growers there.
Good luck with your delivery from High Country. Sounds very Exciting!
I am trying to grow my alyssum from seed this year. We'll see. I'm on a kick to save my gardening dollars...
I have lived in California (mostly San Fernando Valley) since I was two. I served two years in the US Army during Vietnam. Otherwise, I have lived in California (born in the Ozarks).
I just started gardening in Spring '04. I only have three of the plants that I bought for my butterfly/hummer garden that I started with. A hardy butterfly bush that still lives despite all my mistakes, a French Lavender that is blooming at this time and a pretty Spanish Lavender. The rest are fairly new plants.
My mother-in-law who lived with us for the last thirteen years of her life insisted on doing all the gardening. For the past two and a half years since she passed away, I have been doing the gardening. At first I thought that I would just pick something easy and low maintenance. Then I really got into it. I joined all kinds of online gardening groups. The only one that I kept is Dave's Garden.
I still have a lot of work left on the sides and front of the house.
The nurseries that I have visited have all been fine. I guess I just forgot to count my blessings...
About the High Country order, I have already decided where each plant will be planted. I make detailed notes and then study them to see if I could plant it differently. It is like my daughter in Utah: when I visit her, the only thing she wants me to bring are five California lotto tickets. She will take those and tack them on the refrigerator. Then for three weeks, she and her husband will fantasize what they will buy when they win. Then (at least so far) they won't win anything when she checks. They call it their five dollar fantasy. Anyway, it is like this with my gardening but I sometimes hit the jackpot!!!
Take care,
Chuck
When is the last time that you were in California? If you come again to visit your sister, please stop at our house. I would love to show you my gardens (after the delivery next week...LOL).
Take care,
Chuck
We visit California quite often. My DH is there now for a week on business. My daughter lives in San Francisco.
Thanks for your invitation. When we get down your way I will give you a call. (Don't be surprised if I show up!)
My sister is a professional photographer and is doing a book on California wildflowers and so I love to visit and explore that area with her.
Tabasco,
I would like it very much if you showed up. Maybe I could get some tips from your sister in photography. For me, it has been a long, uphill learning task. I want to take beautiful photos like some of the experts but so far I know that I have a lot to learn.
Let me know if possible a little ahead of your visit.
Take care,
Chuck
Dear Tabasco,
I forgot to mention that my oldest son lives in San Francisco with his wife. It is really neat to see what a small world this is. I was just joking about taking your sister's time by getting photo tips.
Thanks,
Chuck
Tobasco... What are frames?Don't mean to sound dumb here just don't know what they are...TIA...
Loretta...
Tobasco-Alyssum is the first thing I ever found that was EXCEEDINGLING easy. At the end of the year I pull my alyssum up and shake it above where I want it next year. The only prob I ever had was it will come back only as white flowers unless I fertilize......I bought alyssum 1 year have not bought since
Cardinal flower and the old timey sickly sweet petunia really draw hummers.
mmm.....demstratt-- I don't see what 'frames' you are talking about...I don't mean to seem dumb, either! LOL
Somehow I don't think of alyssum as a hummingbird plant..., oh, but perhaps for the butterflies, right? I hadn't thought of 'shaking it out' for reseeding, either, which sounds like a brilliant idea. I am trying to 'wintersow' it now.
I am antsy for spring to come here--the first hummingbird sighting in our area last year was April 7 or there abouts, so it won't be long now. I have my biggest planter already planted with bright flowers (and red ribbons) to try to attract 'fly bys' to stop and nest here, so I am hoping for a really big year for HBs. Monarchs, too.
It's March 1st you bought at biglots..I thought maybe it was something for the garden to hold plants up..Now I'm thinking you were talking about picture frames..
Loretta..
Oh, let's see... I bought trellises and topiary frames and that sort of thing for my vines. They had some really cheap iron pieces in the close-out bargain bins.
You are too funny remembering my shopping lists!
When I get them set up, I will get some pics!
I was looking for some frames to attach two trellises together..I found what I needed today so no need for you to post pictures of yours..I bought grate looking things so now my problem is solved,I think..Now to figure how to attach them is my next project...
Loretta...