Hummingbird Magnets

Jennifer Polanz

Hummingbirds have long been a niche favorite, but with the increasing trend toward attracting pollinators, they’re now having their mainstream moment.

“Attracting pollinators is gathering focus for many gardeners,” said Katie Tamony, chief marketing officer and trend spotter at Monrovia. “We are seeing increased interest in drawing hummingbirds to the garden. I’ve heard it called the next glamour animal—the one they most want to take a photo of, the one that stops them in their tracks when they encounter it in the garden.”

Of course, there are multiple ways to attract these delicate, yet hearty, creatures. A blend of feeders and annuals, perennials and even shrubs that draw hummingbirds gives consumers a great way to attract and enjoy them all summer long. Plants that have vase- or tubular-shaped blooms are the best options, as these accommodate the long bills of hummingbirds, making it easy for them to gather nectar.

These plants can be incorporated in containers, borders and throughout the landscape, providing consumers—and garden retailers—lots of options. If you need some help, Monrovia offers a Hummingbird Garden Landscape Plan at Monrovia.com and you can search their My Plantfinder tool to find more pollinator-friendly plants.

I, too, have been obsessed with attracting hummingbirds to my yard, to the tune of multiple feeders and lots of annual and perennial options to entice them. It’s a quiet joy to hear that buzz, watch them hover and feed, then dash away. GP