...Hummingbirds
by Lori Hubbart

Tiny, gem-like hummingbirds are fast, flashy, ferocious and fascinating.  Much of the information on hummingbird gardening comes from the eastern U.S. or hot, arid regions of the west, where conditions and hummingbird species are different from ours.

Coastal Northern California's three hummingbird species are the larger Anna's (Calypte anna), a year-round resident, the smaller Allen's (Selasphorus sasin), and rufous (Selasphorus rufus), which are migratory.

With a little effort, your coastal garden can provide our hummers with their three major needs:  Nectar year-round, small insects, and nesting material.

That sounds simple enough, but of course there are caveats and qualifiers.  For example, all nectars are not created equal.  Some plants produce ideal hummingbird nectars, while others may produce nectars that lack the proper sugar balance, or are too thick.  The safest plants are those that originated in the New World, to which all hummingbirds are native.

That said, here is an annotated list, by no means comprehensive, of hummingbird nectar plants that should be growable in our coastal region.  The * symbol marks the California native plants.

Trees and Large Shrubs

Arbutus menziesii* - madrone - a large and lovely bronze-barked tree - fall berries feed many birds.
Arctostaphylos species* - manzanita - many types - local species include hairy manzanita,
A. columbiana, and coin-leaf manzanita, A. nummularia.  Manzanitas are an essential winter nectar source!
Lonicera involucrata* - twinberry - a shrubby honeysuckle that gets quite large and likes regular water.

Smaller Shrubs and Perennials

Arbtilon species - flowering maple - actually a Hibiscus relative, some can be rangy in growth habit.
Agastache species - agastache - the Southwest natives have flowers in warm shades, and may do best up on the ridges.  Definitely worth trying.
Anigozanthos species - kangaroo paw - a grasslike plant from Australia, with fuzzy flowers in red and yellow.
Aquilegia Formosa* - western columbine - One of the best woodland perennials for the coast, it has nodding, spurred flowers of orange-red, tipped with yellow.
Calluna species - Heathers - low-growing, European plants - there are late summer and winter blooming varieties of heaths and heathers.
Correa relexa, C. harrisii - Australian fuchsia - this citrus relative flowers all through the winter.
Delphinium species - scarlet larkspur - D. nudicaule, is a local native, but hard to grow in a garden and possibly better in containers.  D. cardinale comes from farther south, is larger, and easier to grow.
Epilobium canum* - hummingbird fuchsia or Zauschneria - flaming red-orange flowers in late summer and early fall.
Erica species - Heaths - the South African species are colorful, but not always frost-hardy.
Fuchsia - fuchsia species - the single-flowered kinds are best for hummers.
Galvezia speciosa* - island snapdragon - a bush with miniature, rose-red snapdragon flowers.
Grevillea species - grevillea - Australian shrubs, the best of which (for hummers) have long, tubular flowers of red, orange or yellow.
Heuchera species* (some) - coral bells - the red Heuchera sanguinea is from the Southwest and needs sun.  Pink-to-red hybrids and several pale-flowered California species will take part shade.
Iochroma species - iochromas are tall, rangy shrubs in the nightshade family.  Flowers are long, tubular, in shades of purple, red or orange.
Lavatera assurgentiflora* - tree mallow - This Hibiscus relative is very fast-growing, with magenta flowers.
Lobelia cardinalis* - scarlet lobelia - Native to streamside in Southern California among other places; it needs water.
Mimulus cardinalis* - scarlet monkeyflower - more orange than scarlet; it needs lots of water.
Penstemon and Keckiella species - beard-tongue - many species, with tubular flowers in blue, pink, purple, red, yellow or white.  Some will grow in the coast.  Larger garden hybrids need more water.
Ribes sanguineum* - pink flowering currant - dangling clusters of bright pink flowers in early spring.
Salvia species (some) - Sages - many species, of varying sizes and blooming periods.  A splendid reference is A Book of Salvias - Sages For Every Garden, by Betsy Clebsch.
Trichostema lanatum* - woolly blue curls - a sage relative that resembles Mexican sage; needs sun.

Vines

Campsis species - scarlet trumpet vine - These are worth trying here for their large, showy flowers, but may do best on warmer ridge tops.
Lonicera heckrotti - coral honeysuckle - showy, with festive pink and yellow flowers; it can get mildew near the ocean.
Lonicera hispidula* - hairy honeysuckle - its pink flowers are not the showiest, but this tough vine provides much-needed mid-summer nectar.
Lonicera sempervirens - trumpet honeysuckle - a red-flowered East Coast species - worth trying here.
Phaseolus coccineus - scarlet runner bean - flowers can be all red, red and white, or salmon.  Delicious green beans are an added benefit for humans.

Some nectar-bearing plants can be invasive in your garden or in nearby wildlands.  Potential bad-actors include:  Japanese honeysuckle - Lonicera japonica, foxglove - Digitalis purpurea, Cape honeysuckle - Tecomaria capensis, and busy Lizzie - annual Impatiens species.

Insect Plants

For protein-rich, tiny insects, be sure to include plants that attract them.  Look for very small flowers in white or green.  Examples are the large carrot relative, cow parsnip, Heracleum lanatum*, and shrubby coffeeberry, Rhamnus californica*.

Nesting Materials

Plants with fuzzy, downy leaves are good - but avoid putting out household materials like clothes drier lint, which may contain residues of harmful laundry chemicals.  Lichens are a really important nesting material for hummers, as they provide structural strength, camouflage, and anti-bacterial properties.  Keep those trees with the "Spanish moss" on them - lichens do not harm trees, and are used by hummers and other birds.

Feeders

The practice of feeding birds arose in cold-winter regions, where birds might freeze to death in winter without supplemental food.  That is seldom the case in our area, where plants can provide a natural, year-round nectar source for wild birds.

Feeders are useful in some situations, such as when there are predatory cats in the garden.  Here are some important pointers:
>>>Choose a feeder that can be disassembled and cleaned often.
Contaminated, moldy feeders can be deadly to hummers.
>>>Avoid using commercial formulas with dyes or supplemental protein
(unnecessary, possibly dangerous).
>>>The syrup formula is 1/4 cup sugar to 1 cup water.
Do no use honey or sugar substitutes.
>>>Never let feeders run dry.

Hummingbird gardening is an adventure of the mind, as well as the senses.  Study, learn, visit your local bookstore or public library, and then get busy planting!