plantladylin said:Wheedwacker: I think Hummingbirds love nectar from many blooms, annual, perennial ... whatever they can find! I'd love to see a photo of your flower boxes with those zinnias ... I bet they are lovely!

@crittergarden I found Zinnia Thumbelina in the database, but no photo's yet: Zinnia (Zinnia elegans 'Thumbelina')

That's odd. I searched only "Thumbelina" and didn't see any zinnia there. Guess I just overlooked it.

AHA! It is in the middle of the returns and I only looked at the end for z.
Thanks for pointing it out!

My hummingbirds really would love it if I would plant more

Scarlet Sage (Salvia coccinea)
or
Turk's Cap (Malvaviscus arboreus)

They love all salvias and browse the flowering herbs, nasturtiums and balsams. They also like tumpet shaped flowers, especially those in shades of red are attractive to hummingbirds.

Oh my, @clintbrown just posted this picture that I bet the hummingbirds love!


This one is on my 'wish list' for the hummingbirds: Indian Pink (Spigelia marilandica)

That Cuphea 'Vermillion' attracts more hummingbirds than anything I've ever seen. I took that photo in a trial garden. I think the plant goes on sale next Spring. It is covered with blooms constantly.

Most of the gardens here have hummers in mind...and we do get a lot of traffic. I can't say that I've noticed exactly which plants they use all season long, but basically anything that has a tubular flower is a good prospect.

I might add as possibilities:
Spanish Bluebells
Scilla
A varied supply of hosta
Agastache
A varied supply of nicotiana (annual here) ***
Montbretia
Monarda! (especially the red varieties)

There are early and mid-blooming shrubs and small trees as well. I'll be back when I can recall their names!

Viburnum?
Lilacs...maybe
Deutzia?
Magnolia?
Mock Orange?

Oh, my gosh! What the heck is that one I'm thinking of!!!!??? A partial cultivar name of Wineberry something or other is the only thing that's coming up right now! A very pretty late spring shrub...

Well...duh! I guess that's what my list is for!

Abelia

Chelle -- maybe Weigela ? I think I've seen them in my "Wine & Roses" Weigela...

Nicotiana for sure, I need to grow that again... it's been a while!

And pretty sure they like my PJM Rhododendron, too! (they seem quite greedy, don't they )

Weedwhacker said:Chelle -- maybe Weigela ?

Yes! That's it.

Thanks Sandy!

Don't forget hardy Hibiscus. My favorites are 'Midnight Marvel' and 'Summer Storm.'

@plantladylin -- Lin, actually I'm not sure what I was thinking but I planted marigolds and the zinnias together (well, actually, the zinnias weren't getting ready to flower as soon as I thought they would and I had marigold plants to spare, so I just stuck them together without thinking apparently) and now I have a lot of gold and pink (along with some other shades of the zins) together and it isn't that great, but not that bad, either -- I'll take a pic tomorrow and post it!

Clint, your avatar looks like Lou Reed, Transformer.

Second Lou Reed reference I've found lately!
Bravo!