Attracting and Feeding Hummingbirds and Butterflies

[Esther Knapicius]

Surprise shot of one, left side.

 

[cntrlwagdnr]

Hummingbirds love Crocosmia - and that stuff will grow just about anywhere- we are in high desert counrty and I've seen them triving at the coast, in the mountains, north, south, even in Brazil. Plus the leaves and long arching stem sprays of bright red flowers are gorgeous. It clumps and it does spread gradually, but it's real easy to pull up the bulbs and keep it in check. Budlia is also good, and giant Hibiscus (we have several from white and blush pink with red or purple centers, to deep red). The spectacular flowers get up 10 inches across! Plus they are prolific bloomers all summer and are very low maintenance. They die back in winter - just cut them off at the ground and wait.... wait for it.... wait for it.... then they suddenly spring back into action in June - the last thing to come back. Our red one has red tinted leaves and stems too and gets to be almost 6ftx6ft.