Attract Hummingbirds To The Garden With A Flower They Can't Resist

No matter how often you may spot them, watching hummingbirds never gets old. The tiny but tough little birds aren't just interesting though — they're also excellent pollinators. While you can buy or make a hummingbird feeder to help lure them to your garden, an even better option is to just plant some of the little birds' favorite flowers. There are many flowers that will easily attract hummingbirds, but one of the best options is the stunning fire pink (Silene virginica).

Despite what their name may have led you to imagine, fire pinks are actually a brilliant red color. (The pink in their name instead refers to their fringed edges which look like they were snipped with pinking shears.) This bright red color is a perfect shade for attracting hummingbirds, as it is one of their favorite hues. Native to Eastern and Central North America, fire pinks are perennial in USDA Hardiness Zones 4 through 8. With a height and spread that doesn't exceed 2 feet, these petite plants are perfect for turning your yard into a pollinator paradise. They won't just attract hummingbirds, but also butterflies.

While you may not be able to find these nifty plants at your local garden center, fire pinks can be purchased either as seeds or as live plants from nurseries that specialize in native flowers. Be sure to plant your fire pinks in a spot with full to part sun and well draining soil. Fire pinks are relatively drought tolerant once established, and can handle poor quality soil where other plants may struggle to grow. They could make excellent additions to gravel or rock gardens. Fire pinks are relatively short lived perennials, so your plants may not survive more than a few years, but fear not, as these beauties self-seed. So as long as you let some of the flowers go to seed, you should have fire pinks growing for many years to come.

If you're growing fire pinks primarily for their ability to attract hummingbirds, you may want to pair them with other plants the little birds also adore. While there are a lot of plants you can grow to attract hummingbirds, make sure to pick species that thrive in the same conditions as your fire pinks. These could include wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa), eastern smooth beardtongue (Penstemon laevigatus), and even American fly honeysuckle (Lonicera canadensis).