Attract More Hummingbirds With A Berried Shrub You Can Plant In The Fall

Hummingbirds are a joy to watch in the garden. And even better, they can help to pollinate the flowers. While there are a variety of great plants to grow that may encourage hummingbirds to visit, one shrub you may not have considered is a blueberry bush. These shrubs don't just provide tasty berries for you and your family — their flowers are also a huge hit with hummingbirds and other pollinators. Additionally, hummingbird young eat a great deal of insects, including many that could otherwise destroy blueberry crops.

Blueberry shrubs are definitely one of those perennials to plant in the fall. It's the ideal time that will allow the plant time to get established before cold weather truly arrives, yet while the soil is still fairly warm. Fall planting also spares your new blueberry bush from dealing with intense summer heat until it's better established. Then, once summer rolls around, the plant should be in good shape and ready to start attracting hummingbirds to your garden. Just be sure to plant your shrub in the right spot so it can thrive and grow its best. 

The hardiness of blueberry shrubs depends on the specific cultivar, with some able to handle regions as cold as USDA Hardiness Zones 3 and others able to grow in zone 10. Before planting in autumn, take some time to find a good spot for them. Not only do these shrubs need acidic soil with a pH between 4.0 and 4.8, but they also require their soil to drain well. You may need to amend your soil with elemental sulfur to lower the pH level. Full sun is also essential for getting the most blueberries (and flowers) possible, though the plants can also grow in part shade.

Depending on the species, blueberry bushes can grow between 12 inches and 12 feet tall, with lowbush blueberries (Vaccinium angustifolium) staying on the small side while highbush blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum) often get far larger. If your goal is to create a hummingbird habitat, you may want to pair your blueberry bushes with flowers that will easily attract hummingbirds to your garden that thrive in similar conditions. Azaleas could be a good option for blueberry companions, as they too require acidic soil and are known to attract hummingbirds.