Add This Sweet-Smelling Flower That Hummingbirds Can't Resist

There's not much better than enjoying a warm summer day watching hummingbirds flit around while luxuriating in the fragrance of fresh flowers. Though hummingbirds don't use scent to find their favorite food, that doesn't mean some of the best flowers for attracting hummingbirds also don't happen to smell great. This is the case with ismene (Hymenocallis spp.). Also sometimes known as spider lilies, ismene flowers are adored for their ability to attract pollinators, including hummingbirds, as well as for their amazing scent that has been compared to a mix of citrus and lily of the valley. Hummingbirds love these funnel-shaped flowers so much that they don't even seem to mind that the blooms are usually cream or white instead of their favorite color of red. 

Ismene flowers, like hummingbirds, are native to the Americas. The flowers are hardy in USDA Hardiness Zones 7 through 10, though they can be planted in colder regions too. In this case, the bulbs need to be stored inside for winter or grown in containers that can be brought in to a protected area for cold months. The bulbs can be stored similarly to how dahlia tubers are winterized and stored – pack them in peat or vermiculite and put them in a cool, dry place.

Plant your ismene bulbs in spring for breathtaking blooms in summer. Make sure to place your spider lily in a garden or container that gets full to part sun. They are impressively tolerant of a range of soil conditions. In fact, they could be great options for adding blooms to poorly draining parts of your landscape or planting on a flood plain, thanks to their tolerance for soggy soils and standing water. Ismene could also make perfect rain garden additions.

If your primary gardening goal is to attract hummingbirds, you may want to consider opting for a yellow ismene cultivar like 'Sulfur Queen', as hummingbirds like the color. Growing red blooms nearby is also a great way to make sure hummingbirds notice your ismene flowers. You can even tie a red ribbon to a nearby tree to attract the birds' attention. Incorporating some of these hacks to attract hummingbirds into your garden design will ensure that you don't just have a garden full of flowers, but also full of busy little birds.