I am making my shopping list for the 'end of season' sale at one of our nurseries and I am looking for recommendations for shrubs and/or trees that are known to be attractive to HBs in springtime (here in southwest Ohio particularly~~Zone 6).

I have heard of:

lilacs (persian or not?)
buckeye trees (I have 3 w/yellow flowers~~I don't have red-flowered)
abelia chinensis (have heard this is excellent, but maybe A. 'glossy' is better?
dogwoods? Red-buds?

Perahps you can share your comments on your favorites and most successful for ruby-throat HB springtime bloom in the northern half of the country??

(FYI we have one acre of semi-shaded yard bordering a forest in which to plant several new trees and shrubs. ~~we lost several trees to storms, so I would like to replant with HB favorites)

Sorry if this has been asked before~~I searched but didn't get many hits. J.

Judy in Zone 6a
Cincinnati (Anderson Twp.)
Southwest Ohio

Judy - We have 2 aesculus pavia - Red Buckeye trees here that bloom in late April / May. Be warned, however, that it is a very slow-growing tree and sometimes difficult to find around here. I suggest buying the largest one you can find or afford, depending on your landscape needs. There was a nursery in Maineville, Earthscapes, on 48 that's claim to fame was being the largest propogator of aesculus pavia in the Midwest. Sadly, they closed their doors last fall. I'm not sure if the new owners carried on the tradition. It's the first hummingbird bloom we have here in the spring soon followed by the different varieties of lonicera sempervirens - trumpet honeysuckles - we have in our yard.

I did a quick search and found a place in Hamilton (just down the road from me and I've never been there!)

They have it listed in their catalog if you're interested.

http://www.marysplantfarm.com/


Bud
Southwest Ohio
USDA Plant Zone 6a

Camera: Pentax K20D
Lens: Pentax DA*300 f/4, Sigma 180 f/3.5 Macro
There's 1 or 2 more hummingbird / butterfly pics located here...
http://www.pbase.com/budohio

Judy, I was going to make a suggestion and after reading Bud's post I've found the tree I would mention is available at Mary's plant farm. It's Halesia tetraptera, Carolina Silverbell tree, or four-winged silverbell. I bought 2 two-winged silverbells which are supposed to do better in the south (zone 9.) There are a couple of varieties for your zone; I think one is mountain silverbell which gets real big. Whichever you choose, they can take some shade. The leaves turn yellow in the fall and drop, and the blooms occur in May and are supposed to attract hummers.

Joan Garvey - Metairie, LA Zone 9

Thank you for the suggestions and good tips.

Mary's Plant Farm is a great resource and I have been able to visit there a number of times (and of course, go away with some wonderful treasures for the garden). I just drove by Earthscapes a couple of weeks ago and it doesn't look like a new owner is in business there. It made me very sad when they went out of business.

I do remember the wonderful big red buckeye they had planted in the front and now I wish I had made an offer on it before they closed. Shooting Star nursery in Georgetown KY bought much of their stock at auction, so I will check with her on the Red Buckeyes. It's a wonder the Red Buckeye isn't more common around here. The white flowered 'buckeye' seems to grow rampant in our woods.

I have not heard of the Halesia tetraptera in our area but Ohio State Univ. Extension has a descriptive listing about it so it must be available. I will google for a good source. It looks like a very attractive ornamental and very 'southern'!

I am curious about the Abelias and others, so I hope to hear some more comments/advice on my query. I have quite a space to plant and would love to focus on HB shrubs and trees in the restoration.

Thanks again. J





Judy in Zone 6a
Cincinnati (Anderson Twp.)
Southwest Ohio

You could take a look at what native azaleas will grow in your area. Many of them make large understory shrubs and most bloom during hummingbird migration or shortly after.

I second the Red buckeye. This year I had the Red Prince Weigelia and like that as well.

Carol
Milford, CT
Zone 6

Sounds like Red Buckeye it is!

and I'll check into the Azaleas~~perhaps there are some that are most attractive to HBs...I do have 5 purple/pink ones but they don't get much HB business only interest from deer. Maybe the red rhodies would be better.

the red weliegia (sp?) sound good too and I'm sure they're available around here. I do have some pink ones but they are out of view so I can't tell if the hummers like them or not.

Does anyone know what the hummers nectar on in the springtime when they just 'arrive' from the south, check in at the feeders, and then disappear for a few weeks?

There don't seem to be any blossoms in our woods then, but maybe they nectar on maple and ash tree flowers? Or do they just subsist on spiders and gnats and insects then?? That seems hard to believe, but maybe so. I wonder if anyone has an answer to this mystery?

Judy in Zone 6a
Cincinnati (Anderson Twp.)
Southwest Ohio

When it comes to azaleas you have to look deeper than Japanese azaleas. The native ones are used by migrant hummingbird and surprising under utilized in the native country. Your semi-shade area is also perfect for the native columbine which over time will spread around and take care of itself. Lonicera sempervirons, our native honeysuckle should also be considered. Varieties like Alabama Crimson are nearly ever-blooming and the first blooms are timed to meet spring migration head on. If you go for Red Buckeye try to plant it in a fairly sunny spot. A garden with all of the above would be a welcome sight to any hungry spring migrant.