Published: April 26, 2018, 12:20pm | Modified: July 7, 2019, 12:45am
If you’re a homeowner in Florida and you love to garden, chances are you not only want to use native plants in your landscape, but you would also love to attract hummingbirds and butterflies to your home garden! There are plenty of shrubs and flowers to choose from, regardless of your experience with gardening. The most important thing to remember is that you are creating a haven for them in your own backyard. Reds, blues and yellows seems to be the most common colors for attracting both hummingbirds and butterflies and they should be thoughtfully incorporated into the overall design.
When planning your garden, it is necessary to understand the kind of habits within which these creatures thrive. Providing lots of big, open areas that are full of sunlight, but still offer protection from the wind are always a good option, particularly for butterflies. This allows them plenty of space to fly around and enjoy your flowers, while granting them a reprieve from strong winds that might otherwise knock them off course. Hummingbirds enjoy the same kind of environment and you can always add specially-designed hummingbird feeders in the space to make your garden even more attractive to them (and you).
Plants That Attract Butterflies
Did you know that some of the butterflies found in Florida are not found anywhere else in the world? There are over 200 species of butterflies in Florida and you can imagine how amazing it would be to have even a handful of them visit your garden for a good meal and a relaxing afternoon. You’ll need to choose flowers with bright colors, adult nectar sources, create shelter to protect them from heavy rains and predators, and provide access to clean water.
Here are some great options of plants that will attract butterflies:
- Lantana
- Penta
- Buddleia
- Firebush
- Salvia
- Porterweed
- Sweet Almond Bush
- Firespike
- Jatropha
- Milkweed (host)
- Giant Milkweed (host)
- White Balloon Plant Milkweed (host)
- Passion Flower (host)Coontie (host)
- Dill (host)Parsley (host)
- Common Rue/Ruda (host)
- Dutchman Pipevine (host)
- Cestrum (host)
Plants That Attract Hummingbirds
While somewhat rare in certain areas, at least 10 of the 16 species of hummingbirds found in the United States have also been found in Florida, with the red-throated hummingbird probably being the most common spotted. Hummingbirds have a difficult time getting the amount of food they require from flowers alone, so including feeders in your design will both attract and keep them around for a while. However, flowers are what will initially draw them to your garden.
Here is a list of shrubs and flowers that will attract hummingbirds in Florida:
- Pagoda Flower
- Fiddlewood
- Firebush
- Butterfly Bush
- Firespike
- Rose Mallow
- Aloe
- Butterfly Milkweed
- Swamp Milkweed
- Firecraker Plant
- Blue Sage
- Florida Azalea
While you may have the intention of creating a beautiful garden for hummingbirds and butterflies, it can be a little intimidating to learn of all the varieties of plants available and to know exactly what to do with them! Pinterest can be great way to find different landscape design ideas for gardens of all shapes and sizes. You can also reach out to us at A One Stop Garden Shop for help in designing your garden. We have one of the largest and most unique inventories of plants for hummingbirds and butterflies on Florida’s East Coast. We can supply you with whatever decorative elements you may need to fulfill your vision.
Our amazing staff are friendly and knowledgeable, ready to answer your questions and help you create the garden if your dreams! Please take a moment to view our flower gallery. If you would like to know about our current inventory, call us today at 561-784-7222 or visit our plant nursery in Palm Beach County, Florida.