Red, Orange Flowers Attract Hummingbirds

Q: Can you suggest some trees and shrubs that I may plant to attract hummingbirds to my garden?

A: As most gardeners have observed, the hummingbird has a sweet tooth. Although a large part of its diet consists of tiny spiders and aphids, hummers are drawn to flowers with sweet nectaries. They are also attracted by red and orange blooms and by tubular flowers.

Some plants they like include fuchsias, aloes, bottlebrush, grevilleas, and bougainvillea. For rustic areas, try California fuchsia ( Zauschneria ), also called hummingbird flower, but be forewarned of its rangy growth and invasive roots.