The Flower You Should Add To Your Garden To Attract Colorful Hummingbirds

If you're trying to attract more hummingbirds to your yard, adding yet another feeder isn't your only option. Planting flowers that hummingbirds naturally feed off will have your yard full of colorful birds without the labor of washing out and refilling feeders. The common cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum), also known as the compass plant, is an easy-to-grow plant that will transform your space into a hummingbird heaven. The plant gets its name from the way the leaves join at the stem, forming a small cup that holds water. Many birds, including goldfinches, seek out the plant for water in these cups, but hummingbirds are attracted to the nectar in the sunflower-like blooms. You can make cup flowers even more appealing by putting a hummingbird swing in one ideal spot.

The common cup plant is simple to grow and care for. It's hardy in USDA Zones 3a through 9b, so it tolerates a wide range of temperatures and conditions. It can reach heights of up to 8 feet tall and spreads quickly under optimal conditions. The long stems grow in clumps and sport cheery 3-inch yellow flowers. The compass plant is perfect for cottage gardens, for naturalized areas, and as a backdrop for borders. As a native plant, it supports the local ecosystem. It also requires less specialized care and fewer resources to thrive.

How to grow and care for Silphium perfoliatum

Like many other prolific native plants, this sunny flower is often considered a weed. Because of this attitude, if you want to grow it from a plant, you may need to order it online instead of picking it up at your local nursery. Cup plants can also be grown from seeds, although it may take two years before they bloom. Plant the seeds outdoors in the fall by pressing them directly into the soil. You can also plant them in the spring, but they'll need cold stratification to germinate. Accomplish this by mixing the seeds with moist sand and storing them in the refrigerator for 60 days. Don't let the soil dry out before germination.

Once it's well-established, the compass plant will self-seed. Plant it in full sun, and it will reward you with a profusion of blooms that hummingbirds will feed on from June through August. The common cup plant grows best in rich soil, but it can handle some clay. When you first plant it, it will need moist to wet soil, but once it's taken root well, it can tolerate drier conditions. It's not prone to problems with insects or diseases, so you can spend more time enjoying the hummingbirds and less time fussing over it. The next time you see a cup plant, instead of thinking of it as a weed, consider it an essential feature for attracting hummingbirds to your garden.

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