The Heavenly-Smelling Flower You Should Plant To Attract More Hummingbirds

The perfect pollinator-friendly garden typically serves two purposes: offering a striking display of native fauna and providing a vibrant food source for local wildlife. But when it comes to choosing the right flowers, there is an endless supply of options. One of these options that often goes overlooked in gardens is ismene (Hymenocallis), also known as the Peruvian daffodil or a spider lily. This unique flower offers a vibrant assortment of trumpet-shaped flowers that are the perfect snack for nearby hummingbirds. And its decadent fragrance is sure to draw them in— along with a few other strong-nosed neighbors. Adding ismene to your garden will bring pollinators, beauty, and a stunning aroma that fills your outdoor spaces with life.

Ismene is a real show-stopper around a garden. With star-shaped petals that curl outward and a ruffled trumpet center, the blooms look as though they are plucked straight from a tropical bouquet. Its unique look makes it stand out against the rest of your summer garden, creating a striking display of flowers. Yet, what sets this flower apart is its signature fragrance. Instead of offering a simple nectar, ismene produces an irresistible, sweet perfume that functions as a natural hummingbird magnet. 

Beyond hummingbirds, you'll find that friends, neighbors, and even passersby will stop to admire and inquire about the heavenly-smelling flower filling your beds and containers. Adding ismene to your garden isn't just about adding an additional flower; it creates a sensory experience where sight, smell, and wildlife come together. But before you start planting, it's important to understand how to care for these plants in different climates, as their needs change depending on your location.

The beauty of ismene is that it is entirely adaptable to different regions, but these conditions can also determine how you grow and care for the flowering plant. In USDA Hardiness zones 7 through 10, where warm, frost-free winters are typical of the season, their bulbs can be planted directly into the soil or a garden bed. They thrive in rich, well-draining soil and need regular watering as they are used to tropical conditions. It can survive in harsher soil compositions like sandy or clay-like soil, as long as the watering is consistent. A sunny location with at least six hours of direct sunlight ensures the blooms will be large, vibrant, and the perfect snack for local hummingbirds; but it can tolerate partial shade if necessary. In these conditions, ismene returns year after year with minimal effort, becoming a striking, reliable feature of your summer garden. With consistent care, the reward is a striking display of star-like blossoms paired with a signature perfume that drifts through the air.

Gardeners in cooler regions don't have to miss out either, but they'll need to take a more hands-on approach. Instead of leaving ismene bulbs in the ground, grow ismene in containers that can be moved indoors once the temperature starts to dip. After the blooming season ends, allow the foliage to yellow and die back naturally without water—this process feeds the bulb for the following year. Then, carefully dig up or lift the bulbs, and store them in a cool, dry place just like you would with Gladiolus spp. or dahlias (Dahlia pinnata). When spring arrives and the soil starts to warm, use a few bulb-planting tips to place them outdoors or refresh their containers.