Lobelia Flowers To Grow Together To Attract Hummingbirds

Hummingbirds are a welcome sight for most gardeners. They commonly return to spaces where they can find shelter and reliable food sources. To create a more inviting and attractive hummingbird feeding area, add flowering plants to your garden that work well together such as the cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis) and the great blue lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica). These two flowers share similar growing needs, making them a nice garden combination. In addition, they bloom together, which creates easy access and allows you to transform your space into a hummingbird heaven. These flowers can also support other pollinators who visit your yard.

The cardinal flower and great blue lobelia are popular choices in hummingbird gardens because of their flashy, nectar-rich flowers, which have the perfect shape for the hummingbirds' long bill and feeding style. The bright red hue of the cardinal flower is one reason this plant is included in pollinator gardens as it is known to be the one color that instantly invites more hummingbirds to your garden. Great blue lobelia offers a nice contrast, with its tall spikes of blue-purple flowers that bloom a little later in the season. When grown together, these easy to care for and compatible flowers offer a nice variety and beautiful color. They are certainly worth considering for your hummingbird-friendly space.

To help this dynamic duo thrive, choose the right planting location. Both the cardinal flower and the great blue lobelia prefer well-draining, consistently moist soil. They can tolerate light conditions ranging from full sun to partial shade, though in warmer regions, your blue lobelia will appreciate being featured in partially shaded areas of the garden. Both of these favorite hummingbird flowers bloom around the same time, typically from July to September. Keeping all this in mind, gardeners can determine the best location for these flowers.

After choosing the right spot, consider how you want to incorporate these plants with design in mind. The cardinal flower and the great blue lobelia are often planted in moist garden beds, along walkways as a border, or in naturally damp areas of the yard, such as near ponds or small streams. Rather than spacing them out, many gardeners plant them close together to create a larger feeding area for hummingbirds. This flowering combo can be mixed with other beautiful perennials that hummingbirds love and may also attract butterflies. To make your property even more inviting to these fluttering flyers, consider adding features like a feeder or a bird bath.