Not Daisies: The Pure White Flower That Hummingbirds Can't Resist

When you think of classic white, radial flowers that light up a yard and attract pollinators, daisies are likely the first plant that comes to mind. However, there are others, and by growing them as well, you can maintain a cohesive look in your garden while also boosting biodiversity. For example, Crazy White Echinacea (Echinacea 'Noam Saul') has a comparable appearance to daisies, offering its own pure white petals and an orange center cone that pollinators, like hummingbirds, are sure to love.

Echinacea 'Noam Saul' is a coneflower (a hummingbird favorite) that blooms signature drooping petals in white, which explains its trademark name of "Crazy White." Though it can take up to five years to reach maturity, once established, its showy display and mildly fragrant blooms will help attract pollinators of all kinds to your garden. It blooms through the early spring to late summer, though it produces the bulk of its flowers in the first months.

When growing this coneflower specifically to attract hummingbirds, you'll want to take the steps to ensure as many flowers as possible. This means brushing up on general care, from learning about its USDA growing zones to what its sunlight requirements are, as well as the specific fertilization and deadheading needs of this white flower. (Find out how to start a pollinator garden.)

If you're looking for the right place for Echinacea 'Noam Saul' in your garden, know that it's quite versatile. This gorgeous coneflower grows well in borders, informal gardens, and containers, and you can even plant it in mass plantings to create inviting clusters for visiting hummingbirds and other pollinators to enjoy.

This versatility also extends to the coneflower's growing conditions. It can tolerate a variety of soil types and pH levels so long as the medium itself is well-draining, and it can handle both exposed and sheltered conditions. As far as sunlight goes, you'll want to ensure it receives full sun during the day (i.e., at least six hours of direct sunlight). This is especially true for optimal flower production, as growing those vibrant pure white blooms requires energy. It is hardy in zones 5 to 8.

In addition to this basic care, there's another step you can take to promote healthy and abundant blooming for Crazy White Echinacea. Specifically, you can employ deadheading. While you should prune your echinaceas in the fall, after the blooming season has ended, you can deadhead them, too, to keep them blooming for longer. Since the white coneflower's flowers are the main attraction for pollinators, this helps keep your garden's hummingbird appeal high. You can also fertilize these flowers annually in the spring for healthy growth.