Sunflowers And Hummingbirds – Do Sunflowers Attract Hummingbirds? Yes!

hummingbirds and sunflowers

Do sunflowers attract hummingbirds? The quick answer is yes! Sunflowers are a favorite food source for hummingbirds. In this article, we’ll discuss the reasons why sunflowers are so attractive to hummingbirds and some tips on how to get the most out of your sunflower garden!

*This post may include affiliate links. When you purchase items from these links, we will receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, to help support this website. Thank you for your support! Read more ->

Do Hummingbirds Like Sunflowers?

Yes, hummingbirds do like sunflowers. Sunflowers might not be the typical shape you expect to see when it comes to flowers for hummingbirds, but they still have easy to access nectar for them!

Sunflowers have many reasons why they attract hummingbirds, so if you’re looking for a plant to attract not only hummingbirds to your garden but also other pollinators, definitely choose sunflowers.

Sunflowers and hummingbirds – it might not seem like a likely match, and while this isn’t the favorite flower for hummingbirds, it does still feed them and attract them to your garden!

What Do Hummingbirds Like About Sunflowers?

Sunflowers and hummingbirds just seem to go together in gardens. Not only does the color, size, height, and flavor of the nectar attract hummingbirds, but also other insects on the sunflower plants attract hummingbirds.

They also do all of this without damaging the seeds of the sunflower, so you can still harvest the seeds if you choose to at the end of the season!

houseplant care journal breathing garden

Color

Sunflowers are most often known for their bright yellow petals that aim right towards the sun all day long. And this attracts a hummingbird to your sunflower, these bright leaves. There are also other colors of sunflowers, so you can have a variety of colorful sunflowers in your garden if you choose.

Height

One of the coolest characteristics about sunflowers is how tall they grow. Some sunflowers can get up to 12 feet tall! This is a great way to attract hummingbirds because they love being up high where they can see everything that’s going on around them.

The height of sunflowers also helps to keep them safe from predators and gives them the perfect vantage point to spot a meal or mate from far away.

Although choosing varieties that are this tall means that you’re less likely to be able to see the hummingbirds as they zoom around your sunflowers.

There are so many varieties of sunflowers though, so you can always do a mix of varieties to have dwarf, mid height, and tall sunflowers.

Blooming Season

Another great thing about sunflowers is that they have a long blooming season. This means that you can have sunflowers in your garden from early summer until fall.

This is great for attracting hummingbirds because they are always on the lookout for food sources. By having sunflowers in your garden, you’re providing them with a consistent food source for at least 2 seasons.

Other Insects

It may surprise you, but hummingbirds don’t only eat nectar. They also get some protein in by eating bugs, like aphids (which are already attracted to sunflowers), ants, and mosquitoes. Sunflowers attract aphids, and then ants follow in their footsteps, so not only are the hummingbirds getting nectar, they’re also dealing with your pest problem by eating the bugs on your sunflower plant! link

Does It Matter Which Size/Color Sunflower For Hummingbirds?

Now that we know sunflowers attract hummingbirds, you might be wondering if it matters which size or color sunflower you choose.

The short answer is no, any sunflower will do! Hummingbirds are attracted to sunflowers for their nectar, so any type of sunflower will work.

However, there are some sunflowers that are more visible to hummingbirds than others.

The giant sunflower, for example, can get up to 12 feet tall and has a large head with plenty of nectar-rich flowers.

Hummingbirds are attracted to brightly colored flowers, so when looking at varieties, try to keep that in mind and choose a vibrant yellow rather than going for the deep, dark red varietals. (link)

What Else Do Sunflowers Attract?

bee on sunflower

As mentioned earlier, sunflowers attract a variety of other pollinators and pests. Their bright colors are attractive for many other plants.

You’re likely to see aphids, ants, and ladybugs crawling on your sunflower, as well as see bees and butterflies buzzing around them.

At the end of the season, when the flower heads have died off, you may also see other animals/insects taking the seeds to eat if you have not harvested them yourself.

Caring For a Sunflower Plant

Sunflower plants need full sun. These plants live for the sunshine, as they even turn and angle to catch as much sunlight as they can all day long.

These are one of the easiest plants to grow from seed, and will flower throughout summer and autumn if you take care of them.

Make sure to grow them in well draining soil and water regularly (although be sure to check the variety you are getting to learn how much water they need, as it does vary).

Other Ways To Bring Hummingbirds Into Your Garden

There are many other ways to bring hummingbirds into your garden, like having a variety of other flowers that attract hummingbirds!

Some of our favorites include:

If all else fails you can also have a hummingbird feeder in your garden to attract them.

Conclusion

Sunflowers are a great way to attract hummingbirds into your garden. Not only do they have brightly colored flowers that hummingbirds love, but they also provide a constant food source for the birds throughout the summer and fall. There are many different varieties of sunflower, so you can find one that fits your garden perfectly.

book link

track your houseplants a journal

Looking for information specific to Colorado? Check out Naturalist Perspective!

Step into Autumn: 5 actions to prepare your house plants for dinner 8 Mother’s Day Gift Ideas for Gardeners