Hummingbird favorite flowers in June 🌺🌻🌼 | backyard pollinator garden | Texas Gulf Coast Zone 9b

It is the beginning of June, and #hummingbirds should be in their breeding locations by now, or will be very soon. Here south of Houston along the Texas Gulf Coast we have two females that frequent our backyard each day. Join me in this video as I go through all the flowers they are feeding from, including the top 5 blooms they currently go to in our yard.
Chapters:
00:00 - 02:33 - Intro
02:34 - 05:25 - Porterweed (Stachytarpheta )
05:26 - 06:27 - Cardinal Climber (Ipomoea × multifida)
06:28 - 07:20 - Russelia equisetiformis (Firecracker plant)
07:21 - 08:27 - Cuphea (Cigar plant)
08:28 - 09:02 - Salvia
09:03 - 10:57 - Flame Acanthus (Anisacanthus quadrifidus)
10:58 - 12:18 - Coral Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens)
12:19 - 13:22 - Turk's Cap (Malvaviscus arboreus)
13:23 - 14:25 - Firebush (Hamelia patens)
14:26 - 14:52 - Lantana
14:53 - 16:00 - Esperanza (Lydia Tecoma)
16:01 - 16:39 - Torenia (Wishbone flower)
16:40 - 17:11 - Petunia
17:12 - 17:59 - Shrimp plant (Justicia brandegeeana)
18:00 - 19:30 - Coleus
19:31 - 19:46 - Canna lilies
19:47 - 20:02 - Butterfly bush (Buddleia) and Pentas
20:03 - 21:01 - Tithonia (Mexican sunflower)
21:02 - 23:23 - Hibiscus
23:24 - 24:21- Ending with green anole

[@spiritsbeyondthestars3493]

Hummingbirds love, four clocks.

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

Nice! How long do yours bloom? Until it freezes?

[@khyalmixentertainment2709]

Beautiful sharing ❤❤

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

Thank you! 😊

[@nicholasryan5401]

Beautiful looking garden, Its the bees knees. We don't have humming birds in Ireland but would love to have them.

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

You are so kind - thank you! 😊

[@MarcyOdom.]

Love it!

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

Thank you! 😊

[@user-gk5ph2kj8p]

I was so excited when I found a purple potter - weed in my zone 8b. I sow from seed tithonia flower and it is so beautiful. It hasn't reached its full growth yet but it has flowers on it. Another climber I finally found is the Mexican climbing vine. These are the 3 plants I purchased this year. Since I was in awe when I saw them in one of your videos.😊 I have only seen one hummingbird visiting the hummingbird feeder. Hopefully I'll see more soon.

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

You purchased some great plants this year! Please let me know how they perform for you this summer. 🌞

[@tsackerman4139]

Lovely! And thank you for sharing your green anole!!! Love all the wildlife!

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

Thank you! Wasn't that green anole quite the show off?! 😂 He loves to play "king of the mountain" on the top of that pole each day. I just get a kick out of him.

[@tsackerman4139]

@@ButterfliesNBirds Oh, he's a regular! What a darling. I saw one at my apartment complex the other day and he was gorgeous! Do you know if you can tell the difference between a male and a female? I looked it up, but it's pretty vague. I saw a brown-colored anole near him. I thought they were courting, but then I read there are brown anoles too. So I don't know what I saw. Anyway, I love all the bird sounds you get. Can you ever get a shot of the nest and their activity? Anyway, all good. Your yard is lovely!

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

Yep - he owns that pole. 😂You can tell the difference between the male and female, especially if you can see their underside to see a dorsal line. But most of the time the males are territorial and will extend their dewlaps pretty prominently and bob up and down to intimidate other males (and of course court females). Brown and green anoles don't get along (the brown ones are not native whereas the green ones are). I unfortunately have both in my yard now. We only had green ones for years, but the brown ones were brought in to Texas a few years ago.

[@tsackerman4139]

Thank you!

[@GlendasTexasGarden]

I have seen hummingbirds go to my Esperanza, Firebush, Canna Lily, Salvia, and my Mimosa Tree.

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

Fantastic! Do you just have ruby-throats? Or because of where you are located, do you see others like black-chinned hummers?

[@GlendasTexasGarden]

@@ButterfliesNBirds I think we only have the ruby-throat here

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

That is pretty much here too ... although in winter we get a couple more like the Rufus and Buff-bellied hummingbirds.

[@jennifergreene8891]

Hello neighbor, Lake Jackson here 😊 Thank you for another wonderful informative video! Everything is so beautiful! I haven't seen any Hummingbirds yet 😕. I do have lots of Butterflies and different size Bees. But, this garden is still newish, and I am gradually adding to it. I feel next year will be great! I do have Salvias, Amistad, and Hot Lips, along with another general purple one. I also have a purple Butterfly Bush, Pineapple Sage, a Red Sage, Star of Jasmine on an arbor, 3 Hibiscus, 3 Crape Myrtles, Roses, 1 Big Leaf Hydrangea, Red Yuccas and my Gingers are not in bloom yet. I started some Vermillionaire, Celosia, and some others by seed (late) but, they are coming along quite well. I have many other flowering plants but, I think I have over shared already 😂 thank you again for sharing your beautiful garden.

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

Hello neighbor and thank you! 😊 Your garden sounds wonderful and you already have a lot of nice things in it for a new garden! I started with just one garden bed, but I quickly decided I wanted to expand after seeing the butterflies. 😂 Do you have a favorite at the moment in your garden?

[@jennifergreene8891]

@@ButterfliesNBirds 😂🤣😂 everything!

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

👍😊

[@spiritsbeyondthestars3493]

Hummingbirds love: Ratchet Larkspur Imperial mix, perennial Lupine, Four clocks, Scarlet sage, Gayfeather, Dwarf Spurred snapdragons, Sweet Williams pinks, Red Phiox, Rocky MTN., lemon mint, c McKana Giants Columbine, Tussock Bellflower, Wild petuniass

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

Very nice list! It is fun to see what hummingbirds like as they move north. 😀

[@Pierceb2]

Another great and informative video about the predominant plants you have selected for your pollinator garden especially your top 5 based upon your observations. Thanks for sharing this.information.

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

Thank you for your thoughtful comment! 😊

[@Pierceb2]

@@ButterfliesNBirds You deserve it! By the way I had my first sighting of a female Red Spotted Purple laying eggs on my ornamental weeping cherry tree dozens of times today. Oddly I had a female Eastern Tiger Swallowtail laying eggs on the same tree two days ago.

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

That is absolutely wonderful!!! 😍😍😍

[@spiritsbeyondthestars3493]

Trumpet hummingbird Vines, have runners that come up all over the yard. It took me forever to get rid of them.

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

Oh, don't I know it! I wish the person behind us didn't have it because it is awful! 😕

[@davettayoung1495]

Beautiful backyard! I have seen a hummingbird on my red, and purple salvia. Also they love the cuphea. The porterweed is gorgeous. I was thinking of picking one up this week. I’m glad you showed it again. You helped my decision 😊🪴🌸🌺

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

That is wonderful you saw a hummer on your salvia! If you do get a porterweed, I hope you like it. 😊

[@davettayoung1495]

@@ButterfliesNBirdsHi Crystal. Had to find a comment, to ask how are you and your family doing? Has hurricane Beryl affected your area? Stay safe ❤Renae

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

@davettayoung1495 Hi Renae - thanks so much for your thoughts and checking in! We aren't home and have been gone a week now visiting family. Our neighbor is looking in on things for us and she said the hurricane was bad in our area. We were on the dirty side. She said she was scared and won't stay again. We have plant, tree, and fence damage, but the house seems to be okay. Still no power though.

[@davettayoung1495]

@@ButterfliesNBirds oh wow. Well I’m so happy to know that you’re safe. So sorry your neighbor/house sitter was frightened. Those damaged items can be replaced, but you can’t. Prayers and blessings 💞

[@cajunlady4893]

Oh ok I see you do have Turks Cap. I should of had known you did. 😂

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

I do, and I love it because the hummers and butterflies love it! ❤️

[@spicyritas4795]

I remember I asked before what nursery you frequent but I can’t find where I wrote it down. I am in Houston this week so I’d like to check out.

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

Well, welcome to Houston! 😊 My favorite nursery in the area is Enchanted Gardens in Richmond, TX (which is south west of Houston). If you do go, let me know what you think.

[@spicyritas4795]

@@ButterfliesNBirds thank you!

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

😊

[@wesleyhackney]

I have a couple of questions. Do you think one color of porterweed is more favored than another color if I’m limited on which one I can get. Second you cuphea, do you bring it in over winter or leave it in the ground or outside and it comes back in spring. I know for sure I’ll get hummers in my yard if I plant cardinal climbers it’s a true magnet

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

The hummingbirds do go to all the colors of Porterweed, but they seem to frequent the red ones more. I have brought in the cuphea to protect it during a freeze and also let it be outside during a freeze. Neither option was great for growth the next spring. BUT, the beautiful one in the planter in our tree bed was root bound, so I believe it was more that than the winter. My vermillionaire cuphea was fine once I cut them way back. I am beginning to think I will purchase a new plant for $10 each year to have a beautiful focal point in the tree bed container. I purchased a new one this year and put in new potting soil and love the look. My husband and I think it is worth it. If I was great at taking care of cuttings I would do that before winter and overwinter a cutting/s in a small container.

[@deborahwade2641]

Hi Crystal, I was wondering what or if you feed your Salvia. How often? I planted a Coral Honeysuckle and I was wondering if it blooms the first year. Thankyou, Deborah 😊

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

Hi Deborah! I put down compost in the spring for my garden beds. This year I used Happy Frog Soil Conditioner for the compost and loved it. That is it, as I don't then fertilize the beds until the next spring when I put down more compost. We have heavy clay soil which keeps nutrients well. Containers are different though and I use the organic liquid fertilizer from Espoma called Bloom! I'm not the best with regularly fertilizing my containers, but I will try to do it at least once a month. That is awesome you purchased a Coral Honeysuckle! 😍 I hope you like it. Mine did bloom the first year.

[@deborahwade2641]

Thanks so much Crystal. That's helpful information.😊​@@ButterfliesNBirds

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

You bet! 😊 (I'm really excited about your coral honeysuckle).

[@jaymeelk9380]

Is that a dead bird on your window sill? Everyone remember to mark your windows if birds fly into them.

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

No, those are two clay statues that sit on my globe bird bath. It is very good advice to put decals or mark windows so birds do not fly into them.

[@LifeHomeandGardenwithAnaRica]

Hi is the Cardenal climber vine is perennial?

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

Hi! No, it is an annual vine grown from seed.

[@cajunlady4893]

​@@ButterfliesNBirds Does the cardinal vine spread like the cypress vine? I don't like the cypress vine bc it reseed everywhere.

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

I haven't grown a cypress vine, so I'm not sure. The Cardinal climber does have a lot of seeds that drop that will sprout. The seeds don't survive a freeze for us though, so we don't have an issue with it. And if the seeds drop our mower or edger gets them.

[@goldengirl65]

Do you have grevillea over there? Our honeyeaters here love them so I'm wondering if your hummingbirds would too? I have some of them out in my back garden and they are a favourite of our native birds and I just bought one called Aphrodite's dream I think it was and yeaterday I watched a large honeyeater go between that and my salvias while his mate was cleaning up bugs on one of my roses.

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

I haven't heard of that plant so I looked it up. Almost all species are native to Australia, but apparently some are sold in the U.S. per info online. It looks very interesting! I really like the comment you made that the male honeyeater was feeding at the grevilleas and his mate was eating bugs off your roses. Aren't birds awesome?

[@goldengirl65]

​@@ButterfliesNBirdsthey certainly are awesome that's for sure as are all animals. If you buy a grevillea let me know if the hummingbirds like it. I would expect them to like it but I am curious.

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

I haven't seen a grevillea yet, but I will be on the lookout for one. If I am able to get one I will let you know for sure. 😊

[@eglyshernandezgarcia404]

Hello there I garden zone 7 😢

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

Hello! I bet your zone 7 garden is starting to take off nicely!

[@user-bu4jk2jq4l]

I don"t see many hummingbirds in my Florida zone 9b...yet...but once a day I catch a gorgeous ruby throat visiting my Vitex shrub/tree in my island bed, and if I'm lucky I see a glimpse of her/him enjoying my jatropha tree outside my kitchen window.

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

Very nice! It is always fun when you get to see a hummer. 😊

[@HoustonKeith72]

Do you fertilize?

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

I put down compost in the spring in the garden beds. This year I used Happy Frog Soil Conditioner as the compost and really liked it! That is it for the garden beds. The containers are different. I use Espoma's liquid Bloom! fertilizer once a month on them. (Or I try to at least).And I use a hibiscus fertilizer on those containers once a month.

[@user-bu4jk2jq4l]

@@ButterfliesNBirds interesting about the hibiscus fertilizer for your containers, thanks! Is that in addition to the liquid Bloom? I do mostly container gardening so I fertilize frequently. I used a hibiscus fertilizer on my 4 tropical hibiscus this season and they are blooming like crazy! You have such a beautiful pollinator friendly garden, I really love following you!

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

I'm really glad you enjoy my channel! No, I only use hibiscus fertilizer on the hibiscus and nothing else. I fertilize them at the beginning of each month during the growing season. I have found they flower best when I use their specialty fertilizer.