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| Red Birds in a Tree Scrophularia macrantha Photo: High Country Gardens |
I had more hummingbirds visiting my garden last year than ever and I can’t help but think it was the two new perennials I put in: Red Birds in a Tree (Scrophularia macrantha) and Sunset hyssop (Agastache rupestris.) The hummingbirds came in the spring and in the fall and rarely touched my bright red hummingbird feeder but instead went for these plants. Both of these plants have tubular flowers that hummingbirds love!
In Colorado, two peak periods for attracting hummingbirds happen. The first is from mid-April to the end of May. This is when hummingbirds are first migrating into the area. The second and most important period is from the Fourth of July to the end of September. Four species of hummingbirds can be seen in Colorado. The most common is the Broad-tailed Hummingbird. There’s also the Rufous Hummingbird, a rusty-colored bird found here in July and August, and the Calliope and Black-chinned hummingbirds. [Source: Bird Conservancy of the Rockies https://www.birdconservancy.org]
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| Red Birds in a Tree Scrophularia macrantha Photo: Plant Select |
Red Birds in a Tree (Scrophularia macrantha) is a perennial introduced in 1996 by High Country Gardens. This rare penstemon cousin has showy crimson tubular flowers which are produced in generous sprays above rich green serrated foliage. The blossoms of Redbirds in a Tree are shaped like perched little birds complete with beak and topknot. This southwestern uplands wildflower has shown great adaptability in gardens and is considered xeriscape. Read more here: https://plantselect.org/plant/scrophularia-macrantha/
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| Sunset hyssop Agastache rupestris Photo: High Country Gardens |
Sunset hyssop (Agastache rupestris) is a Plant Select specimen. It has sunset-orange flowers from August to frost. Native to high mountains of the Southwest, the whole plant exudes a rich, root beer aroma (I can attest to this!) In addition to the hummers, the bees were all over it.
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| Sunset hyssop Agastache rupestris Photo: Plant Select |
More plant varieties that attract hummingbirds in our region are butterfly bush, salvia, hollyhocks, impatiens, columbine and penstemon. For creating hummingbird gardens above 7,500 feet, see Gilpin County's CSU extension website: https://gilpin.extension.colostate.edu/programs/mtn-hort/hummingbird/