Epilobium for Hummingbirds ?

14 years ago

Northern CA gardener newbie here ... I have a two part question. I pulled out some plants that I thought were weeds. Now I think it may have been attracting the hummingbird that has been visiting.

1 - is this epilobium- and if not, what is it?

2 - what can I plant to attract more hummingbirds - but not more snails and ants?

Here is a link that might be useful: slide 1 mystery plant

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Comments (11)

gardenguru1950
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
The plant to the right of your spearmint is an Epilobium, probably E. angustifolium, called Willow Herb. Nasty weed in moist soils.

We have a native plant, Zauschneria, that used to go by the botanical name of Epilobium. Common name "California Fuchsia" and quite the hummingbird attractant.

The Willow Herb doesn't really attract hummingbirds and it's a weed. Zauschneria is a wonderful, non-weedy hummingbird attractant. There are many species and hybrids of Zauschneria, some upright, some trailing and some in-between. The upright ones are the best attractants.

Some of the best plants, for you, to attract hummingbirds:
(cn = native)

Shrubs --

Abutilon x hybridum FLOWERING MAPLE (hb)
Callistemon citrinus BOTTLEBRUSH (hb)
Correa pulchella AUSTRALIAN FUCHSIA (hb)
Fuchsia SHRUB FUCHSIAS (hb)
Galvezia speciosa ISLAND SNAPDRAGON (hb)(cn)
Grevillea (many) HUMMINGBIRD BUSH (hb)
Lepechinia hastata BAJA PITCHER SAGE (hb)
Leonotis leonurus LIONS TAIL (hb)
Mimulus bush types MONKEY FLOWER (hb)(cn)
Ribes sanguineum FLOWERING CURRANT (hb)(cn)
Ribes speciosum FUCHSIA-FLOWERING GOOSEBERRY (hb)(cn)
Tecoma capensis CAPE HONEYSUCKLE (hb)

Perennials --

Aloe maculata (saponaria) ALOE (hb)
Anigozanthos KANGAROO PAWS (hb)
Anisacanthus wrightii HUMMINGBIRD BUSH (hb)(cn)
Chasmanthe floribunda (bulb) AFRICAN CORN FLAG (hb)
Epilobium (Zauschneria) CALIFORNIA FUCHSIA (hb)(cn)
Hesperaloe parviflora RED YUCCA, FALSE ALOE (hb)
Heuchera (red forms) CORAL BELLS (hb)
Kniphofia (reddest forms) TORCH LILY (hb)
Mimulus cardinalis SCARLET MONKEY FLOWER (hb)(cn)
Penstemon centranthifolius SCARLET BUGLER (hb)(cn)
Penstemon hybrids BEARDTONGUE (hb)
Phygelius CAPE FUCHSIA (hb)

Vines --

Antigonon leptopus QUEENÂS WREATH, CORAL VINE (hb)
Distictis buccinatoria BLOOD-RED TRUMPET VINE (hb)

Sages --

Salvia apiana WHITE SAGE (cn)
Salvia azureus BLUE SAGE
Salvia blepharophylla PURPLE-LEAF SAGE
Salvia cacaliaefolia CACALIA SAGE
Salvia chiapensis CHIAPAS SAGE
Salvia clevelandii CLEVELAND SAGE (cn)
Salvia elegans PINEAPPLE SAGE
Salvia greggii and x jamensis
(reddest-flowered hybrids) AUTUMN SAGE
Salvia guaranitica MAJESTIC SAGE
Salvia involucrata ROSELEAF SAGE
Salvia leucantha MEXICAN BUSH SAGE
Salvia leucophylla PURPLE SAGE (cn)
Salvia mellifera BLACK SAGE (cn)
Salvia muelleri ROYAL PURPLE SAGE (cn)
Salvia regla MOUNTAIN SAGE
Salvia spathacea HUMMINGBIRD SAGE (cn)
Salvia sonomensis SONOMA SAGE (cn)
Salvia tesquicola RUSSIAN SAGE
Salvia uliginosa BOG SAGE
Salvia verticillata ÂPurple RainÂ PURPLE RAIN SAGE
Salvia ÂIndigo SpiresÂ INDIGO SPIRES SAGE
Salvia ÂNuevo LeonÂ NUEVO LEON SAGE
Salvia ÂSierra San AntonioÂ S.S.A. SAGE

Seasonal Bedding Flowers --
Season of bloom: Sp = spring; su = summer; f = fall; w = winter

Alcea rosea (sp-su) HOLLYHOCK (hb)
Consolida ambigua (w-sp) LARKSPUR (hb)
Digitalis purpurea (sp-su) FOXGLOVE (hb)
Ipomoea quamoclit (su-f) CYPRESS VINE (hb)
Ipomopsis rubra (sp-su) STANDING CYPRESS (hb)
Lavatera trimestris (sp-su) MALLOW (hb)
Malva (w-sp) MALLOW (hb)
Phaseolus coccineus (su-f) SCARLET RUNNER BEAN (hb)
Tropaeolum majus (w-sp) NASTURTIUM (hb)

Special Plants in Pots--

Abutilon megapotamicum TRAILING ABUTILON (hb)
Brugmansia ANGELÂS TRUMPET (hb)
Fuchsia hybrids FUCHSIA (hb)
Pentas lanceolata EGYPTIAN STAR FLOWER (hb)(bf)

Joe
gobluedjm 9/18 CA
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
The western garden book has a section for hummers and butterflies.
Most of my garden was put in for them and to be drought tolerant which also will discourage snails.
I agree with Joe's list on the salvias. I have numerous salvias, lavenders, lavatera, cape honeysuckle, bush germander. Hummers are around them all daily.
I have a pair of hooded orioles and pair of bullock orioles and they all love the Bottlebrush which is near their feeder.

FYI-honeybees like the french lavender and russian sage. Sometimes I don't dare go near to deadhead.

I have also seen hummers around my ceanothus.
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hoovb zone 9 sunset 23
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Here the salvias are their favorite. Each large salvia has an attendant hummer that guards it and feeds from it all day long. Some of them bloom year round here so they provide a steady source of food. The hummers also love the Echeveria flowers--since the flowers drip nectar it is understandable. And the aloes in winter.

The hummers do go for the Zauschneria in my yard, but it is not their favorite.
wanda
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Manzanitas (Arctostaphylus spp.) are a native attractant for our native, (year-round resident), Anna's Humminbird, in the San Jose area, in winter/early spring.

In mid-late summer, they really love the native Zauschnerias (Epilobiums AKA CA Fuchsia).
There are many other plants that they love...
Aloes
Dudleyas (native)
Tecomaria
Penstemon
Arbutus spp.
Fuchsia
Salvia (definitely!)
etc
etc.

Once you have them, the'll sample almost anything in your yard
ccroulet
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Epilobium is the *current* name for what was formerly known as Zauschneria. Z. was "lumped" with Epilobium.
lucca
Original Author
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Ok, I thought Gardenweb was useful before - but your thorough replies just blew me away!! It's a relief to know that I got rid of the weedy epilobium and I'm looking forward to putting in some salvias and aloes. The Western Garden book is in my book swap list and am hoping it comes through.

I was previously intrigued by the idea of a hummingbird garden. Last week I caught site of a staring contest between my cat on one side of the screen door and a delicate hummingbird hovering parallel on the other... well, then it was all over!!
kelpmermaid
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I have some epilobium - "Catalina" and another -- Davis or UC, I think-- that are hummingbird magnets. I think it's the timing of the bloom, later in the summer when there is less around. It's fun to watch the little birds feed.
gardenguru1950
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
According to the Jepson Interchange Taxon Report (the Jepson Floral Project), CalFlora and the CNPS, those plants that used to be in Zauschneria and were then lumped into Epilobium, should now be back in Zauschneria. Most recent studies and nomenclatural work suggest this and the status is now "unresolved" -- meaning it's gone to the big guys at the International Botanical Congress. My money's on the California botanists.

Joe
gobluedjm 9/18 CA
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Until you get your western garden book check out the site below. Tons of information.
lucca
Original Author
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Bookmarked laspilatas - in fact, going to take whole list from laspilatas and Joe, Wanda et al and get some real life looks at our local nursery...
jakkom
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
The best mid- to large-sized shrub I have for hummers is the cestrum. The red and pink forms are always in bloom, all year round, and the hummers adore them.

Epilobium for Hummingbirds ?

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gardenguru1950

gobluedjm 9/18 CA

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