Hummingbirds might be known for how adorable they are and how impressive their high-speed flapping is, but they’re also great garden visitors for more than just entertainment reasons. Bringing more pollinators into your yard is an easy way to guarantee that you and your neighbors’ plants are able to reproduce, create fruit, and look healthy and lush. Hummingbirds are one of the most popular of these pollinators, and attracting them to your garden is often as simple as incorporating a specific color: red. There are a number of ways to do this, from feeders to flowers to outdoor decorations.
Their fascination with red might seem a bit silly considering the number of other colors of flowers that appear in nature, but the reason these tiny birds tend to gravitate toward the vibrant hue all comes down to science and evolution. Red flower petals frequently signal that a plant has plenty of nectar to drink, as opposed to colors like green that could easily be foliage or blue that isn’t as common to find in nature. Hummingbirds’ eyes have developed an increased sensitivity to colors on that side of the spectrum to help them seek out potential food sources. Once they get closer, they’ll make a beeline towards the flowers with the most nectar or the strongest sweet aroma, and these are often the red blooms. Therefore, incorporating red into your yard can attract these pollinators from a distance.
Flowers
This one is a bit of a no-brainer, but planting red flowers that have plentiful amounts of nectar to act as a food source for hummingbirds is the best way to both attract them to your yard and ensure they keep coming back. The flowers that you plant will also benefit from this pollination, so it’s a win-win for the hummingbirds, the plants, and the people that get to enjoy the lovely backyard view. While just about any red type can do the trick, those with tubular shapes such as cardinal flowers, coral honeysuckles, and “Hot Lips” salvias are the best.
Hummingbird feeders
If you don’t feel like growing your own food source for your neighborhood hummingbirds, providing store-bought nectar is another great option. To lure them towards the feeder, choose one with red on it or paint your piece to give it a vibrant hue. These feeders are designed to attract hummingbirds and allow them to fuel up, so they’re just about as good as providing flowers. Hang a couple in your backyard, preferably away from any sources of loud noise or movement that could scare the birds away, and keep them full of undyed nectar.
Bird baths
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Providing a clean and fresh source of water for the wildlife in your neighborhood is a great way to support them and ensure they stay healthy, especially during the hottest days of summer. Why not let your bird bath do double duty and act as a hummingbird magnet, too? There are plenty of red bird baths available on the market that are sure to attract more hummingbirds to your yard, but this is also a great opportunity for a DIY. As long as you ensure that the paint you’re using is safe for animals, you can easily transform your existing bird bath into something more vibrant.
Outdoor furniture
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If you’re willing to incorporate red into your garden’s color scheme, outdoor furniture is one of the boldest ways to make a statement. A couch with red cushions, a red metal table, or even red furniture covers can create a massive target for hummingbirds to seek out. If you’re not a big fan of going all in on such a bold color, something as simple as a red throw pillow or two can also help to attract hummingbirds to your space. Just make sure you also provide a reason for them to stay, whether that be a feeder or a bush with plenty of nectar-filled flowers.
Plant pots
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Larger methods of incorporating red — like buying new patio furniture or planting red flowers — can get pretty expensive, but attracting hummingbirds doesn’t have to require a major purchase. With a quick coat of paint, once-boring plant pots can become a way to bring some color to a garden. Keep the design simple with a bit of red spray paint or gather family and friends for a fun crafting night if you’re feeling more creative. Red attracts hummingbirds, of course, but they’ll also respond to other warm tones like yellow, orange, and pink if you want some variety in your designs.
Exterior doors
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Doors are one of the best things to paint to add a bright pop of color without overwhelming a space, so if you’re in the market to try out an unconventional paint color, consider a splash of bright red. Giving your front or back door a fresh coat of paint in this vibrant hue will certainly make a statement and attract hummingbirds. If you’d rather go for something a bit more pared down, consider painting the door to a garden shed, playhouse, or doghouse instead. This way, you’ll get the same look without having to sacrifice your home’s more muted color scheme.
Flags
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Red flags have come to be known colloquially as something to avoid in relationships, but luckily for us, it doesn’t seem that hummingbirds are updated on the current lingo. A flag is a great way to bring in a pop of color, and plenty of countries happen to feature red in their national designs. If you’d rather go for something more seasonal, there are also plenty of holidays throughout the year that incorporate red into their color schemes, from Christmas to Independence Day, making it easy to have something hanging year-round that can help attract hummingbirds to your yard.
Lighting
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Lighting is an absolutely essential component of creating a functional garden. Choosing a softer, secondary light source instead of simply relying on what is already mounted on the side of the house can make your outdoor area seem much more comfortable and relaxing during late-night patio hangs. When shopping around for some solar lamps or lanterns, consider getting a bit colorful. During the day, when they’re not in use, outdoor lights can double as a hummingbird magnet. You could go for something like these Energizer Eight Pack Solar LED Lights from the Outdoor Solar Outlet to ensure that your lighting purchase is doing double duty.
Figurines and sculptures
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Landscaping, patio furniture, planters, and lighting make up the majority of the items found in most people’s backyards, but that doesn’t mean that everything has to have a use. Garden figurines and sculptures can help bring some of your personality to the garden, and if you take their coloring into account, can act as yet another way to attract hummingbirds to your area. Next time you’re shopping around for some fun figurines, remember what colors hummingbirds enjoy and let that influence your purchase. Something as simple as a gnome’s red hat can help out if there’s not a lot of other color in your space.
Fencing
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Going for a red fence is one of the more extreme switches on this list, but if you enjoy the color and want to incorporate it into your space regardless of how many hummingbirds it will attract, this is a great way to do so. As an added bonus, red is the complementary color to green, meaning it could help make the plants you’re growing in your garden appear more vibrant and lush. If you don’t want to go for a full replacement, it could also be fun to experiment with painting a mural on the inside of your existing fence that features pops of red.
Outdoor rugs and doormats
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For the most part, people tend to gravitate towards natural materials and dark, neutral colors when choosing their outdoor rugs. This is for good reason, as they’re notoriously difficult to clean and maintain and easily start to look dingy and dirty with regular use. If you’re going to go for a color, however, red is one of your best bets. This vibrant and fairly-dark hue is actually pretty good at hiding dirt and grime, and having a large swath of it across your outdoor space is one of the easiest ways to use red to attract hummingbirds to your garden.
Wind chimes
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Wind chimes are a great way to create a more soothing atmosphere in your backyard and help you unwind, but they’re also a perfect blank canvas to help inject some color into your garden. Wind chimes are available for sale in just about every color and style, including red. Further, similarly to plant pots, they can easily be painted if you’re feeling crafty. Making or painting your own red wind chimes is a great activity to fill an empty afternoon, and you’ll be left with a piece of art that holds sentimental value, adds a relaxing sound to your space, and attracts hummingbirds to your garden.
Grills
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If you enjoy hosting the occasional backyard barbeque or want to explore a more rustic style of cooking, consider investing in a grill that has a pop of color. Most of the time, your grill will likely be sitting outside, not being used. By opting for something red rather than plain black or silver, you’ll benefit from the time that your grill spends idle on the porch, since it will attract hummingbirds. Red grills are available in just about every style, from low-cost, portable, charcoal-burning options to larger, gas-burning varieties, so you’re sure to find something that fits your budget and preferred cooking style.
Foliage
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Who said flowers were the only plants allowed to have a little fun? While they might not be as easy to find as plants with bright green leaves, there are plenty of species that have naturally-occurring red leaves and are sometimes just as vibrant as the petals on your favorite crimson flower. If you’re in the market for some new, warm-toned plants, keep an eye out for options like red coleus, red leaf wax begonias, heucheras, and bloodgood Japanese maples. Of course, finding a type that will thrive in your environment is top priority, but there are enough options out there that this shouldn’t present much of an issue.
