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| ruby-throated hummingbird visiting Tricyrtis 'Tojen' |
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| Sorry, no hummer in this shot, the little buggers move too fast. |
and 'Gilt Edge',
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| Tricyrtis 'Gilt Edge' growing in the midst of native Lobelia syphilitica |
in addition to 'Tojen', pictured at top. I also know this isn't a freak hummingbird, as I found images on a hummingbird forum of a hummingbird visiting Tricyrtis hirta.
Tricyrtis are great shade garden plants, preferring partial to full shade in zones 4 to 9, depending on the species. According to most sources, Tricyrtis needs moist, but well-drained soil. I'm not so sure about the moist, as my soil is definitely not, tending to be a bit too well drained. I have killed T. 'Hatatogisu', so it may depend on the species or cultivar. 'Tojen' is a monster plant in my garden, reaching four feet in height and nearly that in girth, while the others top out around two feet tall and wide. Once they get growing, they are pretty much carefree plants, although a bit of slug repellent might be helpful when they start sprouting in spring. In my Midwestern zone 5 garden, they bloom from the end of July to the beginning of November.
Plant some Tricyrtis if you want to see hummingbirds in your garden. If you already grow them, keep an eye on them when you're out in the garden, and keep your camera handy.
15 comments:
How very cool! I've been surprised at the different plants they visit as well...although in my garden, it's the Agastaches that usually win out...they go crazy for them!
This is reason alone to add Tricyrtis here, MMD. Thanks for this news flash.
Frances
I really hope I see some at the passalongs you gave me! I've been loving how drought-tolerant the Trycyrtis are. And by next spring I'll need to divide them!
Unique, and nice photos also.
Beautiful shot of the hummer!
Truly beautiful photos, MMD. I hope I have some tricyrtis blooming this Fall. Many of my plants have been severely affected by our June/July and August drought. We did receive 1 1/2" at the beginning of August.
Love the hummer by the tricyrtis image. Never grown one. Should be on my bucket list.
If I planted some Tricytis, would hummingbirds like it so much they'd cross the Atlantic to visit? I've had contradictory understandings. One - that hummingbirds like heat. Two - that your climate is roughly comparable with ours except colder in the winter. Where have I gone wrong? (Both probably!) What kind of climate do hummingbirds like? (In other words - why don't I have any in my garden?)
Esther
Gorgeous pictures, Barbara. And a fascinating news flash.
I have seen them do this before. I can rarely get a picture of the little hummers. Way to go.
Scott Weber - Agastache is near the top of just about every list of hummingbird plants I've seen. I really should plant some.
Frances - :-)
Rose - It is surprising how well Tricyrtis handle drought. I'm happy the division from my 'Tojen' are thriving in your garden.
Greggo & Rohrerbot - thanks!
Shady - it seems Illinois & Iowa are missing out on all the rain from the hurricanes & tropical storms. We're short of rain again too.
Patrick's Garden - while hummingbird visits are enough reason to want to grow Tricyrtis, the best reason is that they make a great complement to all the other fall-blooming plants, with their orchid-like blooms and strong foliage.
Ester & Victoria - I'm sorry, no hummingbirds for you. I've read some fly across the Gulf of Mexico, resting on ships & oil rigs, but they don't cross the Atlantic.
Lisa - that's great!I think we can safely add Tricyrtis to the list of hummer plants. It is a challenge to get a photo of them. I saw one visiting Tricyrtis 'Gilty Pleasure' when I had my camera in my hand. By the time I got the lens cap off, it had moved on.
It's a wonderful plant, and hummers visiting make it even better. I really like 'Gilt Edge.' I think I must have it.~~Dee
Wow! The first shot is especially fantastic. I've been debating about buying some toad lilies for the shade garden; you've given me one more reason to add some. The hummers this year have surprised me with some of the plants they visit; mine also have been sipping from the blooms on coleus, which I've neglected to deadhead.
Toad Lily is such an exotic looking plant....I hope mine blooms this year! I love seeing native friendly exotics with their pollinator visitors. gail
The hummingbirds in my garden treat themselves to the cypress vine, agastache, penta...and sometimes the echinacea and roses. I am often surprised to see them on some plants. I guess they have their faves, but try anything.
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