Knock, knock.
Answer: Who's there?
Orange.
Answer: Orange who?
Orange flowers for hummingbirds, and orange you glad I didn't say red?

Planting Hummingbird Annuals Now

Red, red, red. You'll hear that a lot when planting annuals for hummingbirds, because it is the crucial color in any hummingbird garden of tubular, nectar-rich flowers. Yet orange is another hummingbird favorite not to be neglected, especially if you don't want a whole wildlife garden shouting, "What's red, and red and red all over."

Yes, we're terrible at jokes. But we're good at hummingbird gardening. We're also deep into the whirlwind shipping season for annuals, so please forgive us for being a bit dingy. The point here is that orange is a top draw for hummingbirds.

Our online Salvia nursery, Flowers by the Sea, has some spectacular long blooming species for your landscape that begin shouting "Orange, orange, orange" in spring. This is particularly important news for hummingbirds that are big-time hungry now, now, now as they head north for the nesting season.

And, although hummingbirds love their favorite hues on Salvia plants of all sizes, they are particularly fond of large ones that provide massive displays of color. In a wildlife garden, large plants are also useful because they make hummingbirds less vulnerable to attack by cats and other small mammals.

Mixing Big Orange with Other Colors
So big truly is beautiful for hummingbirds as is orange in all its shades, including reddish, yellowish, pinkish and pure orange.

Massing a variety of oranges and pure reds certainly creates Hummingbird Magnetville. But you can also mix these hot colors with cooler blue and purple Salvias for an electric, come hither look. 

As long as a plant's blooms are tubular and well supplied with nectar, hummingbirds will drink from many colors of flowers. When you mix some blues, burgundies, lavenders, pinks, purples or whites with stands of orange and red, hummingbirds are more likely to visit a rainbow of colors. 

Providing Good Growing Conditions
Without too much further ado, we'd like to introduce five orange beauties for your hummingbird garden. Although most of these plants are tender perennials that may return year after year in the warmest winter zones for which they are considered hardy, they often are grown as annuals in North America. (Please click here for more information about USDA Plant Hardiness Zones.) All are natives or — in the case of Ember's Wish, which is an Australian hybrid — related to natives of Mexico, Central America, and South America.

Salvias, in general, need excellent soil drainage to avoid root and crown rot. These five are no different. Also, most of them prefer rich soil, such as garden loam. Sun exposure requirements vary by plant. As to moisture, we've organized our list based on the amount of water these Salvias need from drought tolerant to water loving. 

Five Easy-to-Grow Oranges
That's right. These Salvias are easy to cultivate if you pay attention to their basic needs. Deer can be desperate when food is limited, but they generally avoid Salvias, including these five. Finally, a note about color: Growing conditions, including soil pH (chemical balance), affect the color of flowers. So a plant's flowers may look more orange in one yard or region than in another. 

Drought Tolerant to Average Moisture
Straight Spike Sage (Salvia orthostachys)

• Orange-red flowers bloom spring to fall
• Mid-green foliage
• 60 inches tall in bloom, 48 inches wide
• Full sun
• Attracts butterflies, honeybees and hummingbirds

Average Moisture
Elk Super Scarlet Rooster Sage (Salvia dichlamys 'Super Elk')

• Red-orange flowers bloom spring to fall
• Mid-green, heart-shaped leaves
• 60 inches tall, 48 inches wide
• Full sun to partial shade
• Attracts hummingbirds

Average to Ample Moisture
Ember's Wish Sage (Salvia x 'Ember's Wish') 

• Coral orange flowers bloom spring to fall
• Mid-green leaves and maroon stems
• 48 inches tall in bloom, 36 inches wide
• Full sun to partial shade
• Attracts hummingbirds

Giant Brazilian Sage (Salvia subrotunda) 

• Red-orange flowers bloom spring to fall
• Mid-green foliage with heart-shaped leaves
• 96 inches tall, 48 inches wide
• Full sun to partial shade, particularly morning sun and afternoon shade
• Attracts honeybees and hummingbirds

Cundinamarca Sage (Salvia gachantivana)

• Red-orange flowers bloom spring to fall
• Mid-green foliage
• 96 inches wide, 48 inches tall
• Full sun to partial shade
• Attracts hummingbirds

Helping You to Feed the Hummers
If you have questions about these plants or any of our Salvias and Salvia companions, we're here to help you and the hummingbirds. Please feel free to call or email us, and expect a prompt response. We'll be out in the gardens, but there's always a telephone or computer nearby. Give us a buzz, and we'll give you our best.