by Ken Lain, the mountain gardener

Hummingbirds are highly prized visitors in the garden. These inquisitive little birds zip around from flower-to-flower in search of nectar.  This list of local trees is guaranteed to attract more hummingbirds to your yard.  Provide a source of water for your hummingbirds, and use nothing but organic products in, on and around these feisty little creatures to keep them healthy.

Crabapples – Each spring crabapple trees burst into bloom in shades of white, red, pink, and purple. As a bonus, crabapples are able to pollinate most kinds of apple trees within a certain radius, which is potentially beneficial for both you and your neighbors.

Size: 10-25 feet depending on the variety

Exposure: Full sun lovers

$25 all Crabapple trees (while supplies last, through May 14, 2017)

Eastern Redbud – This is one of the earliest plants to bloom each year, illuminating branches with pristine pink

flowers just before the heart-shaped leaves emerge in April.  One distinctive cultivar is called ‘Forest Pansy’ and

produces purple foliage.

Other Name(s): Judas-tree

Size: 15-25‘ tall and 10-20’ wide

Exposure: Blistering Full sun to part shade

Chitalpa is crossed with our native Desert Willow, only with much larger flower clusters without the formation of

beans.  Shows off large clusters of blossoms that resemble orchids.   The tubular shaped flowers are utterly irresistible to hummingbirds.

Other Name(s): Orchid Tree

Size: 15-30′ tall and 10-18′ wide

Exposure: Full sun

European Mountain Ash is known for its showy white flowers that form clusters of bright red berries. Its alternate name “Rowan” comes from an old Scandinavian word meaning red.  Mountain Ash has smooth dark gray bark that is mottled by striking horizontal lines.  The fruits mature in late spring but often remain on a tree through fall and early winter.

Other Name(s): Orchid Tree

Size: 25-35′ tall and 15-20′ wide

Exposure: Full sun

Silk Tasill Tree is covered in an abundance of pink blossoms that look like powder puffs. This amazingly tough survivor has the ability to thrive under poor conditions.

Other Name(s): Mimosa, Powder puff tree

Size: 15-30′ tall and wide, sometimes growing larger

Exposure: Full sun

Timeless Beauty Desert Willow is a local native that grows wild from the 3400 to 6000′ foot elevations of Arizona.  It’s no wonder this drought-hardy tree is a hummingbird’s delight.  Rich purple flowers fade to pale pink all showing on the same tree.  We have these trees at the garden center now, or you can buy them online at Monrovia.com.

Other Name(s): Orchid Tree

Size: 15-20′ tall and 10-15′ wide

Exposure: Full sun

Tulip Tree has irresistible yellow and orange flowers that resemble tulips. The leaves are also shaped somewhat like that flower.  With leaves the size of your hand, this is an excellent choice as a deep shade tree to sit under through hot summer days.  A stronger tree the willow and cottonwoods combined, with the added bonus of tulips shaped flowers and more hummingbirds to entertain us in the yard.

Other Name(s): Tulip poplar, yellow poplar, canoe wood, saddle leaf tree, white wood, white poplar

Size:50-70 tall and 40′ wide, a true shade tree

Exposure: Full – part sun

Flowering Pear has show spectacularly this spring.  Without forming any messy fruit this amazing tree blooms erupts with bridal white blossoms that show just as hummingbirds are migrating north into the mountains of Arizona.  This tree is not only a pretty tree for hummers to eat from, the height is the perfect size for nesting sites.  You will see more hummingbirds in the landscape by planting this ornamental flowering pear. Factoid – this is the last tree to turn fire engine red in the fall of the year, very pretty.

Size: 30-40‘ tall and 18-25’ wide, sometimes growing larger

Exposure: Full sun