What flowers should I plant to attract hummingbirds but not bees.

Linda Moye
by Linda Moye

My poor hummingbirds could not get to their water this past 6 weeks because of the bees. What can I plant next spring to attract the birds but the bees will hate

  5 answers
  • Lizbeth Lizbeth on Oct 19, 2018

    Unfortunately bees and Hummers are attracted to many of the same things. Here are a few suggestions. Don't use a feeder with the reservior above the feeding ports. Those tend to leak and attract insects because when it's hot, barometric pressure pushes the fluid down and out the ports. Use a feeder with a tray-type reservior with ports above. Use bee guards on the ports. Don't use a feeder that has yellow trim, especially around the ports. That color attracts insects and unlike red/orange, it doesn't attract birds anyway. Be sure solution isn't dripped on the outside of the feeder when filling it and clean it every few days. I don't know of anything you can plant to deter bees (& bees are very beneficial insects) but since you have them, it might work to plant something with yellow flowers to attract them somewhere far away from where you plan to put the feeder. Or maybe see if there is a better spot for the feeder. Good luck!

  • Yes, all pollinators are attracted to the same things. Here’s an article on our website on attracting pollinators https://chemistrycachet.com/how-to-create-an-environment-for-pollinators/

  • Sharon Sharon on Oct 19, 2018

    The easiest thing is to hang a bee trap near the hummingbird feeder .... make one from a recycled 2 litre bottle, is it bees or yellow jackets? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVLqEb6ANig

    • DORLIS DORLIS on Oct 20, 2018

      Bee traps kill bees that we need to pollinate food crops. Why not give bees their own water. I have a large tray for putting under pots that I put clean gravel in about 1/2 way up and add the water to just at the top of the gravel This gives the bees something to land on so they do not drown. One of my neighbors is a beekeeper and his bees visit my water tray all summer. I also have a short bucket for coons, squirrels, etc. as I live in the woods and when water is in short supply, they come up on the deck to drink.

  • Jan D Jan D on Oct 21, 2018

    Put vegetable oil in the hummingbird feeder all around the holes. It will discourage the bees but not affect the birds.

  • Diane Coverdale Diane Coverdale on Oct 25, 2018

    My grandmother planted cosmos to attract hummingbirds. It was her favourite thing to do in the early summer mornings watching them.