Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Support the plant database you love!

Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?

A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.

Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member

Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?

Share

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

Search Smarty Plants
See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

 
rate this answer
Not Yet Rated

Wednesday - August 27, 2014

From: Broken Arrow, OK
Region: Southwest
Topic: Pollinators, Herbs/Forbs, Shrubs
Title: Hummingbird Bushes for Broken Arrow OK
Answered by: Larry Larson

QUESTION:

I am looking for bushes that attract hummingbirds. I live in Broken Arrow, OK. Can you recommend some?

ANSWER:

The general method I use to look for special purpose plants is to review the special collections of native plants that the Wildflower Center maintains. This link is to the Recommended Species collection for Oklahoma. The issue is that “Hummingbird favorites” is not a field we can automatically search. You would need to search the collection for plants that appeal to you; then you have to read the plant record.  Hummingbird favorites is a separate line under the category “Benefits”.

  I have an easier out though – I found a special collection of Hummingbird plants for Central Texas – It’s a bit easier to review this collection for plants which also are native to Broken Arrow OK.

 Here’s the first six that I found by looking at the above collection and checking with the USDA record [The link on the “USDA symbol”] to see if it is native to your area.

Aesculus pavia (Scarlet buckeye)

Amorpha canescens (Leadplant)

Amorpha fruticosa (Indigo bush)

Bignonia capreolata (Crossvine)

Castilleja indivisa (Entireleaf indian paintbrush)

Campsis radicans (Trumpet creeper)

[There were 30 plants on the list and most of the ones I reviewed were also native to Oklahoma, so you have several more to consider!]

 

 

From the Image Gallery


Red buckeye
Aesculus pavia

Leadplant
Amorpha canescens

Leadplant
Amorpha canescens

Leadplant
Amorpha canescens

Crossvine
Bignonia capreolata

Texas indian paintbrush
Castilleja indivisa

Trumpet creeper
Campsis radicans

Texas indian paintbrush
Castilleja indivisa

More Pollinators Questions

Making a pollinator garden
August 11, 2014 - Hello, I have a ditch right by my house and I want to turn it into a pollinator garden using native plants. My problem is, right now it's so full of weeds that we have to mow those down so soon. For ...
view the full question and answer

Compact possumhaw holly for Plano TX
April 19, 2010 - What variety of possumhaw holly would be best planted close to a house? I'm looking for a variety 15-25 feet, as compact as possible. Any suggestions?
view the full question and answer

A list of bloom times for wildflowers in Michigan
July 03, 2013 - Hello, I am new to bee keeping and live in central Michigan. Can you tell me or do you know where I could find a list of the Michigan wild flower bloom times? This would be very helpful to me. Than...
view the full question and answer

Berries on cultivars of Ilex verticillata from Oak Park, IL
February 19, 2014 - I have three ilex verticillata cultivars (2 Nana, 1 Jim Dandy) planted on the west side of my house in a very shady site (there's a mature over-spreading hackberry on the parkway just to the west and...
view the full question and answer

Native Perennials for Bees and Butterflies in VA
April 15, 2015 - What native perennial plants and trees can we plant to help honey bees and butterfly larvae in Harrisonburg, VA?
view the full question and answer

Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today.