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 Herbs/Forbs Questions

Plant Suggestions for Shady Site under Trees in Alabama
April 03, 2014 - I live in Montgomery, AL and have a bare area (20' x 5’) that's shady and soil erosion is a problem. Grass stops growing at the drip line of the trees here. Do you have any suggestions for growing s...
view the full question and answer

Can bastard cabbage be eaten from Austin
May 02, 2013 - On a local cooking show they were talking about cooking local foods and mentioned bastard cabbage but never showed how to cook it or if it was in fact edible. Would be a way to help get rid of it if ...
view the full question and answer

Magnolia species are allelopathic
August 02, 2014 - Have a healthy Southern Magnolia tree around 8 years old. It seems like everything I plant next to it dies.: Variegated Spirea, Stokes Aster, Hydrangeas. Is there something it secretes like the waln...
view the full question and answer

Plants in bloom in April in Stuart FL
February 24, 2012 - Can you tell me which plants I might reasonably expect to see in bloom in April of this year?
view the full question and answer

Plants for steep bank in Pennsylvania
July 12, 2011 - What do I do with a very steep bank with hard clay soil to stop erosion and to look nice. Is there a ground cover that would help?
view the full question and answer

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