There is a strong relationship between hummingbirds and flowers. Amongst such large variety of flowers that attract hummingbirds, we will discuss about hummingbirds vs Dianthus.
Dianthus is a genus of flowering plants which is mainly known as “pinks” or “carnations. These angiosperms of the Plantae kingdom belong to the Caryophyllaceae family. These plants are found in miniature sizes to sometimes at a giant size of more than 36 inches.
The flowers are seen in a variety of white, red, pink and lilac colors. According to the plant list, there are more than 1447 types of plant names recorded. But its major types are three – a single flower on the stem which grows at a length of 60 centimeters, miniature or spray carnations which include five to six flowers on a single stem and dwarf carnations commonly called ‘midi’, which grow 30 centimeters in length.
The plants require full sunshine, moist and well-drained soil and plenty of water to keep their body temperature slightly cooler. However, these plants should never be exposed to high sunlight, heat and warmth like during the summer season.
The “pinks” are commonly found in Europe and Asia, however, some species are in South Africa, North Africa and one in arctic North America. The plants prefer 3-9 (USA) hardiness zones.
The astounding fragrant flowers mostly attract the butterflies and hummingbirds, which further processes their pollination.
Do hummingbirds like dianthus?
Due to the lack of flowerbeds in flowers like dianthus or its cultivars, the hummingbird may not get much attracted to the dianthus flowers. However, a few genera of the dianthus may also strongly appeal to the hummingbirds with their vibrant colors and other features.
Among these, those species of dianthus which the hummingbirds love are – Jolt Pink (Dianthus interspecific), Spigelia marilandic (Indian pink Dianthus), Clove pink Dianthus, Diana Clare and Sweet William (Dianthus barbatus).
Thus, we can understand that hummingbirds are majorly attracted with the vibrant colors of the flowering plants like red, pink, orange, yellow among others. Moreover, they prefer big flowerbeds to perfectly land while feeding on the nectar vines. But, there are also few reasons for which hummingbirds like dianthus.
7 reasons why hummingbirds like dianthus
- Dianthus are one such flower which are found annually, thus there will be a availability of nectar throughout the year, across all seasons.
- These flowers can be planted in the garden along with the most favorable plants for the hummingbirds. Since dianthus gives flowers in late fall and early spring along with the regular blooming period during summers, these can make the garden look attractive for the hummingbirds and can easily attract them.
- The dianthus flowers requires a moist soil and dewy climate around it, which is again a highly preferable climatic condition for insects. Thus, the hummingbirds visiting the garden can also gain some proteins by feeding upon the insects present over there.
- The dianthus grown can be grown along with the shrubs and bushes can also provide shelter areas for nesting to the hummingbirds. For this reason, the winged species can also be found near this flowering plants.
- The petals are also edible parts of the dianthus flowers, thus, the birds will never die out of hunger in case it lives in those garden filled with these flowers.
- Hummingbirds get infected by the poison present in the fertilizers. On the other hand, dianthus flowers don’t require such pesticides as it generally don’t attracts the pests. Thus, feeding upon these plants would never be infectious to the birds.
- Due to the fact that the most common heights of the dianthus flowers is the midi or the spray carnations, thus it is highly preferable for the hummingbirds to suck nectar from it.
Planning garden landscape for hummingbirds with dianthus
Who doesn’t like to plan a certain garden landscape which can easily attract the hummingbirds? So, to appeal them we need to keep these in mind:
- Soil pH must be maintained from neutral to slightly alkaline.
- 1 inch of water every week must be provided to the plants.
- Not more than 40 degrees Fahrenheit, however a warmth and humid climate must be provided to the plants.
- Proper dianthus care should be taken by replacing the old or dead plants with newer ones, or cutting the weeds must be done.
- Proper 6 hours of sunlight should be given and the locations of the plant (if placed in a pot) should be changed according to the direction of sunrays in various seasons.
- The plants gets easily infected by the fungus, which maybe poisonous for the hummingbirds. Thus, the soil and the stem should be often checked.
Images of a hummingbird on dianthus
1. A green backed firecrown type of hummingbird is seen planting a projectile landing on three dianthus flower. This may be just before when the hummingbird wanted to taste the nectar.
2. In this image, a ruby-throated hummingbird is seen inserting its long and pointed beak inside the flower’s calyx. It is feeding from a Dianthus deltoides maiden pink flowers with fringed petals.
3. A hummingbird moth (white lined sphinx hummingbird moth) inserted its long feeding tube into the flower to such its nectar. They are seen feeding on a the nectar from the dianthus barbetus.
4. A green backed firecrown hummingbird is seen approaching a multi-stem maiden pink dianthus stem. Due to the flower’s smaller surface, the bird keeps flapping with its wings while sucking the nectar.
Videos of hummingbirds on dianthus
A buff bellied hummingbird is seen fanning its tail and flapping its wings while making a firm grip on the flat surface of dianthus ‘superstar’ (which has a super cherry color near the center) to land. In this way, it will either pluck the pollen grains from the plant and place them on the pistil, or it was already carrying from another plant and is ready to place it here.
In this video, we can spot a hummingbird hawk sucking nectar from the light baby pink colored, which also has fringed petals on the outside.
The hummingbird moth found sucking scrumptious nectar from a variety of dianthus plants grown in a garden ranging from dianthus barbatus (Sweet William) to dianthus ‘superstar’ and many more.
A hummingbird hawk moth having a beautiful time in a garden of white Superbus dianthus which has fringed flowers, fresh pink carnations, shrubs, etc.
A brown colored hummingbird plucking nectar from a white dianthus stem containing five-six flowers at once.
Conclusion
Thus, hummingbirds moth are the major type which is seen feeding on the dianthus’ nectar. In addition, the most suitable color is the pink or the red colored dianthus.
