Do Hummingbirds Like Fuchsia? (Yes, here’s the reason)

Do hummingbirds like fuchsia?

Yes, Hummingbirds are attracted to Fuchsia flowers. However, it’s not because of the color.

The deep red corollas make the fuchsia flowers look very appetizing to humans, but it’s actually other things like the scent, taste, and feel of flowers that attract hummingbirds. 

Fuchsias are tubular flowers with elongated bell-shaped blooms.

They come in a variety of colors including pink, purple, white, and yellow. Hummingbirds are attracted to their nectar as well as the shape of the flower itself. 

It’s not just one thing that makes these plants attractive to hummingbirds, it’s several different components put together into one perfect package.

Fuschias have adapted themselves over time so they naturally attract nectar-feeding birds. They have a high sugar content and low water content. 

In order to get the most out of these plants, hummingbirds will often perch on the blooms and lick them for any remaining drops.

Sometimes they’ll rub their faces against the nectaries and absorb some of that delicious liquid into their mouths. 

Typically, Fuschias produce more nectar than other plants during the morning hours because of how quickly it can be digested by hummingbirds’ specialized stomachs. Nectar is extremely high in calories, so this gives them an energy boost early in the day.

Hummingbirds are equipped with the ability to see the colors red and green, this sense of sight is mostly attributed to their need for finding food in flowers. 

Since they don’t have any natural predators, they can use all that energy stored up from nectar for flying at incredibly high speeds, hovering in mid-air, and staying alert for possible predators.

You might notice birds flocking to your garden when you’ve got Fuschia in bloom because most birds love them just as much as hummingbirds do. Many other types of insects also flock to these plants when the blooms are open because they provide sugar water in liquid form.

Bees are notorious for pollinating these types of flowers because it means more honey (nectar) for them.

How To Prevent Hummingbirds From Fuchsia

1. Location

Avoid putting your Fuchsia flower pots and planters where you’ve seen or heard hummingbirds before, as they will be attracted to those areas again. Try to put it in a place where there is little activity so that they don’t visit as often.

2. Size

A smaller pot might work better than a larger one because the size of the container may help deter them from entering the fuchsia flower pot.

3. Height

To further prevent access, plant Fuchsias at varying heights by having some flowers toward the bottom of your flower bed and others toward the top, giving hummers less motivation to check out your plants.

4. Fake Fuchsias

If you have a small space and really want to add some color with a Fuchsia, consider using fake flowers instead of real ones. 

Not only will this reduce the chances of the hummingbirds being attracted to your home, but it will also save you time and money on water and maintenance costs.

5. Thorns

A thorny plant can be an effective deterrent for many visitors (hummingbirds included). 

If thorny plants don’t work for you aesthetically, then try pruning them back before hummingbirds arrive in the springtime, or choose another type of attractive yet prickly foliage such as roses or bougainvilleas.

6. Dyeing the Water

Adding red dye to your water can help discourage hummingbirds from coming near your fuchsias because they don’t seem to like it as much as pure water. 

Also, checking the plants daily for mosquitoes and other bugs seems to work well in keeping them away too.

7. Scents

Put scents around the area that you want to deter them from visiting by planting fragrant plants like lavender or rosemary nearby (or even growing inside), which will make the Fuchsia less appealing to the birds. 

Try switching out different scented plants each year; this way, hummingbirds won’t be able to associate your Fuchsia with a certain smell and will thus avoid your flower pot.

8. Tape

Make homemade flypaper strips by mixing 1 part molasses with 3 parts water, then add red food dye until it reaches the desired color. Hang these in the area that you want to discourage hummingbirds from going near. 

They may take some time but they also work quite well if you don’t mind sticky spots on things around the house or garden.

9. Hanging Lines

String up a line of fishing wire a few feet off the ground in front of your Fuchsia plant, then hang aluminum cans or other shiny objects at different heights above this wire. 

This is to make them hang just low enough for the hummingbirds to see and avoid.

10. Water

Change where you water your plants; instead of directly watering your Fuchsia planter, use a hose or drip irrigation system so that it doesn’t look like an inviting source of water for hummers to drink from. 

This will make them less likely to check out your flowers in the future

11. Scare Tactics

A scarecrow is another option that can work well because the birds will get used to it over time and not be scared of it, just as long as you change its position often enough they don’t recognize what direction the threat (the scarecrow) is coming from and adjust their flight path accordingly.

12. Scare Tape

Scare tape (which makes a loud noise when it’s moved) can also deter hummingbirds from your garden, as long as you don’t mind the sound. 

You simply attach this tape to anything that might sway in the wind and make a rustling sound. Some people use this for scarecrows too and say it works extremely well, although they recommend putting more than one together so that there is more noise and movement overall.

13. Water Tube

A water tube that emits a high-pitched noise every few minutes is another good option for keeping these birds away. This is because of how annoying it sounds to them. It’s supposed to be better than a scarecrow because it isn’t a stationary figure.

14. Fake Birds

If water tubes, scarecrows, and other scare tactics don’t work well enough, then trying hanging fake birds from your Fuchsia flower pot might just be the solution you’re looking for. 

Unfortunately, many of these products are quite expensive so the best bet is to check out what’s available on Amazon before buying anything else. 

Also, try checking eBay or Craigslist for deals if you have time to wait around and buy used or in bulk.

15. Plastic Bags

Another method that is inexpensive and easy to do yourself involves using plastic bags (preferably grocery ones but any type will do in a pinch) to cover your Fuchsia plant at night. 

This way, the birds can’t eat through the petals because they get confused about whether the flower is actually open or closed and decide it’s more trouble than it’s worth.

Fuchsia Classification

Reasons Why Hummingbirds Love Fuchsia Flowers

1). Hummingbirds Are Attracted To Contrasting Colors, Particularly Reds And Purples.

The most popular color for hummingbird feeders is red! Most gardeners choose shades of pink or orange, but nothing attracts these tiny birds like a splash of true red. 

Fuchsias have especially vibrant tones that catch the bird’s eye from long distances.  It looks as if they can spot them from their perch on the wire fence post, even when I don’t think they could see it

2). Not Only Do Fuchsias Have The Right Color, But They Also Provide A Quick Energy Burst.

There is no need for these birds to sit and sip nectar from one flower like a butterfly or bee would do, which can take half an hour or more. They simply hover in place and eat their fill…

3)  Shape Of Fuchsia Flowers

The shape of Fuchsia flowers allows hummingbirds to feed upside down, clinging to the flower as they sip its nectar. keep their position by perching on the bottom of tubular-shaped flowers like this one:

4). When hummingbirds drink from a flower – particularly those with long tubular throats –they don’t suck up food.

Instead, they make a vacuum by moving their wings faster than a human can move his or her lips. When they do this, the tongue acts like a plunger and forces nectar up into its mouth.  

With such an efficient method for drinking, birds need very little time to drink, a few seconds, perhaps?

5). Because of this ability to create suction using their wings as a pump, hummingbirds are able to draw up more concentrated nectar from deep within the flower.

Fuchsias have evolved over time with extra-long throats:

6). Fuchsia flowers produce lots of nectar so there is always plenty on hand for thirsty hummers. Plus it contains enough sugar and other nutrients that they don’t have to eat very often.

7). The flowers are always open when the birds need them most (in the early morning and late afternoon).

Fuchsia’s bloom in the spring, summer, and fall

8).  Fuchsia flowers are long-lasting; they remain fresh for days or even weeks. Hummingbirds’ tongues act like brushes to push pollen into their beaks as they feed:

9).  With wings moving so fast, hummingbirds need a constant supply of water to keep their feathers in top condition. 

They carry this water into the flowers on their wings, which are then returned to them with every drink. Hummingbirds bathe frequently by flying through rain droplets or over a shallow pool of water.

10).  Not only do Fuchsias provide food and drink, but they also offer shelter from the weather.

Hummingbirds will rest in an enclosed space that offers protection from the sun and wind as well as predators such as snakes, cats, and large insects.

Conclusion

Hummingbirds are attracted to flowers that have brightly contrasting colors (especially reds/pinks), can be easily found by perching on them, produce lots of nectar with high sugar content for quick energy bursts, and remain fresh for days or even weeks.

They are also attracted to flowers that open early mornings/late afternoons when hummingbirds need them most, allowing birds to feed upside down.

This is without much effort using their wings like pumps to draw up the nectar, do not require much time to drink or eat, provide shelter from the weather and predators. 

Hummingbirds are also able to carry water back onto their bodies with every drink.