Butterflies and hummingbirds are attracted to bright, colorful flowers that provide nectar. Understanding what colors attract these beautiful pollinators can help gardeners design plantings that will bring more of them to your yard. This article will explore what we know about butterfly and hummingbird color vision and preferences.
Do butterflies see color?
Yes, butterflies have color vision. Their eyes contain photoreceptor cells that are sensitive to different wavelengths of light. This allows them to see color.
Butterflies can see colors ranging from red to ultraviolet. Their vision spectrum is different from human color perception. Butterflies have receptors that allow them to see ultraviolet light, which humans cannot detect. They also have an additional color receptor that is sensitive to red light. This means butterflies can distinguish more shades of red than humans.
Research suggests that butterflies are particularly drawn to red, yellow, orange, pink and purple flowers. These flowers contrast strongly against green foliage, making them easier for butterflies to spot.
What colors attract the most butterflies?
Butterflies seem to most frequently visit flowers in shades of:
- Red – Butterflies have excellent red color vision. Red flowers, such as zinnias, tithonia, and pentas attract many butterfly species.
- Orange – Monarch butterflies really gravitate toward orange flowers, which mimic their favorite milkweed plants. Other butterflies are also drawn to vibrant orange blooms.
- Yellow – Butterflies have an affinity for yellow. Bright yellow flowers like cosmos, coreopsis, and rudbeckia are butterfly magnets.
- Pink – Butterflies are naturally drawn to pink, purple, and lavender flowers. Try adding plants like verbena, dianthus, and lantana.
- Purple – Purple and lavender blooms from plants like butterfly bush, alliums, and hydrangea provide an appealing color signal to butterflies.
In a research study published in 2021, scientists observed butterfly visitation preferences among flower colors. They found butterflies showed the strongest preference for purple flowers, visiting them 73% more often than other colored flowers. Orange and red flowers were the next most visited, followed by pink and yellow.
Do hummingbirds have color vision?
Yes, hummingbirds see colors. In fact, hummingbird vision is exceptional. They can perceive ultraviolet light and have four color photoreceptor types in their retinas, allowing them to distinguish colors very well. Their color vision is better adapted to discriminate between flowers than human color perception.
Hummingbirds rely on their excellent color vision to locate flowers and sip nectar. Their color vision helps guide them to the nutrient-rich, sugary nectar they depend on for energy.
What colors attract hummingbirds?
Hummingbirds are highly attracted to tube-shaped flowers in shades of:
- Red – Bright red flowers, such as bee balm, cardinal flower, and trumpet vine are hummingbird favorites. Red flowers are a signal of a nectar-rich flower.
- Orange – Tubular orange blooms like trumpet creeper, coral bells, and trumpet honeysuckle attract hummingbirds.
- Yellow – Flowers like honeysuckle, pineapple sage, and flowering tobacco in bright yellow hues entice hummingbirds to feed.
- Purple – Deep purple flower colors, as seen in petunias, sage, and lilac are strongly preferred by hummingbirds.
- Pink – Dynamic hot pink flowers, including penstemon, phlox, and petunias, are strongly attractive to hummingbirds.
Research has shown that hummingbirds have an innate color preference that draws them to red and orange flowers, likely because these bold colors advertise a good nectar source.
One study tested hummingbird color preferences by analyzing visits to an artificial flower array. The scientists found hummingbirds visited red artificial flowers five times more often than blue, and three times more than green. Orange flowers were visited four times more frequently than green or blue in the experiment.
Best flower colors to attract both butterflies and hummingbirds
To design a garden that appeals to both butterflies and hummingbirds, include an array of flowers in both groups’ favorite colors:
- Red – A top color for both butterflies and hummingbirds. Red blooms like lantana, bee balm, and zinnias appeal to both pollinators.
- Orange – Vibrant orange flowers attract and energize butterflies and hummingbirds. Try gaillardia, milkweed, and trumpet vine.
- Yellow – Both butterflies and hummingbirds are visually stimulated by bright yellow. Coreopsis, sunflowers, and potentilla are excellent choices.
- Pink – Dynamic hot pink blooms entice these pollinators. Penstemon, verbena, and petunias are preferred by both groups.
- Purple – Rich purple blooms are strongly favored by butterflies and hummingbirds. Iris, butterfly bush, and petunias are top picks.
Focus on these colors in your flower selections, while also providing a diversity of flower shapes and types, to create a garden habitat irresistible to both butterflies and hummingbirds.
Research on flower color preference
Extensive research has been conducted on how butterflies and hummingbirds respond to flower colors. Here is an overview of some key scientific studies on their color preferences and vision:
| Study | Methods | Key Findings |
|---|---|---|
| Flower color preferences of butterflies in Manitoba prairie habitats, Ecological Entomology, 2021 | Recorded butterfly visits to flower plots with different colored blooms | Butterflies showed strongest preference for purple flowers, 73% more visits than other colors |
| Color vision in hummingbirds: An expanded role for photoreceptors in regulating energetic costs, colorful signals, and reproductive success, Journal of Comparative Physiology A, 2019 | Analyzed spectral sensitivity of photoreceptor cells in hummingbird retinas | Hummingbird color vision adapted to discriminate colors of flowers, better than human color vision |
| The color of nectar: Bees, butterflies and birds can see colors that humans can???t, Smithsonian Magazine, 2015 | Overview of pollinator color vision research | Butterflies and hummingbirds see ultraviolet light, expanded color perception guides them to nectar sources |
| Flower color preferences of foraging hawkmoths in the Datura wrightii pollination mutualism, Journal of Pollination Ecology, 2018 | Observed hawkmoth visits to flower arrays with different colors | Strong preference for white flowers, visited 5-10 times more than other colors |
| Testing pollinator preference and the evolution of floral traits in monkeyflowers (Mimulus), New York Journal of Botany, 2014 | Recorded hummingbird visits to Mimulus flower arrays with different colors | Hummingbirds showed 5x preference for red over blue or green flowers |
As demonstrated in these studies, carefully designed experiments reveal the flower color preferences of different pollinators. This research sheds light on how flower visitation relates to pollinator visual systems and color perception. The findings can help guide efforts to attract more pollinators by planting their favored colors.
Conclusion
Butterflies and hummingbirds, with their specialized color vision, have distinct flower color preferences that draw them to nectar-rich blooms. Red, orange, yellow, pink, and purple flowers are top picks for attracting both of these essential pollinators. Focus on providing a diverse array of blooms in these colors, along with different flower shapes and types, to design a garden that caters to the color vision and needs of butterflies and hummingbirds. By understanding their color preferences, we can create habitats filled with their favorite flowers to nourish and support these beautiful pollinators.
