The Power of White: Three White Flowered Plants Alluring to Hummingbirds

Correa 'Ivory Bells' is a New World hybrid with an Oceanic lineage. San Francisco, California, is credited as the birthplace of 'Ivory Bells.' Known as White Australian Fuchsia, 'Ivory Bells' is believed to represent a cross of White Correa (Correa alba), endemic to coastal southern Australia, with Coast Correa (Correa backhouseana), also called Velvet Correa, endemic to southern Australia, especially the island state of Tasmania.

The Royal Horticultural Society has honored both parents of 'Ivory Bells' with Awards of Garden Merit:

• Correa alba 'Pinkie' in 2002 and 
• Correa backhouseana in 1992.

'Ivory Bells' favor partial sun.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture classifies 'Ivory Bells,' along with other Correa hybrid cultivars, as hardy for Zone 9 (minimum winter temperature range: 20° to 30° Fahrenheit; -7° to -1° Celsius) to Zone 10 (40° to 50° F.; -1° to 4° C.).

'Ivory Bells' tend toward an equiproportionate outline, maximizing height and spread at 5 feet (1.5 meters).

Uppersides of leaves exhibit dull dark green coloration whereas undersides, studded with hairs, present pale greenish tan colors. Floral creamy whiteness represents a soft blending of the whiteness of Correa alba with the creamy greenness of Correa backhouseana.

As a compact and profusely flowering shrub in the rue and citrus family, Rutaceae, 'Ivory Bells' epitomizes the siren call of tubular white flowers for hummingbirds.

Potential visitors to 'Ivory Bells' in backyard gardens along the Pacific coasts of the continental United States and of Canada may include Xantus's hummingbirds.

Penstemon digitalis is known commonly as foxglove beard-tongue or talus slope penstemon.

The New World native perennial in the plantain family, Plantaginaceae, ranges across the central and eastern United States, from the Great Plains of Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Texas eastward, including all states east of the mighty Mississippi River, with the exception of Florida.

Successful introduction of Penstemon digitalis into eastern Canada has garnered new homelands in two Maritime Provinces, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, as well as in two east-central provinces, Quebec and Ontario.

Foxglove beard-tongue welcomes full or partial sunniness.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture classifies Penstemon digitalis as hardy for Zone 3 (-40° to -30° F.; -40° to -34° C.) to Zone 9 (20° to 30° F.; -7° to -1° C.).

Foxglove beard-tongue maximizes its height at 5 feet (1.5 meters) and its spread at 12 to 24 inches (30 - 60 centimeters).

Glossy blue-green leaves with purple tints contrast strikingly with panicles of tubular white flowers flushed with purpled pinkness.

White is a showy color in nature. For hummingbirds, whiteness of appropriately shaped flowers signifies accessible nectar sources.

The beauty of white flowered nectar sources for attracting hummingbirds is evinced in three fragrant plants:

• Correa alba x Correa backhouseana 'Ivory Bells';
• Hawaiian white hibiscus (Hibiscus arnottianus A. Gray);
• Foxglove beard-tongue or talus slope penstemon (Penstemon digitalis).

As shrubs, Hawaiian white hibiscus and Correa 'Ivory Bells' contribute outstanding profiles in the backyard landscape, for both in-ground and container gardens.

As a perennial, foxglove beard-tongue prettifies back yards as well, whether planted in-ground or in containers.

In attracting hummingbird visitors via white-flowered plantings, gardeners enjoy the extra benefits of the vivid yet peaceful showiness of floral whites and of the fragrances of this exquisite trio of white-flowered plants.

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

white Correa (Correa alba)
Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens, Tasmania, Australia: JJ Harrison ([email protected]), CC BY SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Correa_Alba_RTBG.jpg

Xantus's Hummingbird (Hylocharis xantusii)
Santiago, Baja California Sur, northwestern Mexico: marlin harms, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hylocharis_xantusii.jpg

Basilinna xantusii map: Cephas, CC BY SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://eu.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fitxategi:Basilinna_xantusii_map.svg

Hibiscus arnottianus arnottianus 'Kanani Kea'
Hawaii's two native white hibiscuses, Hibiscus arnottianus and H. waimeae, have fragrant flowers.: David Eickhoff (D. Eickhoff), CC BY 2.0, via Flickr @ https://www.flickr.com/photos/dweickhoff/5112733259/

Hibiscus arnottianus immaculatus
one of three subspecies of H. arnottianus: David Eickhoff (D. Eickhoff), CC BY 2.0, via Flickr @ https://www.flickr.com/photos/50823119@N08/4756127783/

Hibiscus arnottianus punaluuensis
one of three subspecies of H. arnottianus: David Eickhoff (D. Eickhoff), CC BY 2.0, via Flickr @ https://www.flickr.com/photos/50823119@N08/5113329560/

Magnificent Hummingbird (Eugenes fulgens)
Savegre River Valley, San Gerardo de Dota, South Central Region, Costa Rica: Dominic Sherony, CC BY SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Magnificent_Hummingbird_(Eugenes_fulgens).jpg

Eugenes fulgens map: Cephas, CC BY SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://eu.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fitxategi:Eugenes_fulgens_map.svg

Penstemon digitalis 'White Bedder'; Forde Abbey, Dorset, South West England: Julie Anne Workman (Julia W), CC BY SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Penstemon_digitalis_-White_Bedder-_2-2733.jpg

Green Violetear (Colibri thalassinus)
Savegre Mountain Hotel, San Gerardo de Dota, South Central Region, Costa Rica: Joseph C Boone, CC BY SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Green_Violetear_JCB.jpg

Colibri thalassinus map: Cephas, CC BY SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commmons @ https://eu.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fitxategi:Colibri_thalassinus_map.svg

foxglove beard-tongue (Penstemon digitalis)
Penstemon digitalis 'Dark Towers,' VanDusen Botanical Garden, Vancouver, southwest British Columbia: Wendy Cutler (wlcutler), CC BY 2.0, via Flickr @ https://www.flickr.com/photos/20664893@N00/7566036510/

Correa 'Ivory Bells'
Brighton Plants in Badger Copse, South East England: peganum, CC BY SA 2.0, via Flickr @ https://www.flickr.com/photos/26698606@N03/3993464663/

hummingbird feeder landscapes
Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, south central Colorado: Ron Cogswell, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr @ https://www.flickr.com/photos/22711505@N05/10368394226/

Hibiscus arnottianus subsp. arnottianus, known in Hawaiian as Kokio keokeo, hau hele, kokio kea
Recycling Center, Kahului, northwestern Maui: Forest and Kim Starr (Starr Environmental), CC BY 2.0, via Flickr @ https://www.flickr.com/photos/starr-environmental/24603931519/

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