Hummingbirds enjoy visiting my reed-stem epidendrums, where they can be found relaxing peacefully on the long, twisted stems of this outdoor flowering orchid. The resident hummingbird in Southern California is the Anna’s hummingbird. These flying jewels of the sky are member of the family Trochilidae, one of the most highly specialized natural groups of birds. Sweet liquid plants, feeders and birdbaths will attract hummingbirds as well.
Reed-stem epidendrums, often known as “the ever-blooming jewels of the garden,” produce long-lasting flowers. They are easily to grow, whether for the novice or for the experienced grower. These orchids are available in a variety of colors, are easily bred and produce new plants on their stems. The keikis can then be removed and grown into new plants.
The diverse genus Epidendrum is indigenous to the tropical Americas, from Florida to Mexico, and from Central America to Argentina. The plants grow from sea level to elevations of almost 15,000 feet (4,570 m), and can bear variable typical weather. As the name Epidendrum implies, “upon a tree,” most of them are epiphytic in nature. Nevertheless, some are lithophytic and terrestrial. There are almost 1,000 species of Epidendrum. Research from Calaway H. Dodson, PhD, and Robert L. Dressler, PhD, show that hummingbirds pollinate some species of Epidendrum, such as Epidendrum secundum and Epidendrum pseudepidendrum.
CULTURE
I grow a rainbow of colors of the reed-stem epidendrums outdoors. They are a highly variable species group called Epidendrum secundum. Because the Anna’s hummingbirds are frequently seen visiting these reed-stem epidendrums, they may also be pollinating these orchids. Hummingbirds are one of the primary pollinators of Epi. secundum.
In Southern California, Epi. secundum will bloom all year round. In areas where there is frost, it is best to grow the plants in containers so you can move them inside during cold periods. Some epidendrums can bear heat and cold, but avoid temperatures below freezing. Perfect temperatures for some epidendrums are a daytime range of 60 to 90 F (16 to 32 C) and a nighttime range of 32 to 70 F (1 to 21 C). Epidendrum cinnabarinum and its hybrids can not exist in low temperatures below 55 F (13 C) for extended periods.
Full sunlight will give more abundant flowers, but ensure that the leave doesn’t turn red and burn from too much sun exposure. The leave should be yellow green.
Keep the plants slightly wet, well aerated, provide good drainage, and often use a balanced orchid fertilizer (10-10-10). cutting off the useless flowers and stems is important to promote all year-round flowering. Most reed-stem epidendrums will only bloom on new growth. Nevertheless, some epidendrums, such as Epidendrum pseudepidendrum, Epidendrum pfavii and Epidendrum raniferum, do not need their spikes or canes be pruned. These orchids will bloom year after year on the same ones.
ANNA’S HUMMINGBIRD
This medium-sized chunky hummingbird, Calypte anna, is one of the earliest breeding birds to build a nest in North America, often as early as December. Its range includes the Pacific seaboard, from British Columbia in the south, then east to Arizona. They are also found in Mexico and southwest New Mexico. An iridescent green body with a rose-red gorget and crown differentiate the male Anna’s hummingbird from other hummingbirds. The males will also have a white line behind their eyes. The females have a green back and a grayish white abdomen and throat, a white stripe behind their eyes which is difficult to see, and a small red area on their throat. The Anna’s hummingbird is the best-known vocalist among North American hummingbirds. Their thin scratchy sounds are used to protect nectar sources, territories, and to persuade for mates. They are generrally larger than most of the other hummingbirds that we see in Southern California, averaging about 3½ to 4 inches (9 to 10 cm) in length.
The Anna’s hummingbird habitat can be built in chaparral, oak woodland and riparian communities. Anna’s hummingbirds can also be found in yards and parks in a suburb that feature nectar plants. The nectar plants which most hummingbirds enjoy such as agapanthus, aloe, begonia, cardinal flower, cestrum, chuparosa, columbine, dahlia, fuchsia, hibiscus, honeysuckle, jasmine, lavender, lily, penstemon, sage and salvia. Hummingbirds also enjoy my homemade nectar; I mix 2 tablespoons of sugar in one cup of water. I use pure cane sugar, as the nectar of the hummingbird-pollinated flowers which is containing a lot of sugars, particularly sucrose that is found in sugar cane. The hummingbirds receive their protein from the insects found in the surrounding flowers, small bushes, and plants. In addition, they enjoy water misters or a small trickling birdbath in which to play in active happy way and bathe in. Once the Anna’s hummingbird becomes used to a home or garden, they will frequently utilize surrounding trees for shelter, resting and relaxing spots, and nests to bring up their young.
A SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP
There is a unique relationship between hummingbirds and orchids. Refered to a review of five volumes of Calaway H. Dodson’s book, Native Ecuadorian Orchids (Vol. 1, 1993 through Vol. 5, 2004), hummingbirds are known to pollinate orchids in Ecuador. Dodson recognizes and correctly name these native Ecuadorian orchids to include species in the genera Cochlioda, Comparettia, Elleanthus, Scelochilus, Sophrontis, Stenorrhynchus, in the subsection Coccinae of Masdevallia, and certain species of Epidendrum and Sobralia. In a separate book co-authored by Dodson, titled Orchid Flowers: Their Pollination and Evolution (1969), it is disclosed that hummingbirds are pollinating some species of epidendrum, especially Epidendrum secundum and Epidendrum pseudepidendrum. Robert L. Dressler, author of The Orchids: Natural History and Classification (1981), backs up this relationship between hummingbirds and orchids. Dressler says, “The New World hummingbirds (family Trochilidae) are highly specialized flower visitors, and serveral American orchids are adapted to hummingbird pollination. These are Elleanthus, Cochlioda, Comparettia and some species of Epidendrum.”
Botanical art spanning centuries describing hummingbirds and orchids help to further illustrate this unique relationship. Examples of this can best be seen in the beautiful renderings and detailed descriptions as found in Hummingbirds and Orchids of Mexico (1963) by Rafael Montes de Oca. Most of these pictures were drawn in the 1870s. In addition, John Gould’s Hummingbirds (1990) described beautiful pictures of hummingbirds with orchids and flowers. Gould, a famous ornithologist, originally published these pictures in several volumes between 1849 and 1861.
Whether these Anna’s hummingbirds are visiting my home to help pollinate the orchids in the garden, or they just make a short visit to enjoy the nectar plants, birdbaths and feeders, it’s a pleasure to know that these extremely small-feathered friends are frequent visitors of my reed-stem epidendrums.
