If hummingbirds are staying away from your garden, you can certainly bring them back by planting a ‘Twilight’ crepe myrtle. ‘Twilight’ cultivars have a long summer blooming period. They bloom for over two months, starting in early June, and keep hungry hummingbirds around all summer long and well into the fall. Additionally, hummingbirds are attracted to brightly colored flowers such as purple and pink, which ‘Twilight’ crepe myrtles have in abundance. Crepe myrtles attract more than just hummingbirds. Insects such as carpenter bees, butterflies, and smaller insects that hummingbirds like to eat come for the nectar and pollen. Crepe myrtles are often the star attraction in a garden, especially if the tree is easily visible from a window or while sitting on a porch or patio. That’s a great place to spot hummingbirds, by the way! Additionally, the thin branches of the crepe myrtle are favorite perches for hummingbirds guarding nearby feeders.
There are other reasons to plant a ‘Twilight’ crepe myrtle, besides its good looks and attractiveness to pollinators, including hummingbirds. The cultivar is exceptionally drought-tolerant and resistant to most common crepe myrtle diseases and pests, including powdery mildew and Cercospora leaf spot. You’ll still need to watch out for the crepe myrtle aphid, though. Herbivorous mammals—looking at you, deer and rabbits—won’t be tempted to nibble either. For those lacking in-ground space, ‘Twilight’ also does quite well in (admittedly large) containers.