Aloe Vera Flowers and Hummingbirds

Scent vs. Color

• At first glance, aloe vera's 18-inch-long, toothed leaves appear benign and subtle, but the photosynthesizing processes within each leaf produce a cluster of yellow flowers. Hummingbirds use their vision to target flowers -- they do not have a well-developed olfactory system to sniff out nectar sources. With aloe vera growing in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 8 through 11, hummingbirds search through these warmer regions for rich flowers. Without the bright, yellow flowers, hummingbirds may not visit the aloe vera plants as regularly.

Flower Position

• Preferring full-sunlight locations, aloe vera flowers are essentially in a spotlight for potential hummingbird pollinators. Each flower cluster resides on a 24- to 36-inch stalk above the leaves. By producing tall stalks, the flowers are easily spotted by flying hummingbirds. The stalks are also widely spaced to make it easier for hummingbird wings to move about the flowers. These blossoms are also out of reach from other ground organisms that may drink the nectar before the hummingbird can reach the plant. Because the stalks do not provide a substantial perch for larger birds, hummingbirds have reduced competition for their favorite food source; these hovering birds simply suspend in the air until they are finished eating.

Blossom Shape

• With hummingbirds' slender beak, they access flowers that are typically off-limits to other pollinators, such as bees. Aloe vera flowers are tubular-shaped, resembling tiny tunnels with a subtle petal flare at the tips. Hummingbirds do not need to waste energy by visiting flowers that have reduced nectar supplies from other hungry pollinators -- accessing the long flowers allows them to have a full meal without expending too much energy between blossom buds.

Timing

• Unlike many plants that rely on spring and summer blossoming, aloe vera plants produce their bright flowers in the winter and early spring. With cooler, winter weather, hummingbirds have less flower choices in the landscape for sustenance. By blossoming in the winter, aloe vera flowers have a better chance at pollination -- hummingbirds flock to the blossoms to keep themselves sustained. Because there are several flowers on just one stalk, the hummingbirds feast in one area to conserve energy during the cooler months.