Rutgers Gardens Hummingbird Guide
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Fresh nectar in a minute.
Every bag of NectarBloom™ funds the guides, the Hummingbird Trail, the lab testing, and the free care resources on this site. When you buy our nectar, you help us keep hummingbird education open, honest, and growing — for every bird lover, everywhere.
NectarBloom™ — 2 lb Bag
Fresh nectar in a minute.
No boiling, no dye. The same sugar hummingbird flowers make. One ingredient, nothing else. Makes up to 160 oz of fresh feeder nectar per bag.
- Fresh nectar in a minute: measure, stir until clear, and pour
- No boiling, no dye
- The same sugar hummingbird flowers make
- One ingredient, nothing else: 100% pure cane sugar
- Lab tested. Resealable 2 lb bag, sourced and packed in the USA
1 Bag · 2 lb
$21.99
Free shipping included
2 Bags · Season Supply
$39.88
Free shipping included
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“Your purchase isn’t just nectar — it’s how we keep this hummingbird care library free, accurate, and growing.”
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Overview
The official botanical garden of Rutgers University, Rutgers Gardens covers 180 acres in New Brunswick and serves as both a public garden and a living laboratory for horticultural research. The garden features extensive All-America Selections display gardens evaluated for pollinator performance, a bamboo forest, and woodland trail areas. As a university research garden, it regularly evaluates native and ornamental plants for pollinator value, and Rutgers Cooperative Extension actively promotes ruby-throated hummingbird plantings throughout New Jersey.
Hummingbirds to Watch For
- • Ruby-throated
Most Common Hummingbird
The most commonly sighted hummingbird at Rutgers Gardens is the Ruby-throated.
Best Time to Visit
Plan your visit during July, August, September for the highest chance of hummingbird sightings. Early morning and late afternoon are typically the most active feeding times.
Plants and Habitat
- • Cardinal flower (*Lobelia cardinalis*) — native and perennial trials
- • Scarlet bee balm (*Monarda didyma*) — perennial collections
- • Salvia spp. — extensive annual and perennial salvia trials in AAS gardens
- • Trumpet vine (*Campsis radicans*) — on structures and fences
- • Coral honeysuckle (*Lonicera sempervirens*) — native vine plantings
- • Wild bergamot (*Monarda fistulosa*) — native plant demonstration areas
NectarBloom Tip
Rutgers Gardens is free and open year-round. The AAS display beds are replanted each season with trial varieties of annuals and perennials; mid-summer through early fall, dense beds of salvias and tubular flowering annuals become highly attractive to migrating hummingbirds. Pair a visit with the nearby Rutgers Cooperative Extension office, which can provide a free fact sheet on attracting ruby-throated hummingbirds with specific plant recommendations for central New Jersey.
Visitor Notes
Free; open year-round from dawn to dusk. Parking available. Personal photography welcome. ADA accessible on main garden paths. No dogs in display garden areas.
Reviews and Sightings
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