I've seen several pages online talk about how Adenium might be good for butterflies. Some even say for hummingbirds. But the few pictures I see online are for butterflies we don't have in SE US. And I haven't seen any real hummingbird use online. Is this just some industry hype and regurgitation or do y'all see much actual use by pollinators?

read an early (1920's ?) journal paper once about "adenium pollinators" ...more or less, it said "unknown" ...

another source mentions the "oleander moth", and another mentions the "carrion fly" ...

personally i have never seen either a "oleander moth" or "carrion fly" ...

but I have seen butterflies, honey bees and hummingbirds .... on adenium flowers

last year alone had well over 30 seedpods ....something was busy

I have only seen bees and the oleander moths. The butterflies and dragonflies just hover over them. Even the wasps seem to be not interested with my adeniums.

I have not seen any hummingbirds around. And I just counted i now have 75+ blooming size. Maybe 🤔 because I don't have them out in the open? They are under my covered but open area porch.

Open porches aren't an obstacle for hummingbirds. In fact, some find ways to nest under them.

UrbanWild said: Open porches aren't an obstacle for hummingbirds. In fact, some find ways to nest under them.

Wow that would be wonderful to see them here. I need to plant hummingbird magnets. I have some pink adeniums and red out in the open too but have not seen them around here. Might be interesting to see if I put a few of my reds out in the open if they find them.

BTW, I should have been specific about hummingbird interest. Lots of red things might attract a hummingbird...begonias (devoid of nectar BTW), a red shirt, red hat, etc. But I'm looking for confirmation of actual use... where they're actually repeatedly getting nectar from the flowers. I think far too often in the plant industry things just get accepted as fact and repeated widely. Red four o clocks look for all the world to be perfect for hummingbirds. The birds will check them out. But they have nothing to offer so the birds moved will move on.

Great question! Since I haven't seen any hummingbirds in my area, I may not be growing anything that attracts them.

I have not read anything if adeniums have nectar but I know I've seen bees and moths inside the single petals tubular shaped ones and they stay there longer. So the bees and oleander moths may be getting something. I have not seen them in the double petals though.

haven't heard of adeniums having nectar .... so am guessing here - it is the color of the blooms that *may* attract wildlife - what they do after they get there is anyone's guess (my best guess: hangout)

having said that - am not 100% sure how adeniums pollinate - am leaning towards self pollinate - although many say that's not possible

Adenium hangout - its not that unusual to see anoles, dragonflies & Carolina wrens during the day - and a few moths & Mediterranean geckos at night