Vegetable Hummingbird: A Fast-Growing Tropical Beauty for Warm Climate Gardens
If you’re looking for a fast-growing tree that combines ornamental beauty with practical benefits, the vegetable hummingbird (Sesbania grandiflora) might catch your attention. This tropical legume tree brings rapid growth, lovely flowers, and nitrogen-fixing abilities to warm climate landscapes, though it’s worth knowing its background before planting.
What Is the Vegetable Hummingbird?
The vegetable hummingbird is a perennial shrub or small tree that can reach up to 20 feet at maturity. Despite its common name, this plant has nothing to do with hummingbirds – instead, it’s named for its edible flowers and pods that are popular in Southeast Asian cuisine. You might also see it listed under its botanical name Sesbania grandiflora or its synonym Agati grandiflora.
This multi-stemmed woody plant grows with an erect, single-stem form and boasts fine-textured green foliage that stays on the tree year-round. The real show-stopper is its white flowers, which bloom in spring and attract various pollinators to your garden.
Where Does It Grow?
Originally native to Southeast Asia, the vegetable hummingbird is now established as a non-native species in several U.S. territories and states. You’ll find it growing in Florida, Guam, Palau, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Minor Outlying Islands, and the Virgin Islands.
This tree thrives in USDA hardiness zones 10-12, requiring frost-free conditions year-round (minimum 365 frost-free days). If you live in an area where temperatures drop below 49°F, this tree won’t survive outdoors.
Why Consider (or Not Consider) This Tree?
The vegetable hummingbird offers several appealing qualities for tropical gardeners:
- Lightning-fast growth rate – you’ll see rapid results
- Reaches a manageable 20-foot height
- Nitrogen-fixing abilities improve soil fertility
- Drought-tolerant once established
- White flowers provide spring color and attract pollinators
- Edible flowers and young pods (popular in Southeast Asian cooking)
- Handles various soil types well
However, there are some considerations to keep in mind. As a non-native species that reproduces spontaneously in the wild, it’s worth considering native alternatives that provide similar benefits while supporting local ecosystems. Native trees will typically offer better wildlife habitat and food sources for local birds, insects, and other creatures.
Growing Conditions and Care
If you decide to grow vegetable hummingbird, you’ll find it refreshingly easy to please. This adaptable tree tolerates a wide range of conditions:
- Soil: Adapts to coarse, medium, or fine-textured soils with pH between 5.5-7.0
- Water: Low moisture requirements once established, though it can’t handle waterlogged conditions
- Sun: Prefers full sun but tolerates intermediate shade
- Climate: Handles 30-60 inches of annual precipitation
- Salt tolerance: Medium tolerance to salty conditions
The tree typically grows in upland areas rather than wetlands. In the Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain region, it’s classified as facultative upland, meaning it usually grows in non-wetland areas but can occasionally appear in wetland edges.
Planting and Propagation
Getting started with vegetable hummingbird is straightforward since it’s routinely available commercially. You have several propagation options:
- Seeds: High seed abundance with about 5,270 seeds per pound
- Container plants: The easiest option for most gardeners
- Bare root: Available but less common
Seeds germinate with medium vigor and don’t require cold stratification. The tree begins producing seeds in spring and continues through summer, with seeds persisting on the plant. Plant spacing should be 400-1,600 plants per acre, depending on your intended use.
Maintenance and Long-term Care
Once established, vegetable hummingbird requires minimal fuss. The tree has moderate hedge tolerance, meaning you can prune it if needed to maintain size or shape. It responds well to coppicing (cutting back severely) and can resprout from the base if damaged.
With medium nitrogen fixation capabilities, this legume actually improves your soil over time. The tree has a moderate lifespan and maintains its foliage year-round, providing consistent green coverage.
Consider Native Alternatives
While vegetable hummingbird can be a useful addition to tropical gardens, consider exploring native trees that offer similar benefits. Native alternatives will better support local wildlife and are naturally adapted to your regional conditions. Consult with local native plant societies or extension offices to discover fast-growing, nitrogen-fixing native trees suitable for your specific area.
Whether you choose vegetable hummingbird or a native alternative, adding fast-growing, flowering trees to your landscape brings beauty, shade, and ecological benefits to your outdoor space.
