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Plants that hummingbirds like


Top 15 Colorful Hummingbird Flowers to Grow

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What flowers do hummingbirds like? Turn your garden into a pollinator haven with colorful hummingbird flowers such as bee balm and salvia.

Hummingbird flowers have three things in common. Their blooms are tube-shaped, brightly colored, and they grow where it’s easy for hummingbirds to hover and sip. If you want to attract more of these beautiful birds, plant these flowers that hummingbirds like in your yard or garden.

Courtesy Laurie Dirkx

1. Cardinal Flower

Lobelia Cardinalis, Zones 2 to 9

Size: 3 to 4 feet tall, 1 to 2 feet wide

Cardinal flower, named for the red robes worn by Roman Catholic cardinals, needs mulch to retain moisture during summer and protect its root system during cold northern winters. It’s one of the top hummingbirds flowers you should grow.

Why we love it: This deer-resistant, reseeding and self-rooting perennial lights up partial shade or full sun areas that boast consistently moist soil. Flower spikes open from bottom to top, and stay in bloom for several weeks. 

Check out the top 10 red hummingbird flowers.

Courtesy Melissa Brewer

2. Bee Balm

Monarda species, Zones 4 to 9

Size: 1 to 4 feet tall and wide

For a surefire way to attract hummingbirds with flowers, grow bee balm. This beauty grows up to 4 feet tall in full sun and starts flowering in midsummer. You can even find several varieties on the market that are resistant to mildew. Whether you choose natives or cultivated varieties, the birds can’t resist the nectar-rich blooms. Bee balm needs sun, moist soil, and plenty of air circulation to ward off powdery mildew.

Why we love it: After the tubular pink, red, white or violet flowers fade, the round seed heads add beauty in fall and winter and may self-sow.

Check out the top annual flowers that attract hummingbirds. Then, take a look at the best perennials to grow for hummingbirds. 

Courtesy Walters Gardens Inc.

3. Penstemon

Penstemon species, Zones 3 to 9

Size: 1 to 4 feet tall

Penstemons are North American natives that come in many forms. It’s best to plant those that are native to your area. These hummingbird flowers are low-maintenance if you place them in full sun and soil with excellent drainage; they hate wet feet, especially in the winter.

Why we love it: The options are nearly limitless. Choose from a wide palette of flower colors, including white, yellow, blue, purple, red and orange. 

Grow these potted flowers and plants that attract hummingbirds.

Courtesy Walters Gardens Inc.

4. Hosta

Hosta Species, Zones 3 to 9

Size: 6 to 30 inches

Although most hostas are grown for their leaves, they also have flowers that hummingbirds like. The large bell-shaped blooms are excellent nectar sources in hues of purple to white.

Why we love it: Everyone thinks of hummingbird plants for sunny areas, but the little fliers like a sweet treat in the shade, too.

Check out more long-blooming flowers for attracting butterflies and hummingbirds.

Courtesy Walters Gardens, Inc.

5. Catmint

Nepeta Species, Zones 3 to 9

Size: 1 to 3 feet tall, often wider than it is tall

Catmint is easy to grow, long-blooming, heat-tolerant, and deer- and pest-resistant. After the hummingbird flowers fade, shear off the spent blooms and about a third of the stalk for a second round.

Why we love it: Hummingbirds especially like Siberian catmint’s blue blooms (Nepeta sibirica). Just be aware that this variety can be an aggressive grower.

Check out the top 10 purple flowers that attract hummingbirds.

Courtesy Walters Gardens, Inc

6.

Agastache

Agastache species, Zones 4 to 9

Size: 1 to 5 feet tall

It’s no coincidence that a common name for one of the agastache species is hummingbird mint. That type excels in dry regions. Choose anise hyssop (Agastache foeniculum) in northern, wetter climates. Tiny tubular hummingbird flowers on slender stalks grow in a variety of colors and shapes. Full sun and excellent drainage are essential for keeping plants happy.

Why we love it: Deer and rabbits leave it alone.

Learn how to create an ideal hummingbird habitat.

Courtesy Jake Bonello

7. Eastern Red Columbine

Aquilegia Canadensis, Zones 3 to 8

Size: 1 to 3 feet tall, 1 foot wide

This easy-to-grow perennial performs in part to full shade. It reseeds itself to replenish older plants, which tend to lose vigor after three or four years. The airy habit allows it to grow among other plants.

Why we love it: Sure, you can find cultivated varieties of columbines, but native columbine, with its crimson spurs and bright yellow stamens, is an early-season favorite flower that hummingbirds like.

Psst—hummingbirds also love these pink nasturtium flowers.

North Creek Nurseries Inc.

8. Trumpet Honeysuckle

Lonicera Sempervirens, Zones 4 to 10

Size: 10- to 20-foot vine

If you have a fence, arbor or trellis in full sun to part shade, plant a colorful trumpet honeysuckle vine. Hummingbirds go absolutely wild for this climber. We don’t always recommend honeysuckle—many types are invasive—but this one is an exception worth considering. It’s native to many areas, and hummingbirds will visit all summer for its nectar. The vine climbs up to 12 feet tall and thrives in full sun to partial shade.

Why we love it: After a flush of blooms in late spring, flowers continue sporadically until fall. Prune or don’t prune—your choice.

“Trumpet honeysuckle is by far the most favored hummingbird plant in my yard. It blooms all season, produces fruit that other birds enjoy and is native to the United States,” says Karen Dennis, Plymouth, Michigan.

Psst—did you know that honeysuckle is the June birth flower?

Courtesy Liz Tabb

9. Salvia

Salvia species, annual to perennial Zones 3 to 10

Size: 1 to 6 feet tall

Pick a salvia, any type of salvia—hummingbirds like them all. The tubular blooms are just right for dipping a beak into. Salvias grow best in full sun to part shade. Annual salvia is a garden favorite, but don’t forget the power of the perennial variety. The blooms can reach 1 to 5 feet tall, flowering in bright shades of purple, indigo, maroon and even red. Grow in full sun, and you’ll probably want to add a few extra for the butterflies, too. Check out the top 10 salvias to grow for hummingbirds.

Why we love it: Almost continuously blooming, especially in hot, dry conditions, salvias come in a huge selection of colors and plant habits. Many gardeners grow these hummingbird flowers because they’re a good drought-tolerant option in summer. Don’t forget to grow it in well-draining soil for best results.

“Hummingbirds love all of the salvias, but Black & Blue is a favorite in our yard,” says Ginny Phillips Olathe, Kansas.

Also grow Mexican bush sage and cypress vine for hummingbirds and butterflies.

Courtesy Julie Droppleman

10. Zinnia

Zinnia Elegans, annual

Size: 6 to 48 inches tall

Humans and hummingbirds like zinnia flowers for several reasons. They’re easy to grow from seed. The birds sip from the central florets, and you can snip the blooms to create indoor bouquets.

Why we love it: There are so many colors to choose from! If you’re planting a rainbow of colors and need green flowers, choose Queen Lime, Envy, Tequila Lime or other chartreuse varieties.

Learn how to attract hummingbirds to your balcony.

11. Flowering Tobacco

Nicotiana spp., annual

Often flying under the radar, this might be one of the best-kept secrets among hummingbird plants. Yes, it is an annual, but once gardeners discover the power of this flower, they eagerly plant it again and again. You can find it in a whole spectrum of colors, including pink, white, red, lavender and green.

Bonus tip: While it varies by cultivar, this plant is also known for its fragrance. If you like sweet-smelling blooms in the evening for a moon garden, make sure you pick a white-flowering variety.

Discover the 15 types of hummingbirds found in the United States.

Walters Gardens Inc.

12. Red Hot Poker

Kniphofia, Zones 5 to 9

Red hot poker is one of the most dramatic and visually appealing flowers in the garden, pale yellow at the base and bold orange on top. Some varieties have an extra jolt of orange. The plants grow up to 4 feet high and are among the earlier summer bloomers.

Bonus tip: You really want to plant these in well-draining soil. They’re prone to rot in boggy or even moist soil.

Discover 17 jaw-dropping facts about hummingbirds.

Walters Gardens Inc.

13. Delphinium

Delphinium, Zones 3 to 7

This towering treasure makes a statement at the back of a mixed border, as a vertical accent or in a container. With dozens of blooms on each stem, it gives hummingbirds plenty of nectar sources to share with butterflies and other bugs, too.

Bonus tip: Some varieties, like the Summer Blues pictured here, are a lot bluer than others. For heat tolerance, try the Blue Mirror cultivar.

Discover 14 questions about hummingbird feeders answered by experts.

Courtesy Eric Tome

14. Trumpet Vine

Campsis radicans, Zones 4 to 9

We see dozens of photos of hummingbirds at trumpet vine, and there’s a good reason. They like this sweet beauty! A perennial favorite of both butterflies and hummingbirds, it grows up to 40 feet tall.

Bonus tip: When you plant this stunner, it pays to invest in a good trellis, or put it next to a tree, telephone pole or sturdy fence. If you can provide this vine with good support, it will last for years.

Discover the top 10 vines for hummingbirds.

Bailey Nurseries

15. Coral Bells

Heuchera, Zones 3 to 9

Don’t overlook the power of pink, a color available in many species that we normally think of as having red flowers. Coral bells are valued for their foliage and shade tolerance. In late spring, the plant sends up attractive, long-lasting wands of tiny flowers that hummingbirds like all summer long.

Bonus tip: Spend time getting to know the different cultivars, which have some of the garden’s most diverse and beautiful foliage options. It won’t be long until you have your own favorites.

Check out the top 10 hummingbird plants that grow in shade.

Readers’ Favorite Hummingbird Flowers

Firecracker Plant

Photo: Courtesy of Proven Winners, provenwinners.com

“Every year I place a big pot of large firecracker plant (Cuphea ‘Vermillionaire’) on my deck. Hummingbirds are zipping about just inches from me all summer!” says Janet Doherty, Scarborough, Maine.

Red Canna Lily

Courtesy Andrea Garvin

“Almost every time I look at my red canna lilies, there is a hummingbird at them,” says Liza Vaughn, Fairfax, Virginia.

Aloe Plant

Courtesy Koji Kanemoto

“My king aloe plant blooms four or five times each summer, sending up grand 4-foot stalks covered in bell-shaped flowers. Hummers sit on the branches and feed,” says Lorraine Smith, Lake Charles, Louisiana.

Next, learn what foods, how often and how much hummingbirds eat.

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David Beaulieu

David Beaulieu

David Beaulieu is a landscaping expert and plant photographer, with 20 years of experience. He was in the nursery business for over a decade, working with a large variety of plants. David has been interviewed by numerous newspapers and national U.S. magazines, such as Woman's World and American Way.

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Updated on 03/09/22

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Reviewed by Kathleen Miller

Kathleen Miller is a highly-regarded Master Gardener and Horticulturist who shares her knowledge of sustainable living, organic gardening, farming, and landscape design. She founded Gaia's Farm and Gardens, a working sustainable permaculture farm, and writes for Gaia Grows, a local newspaper column. She has over 30 years of experience in gardening and sustainable farming.

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For those who enjoy both gardening and bird watching, it is fortunate that there are so many great plants for attracting hummingbirds. Bird watchers desirous of drawing these fine-feathered beauties with nectar-filled flowers will not need to sacrifice landscaping impact at all.

The variety of plants for attracting hummingbirds is so great that, in the process of building hummingbird gardens, you could also be building a landscape that will be the talk of the neighborhood.

You are not limited to using red flowers either, although red is famous for catching the attention of these winged wonders. In this list of nectar-rich plants commonly used for attracting hummingbirds, you will see lots of red flowers, but also purple, white, orange, pink, and blue hues, too.

The selection of plants for your hummingbird garden should not be based solely on flower color. Aim for a mix of different sizes, textures, forms, and bloom times. Take advantage of the diversity of plant types available at your local garden center to achieve a well-rounded landscape. You can choose from annuals, perennials, vines, shrubs, trees, bedding plants, and hanging plants.

Flower Factors to Consider

In addition to being attractive flowers for hummingbirds, the following criteria should be considered when selecting plants:

Vines, Bushes, and Herbaceous Perennials

Vines and bushes are important to include for those who want to combine effective landscape design with the hobby of watching hummingbirds or butterflies. Bushes can be used as structural elements to form a border to separate two properties. They can be similarly employed within your own property bounds to define distinct outdoor spaces.

Even a driveway can be transformed from a humdrum component of a landscape to an aesthetic achievement if bordered by attractive bushes. A vine-covered arbor can likewise be an important structural element of a landscape, furnishing it with a focal point.

Here are some of the best annuals, perennials, vines, and herbaceous plants to serve as hummingbird magnets for perennial flower beds.

Planning a Landscape

When drawing a landscape plan to determine what goes where in a new landscape layout, landscape designers divide the property into "activity zones. " In this case, the activity zones will focus on viewing hummingbirds as they feed on nectar. A diverse group of plant types serves different functions:

Article Sources

The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

  1. Poison Control - National Capital Poison Center. “Poisonous and Non-Poisonous Plants.” Poison.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 

  2. American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. “Rhododendron.” Aspca.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 

Worst Hummingbird Flowers 💡 Gardening | HomeInteriorz.

com

Every book,

expert recommend planting hummingbirds to attract backyard laps, but it takes more than just pretty flowers to visit these birds. Many of the most common, widespread backyard flowers are actually terrible choices for attracting hummers, and knowing what blooms to avoid can help backyard birders create stunning flower beds that also serve as a nutritious buffet for hummingbird visits.

Why not all flowers are Hummingbird friendly

Hummingbirds can be visited by hundreds of different types of flower, but not every type of flower is equally attractive to these immature birds and with some 400,000 flowering plants in the world, there are many such hummingbirds that are disliked. Many flowers don't produce any nectar at all, and therefore don't have food to satisfy a hungry hummer. In addition, hummingbirds have developed their specialized needle bills to deeply explore flowers with tubular shapes, and flowers with other shapes are less attractive to hummingbirds. Because hummingbirds often hover while feeding, flowers that don't provide a good place for the birds to hang out are also less attractive. When flower blooms can also affect the attractiveness that hummingbirds can have - some of the earliest spring flowers reach their peak long before hummingbirds return from winter ranges and are therefore useless to birds.

Flowers that are not native to typical hummingbird ranges may be less recognizable to birds, and hybrid varieties - although they may have the proper shape and colors that appeal to hummingbirds - may also not have sufficient nectar and will not hold hummingbird interest . Even if a flower is initially attractive to hummingbirds, if the plant is an invasive, exotic variety, it may be less suitable as part of a hummingbird garden, as using it will crowd out other plants that are more attractive and may eventually damage additional landscaping.

Hummingbirds don't like flowers

While any curious hummingbird can explore any flower before deciding whether to sip on a flower or stay close by, some flowers that are most popular in backyard gardens are least popular with hummingbirds. Flowers that are generally disliked by hummingbirds include:

Any flower can still be useful

at that time that different flowers may not be different that different flowers may not be different as different colors useful as a nectar food source, these tiny birds may still use unappetizing flowers as favorite perches for resting or exploring their territory, especially if there are feeders or flowers not associated with nectar. Hummingbirds may also nest in dense flower shrubs that provide adequate shelter and protection from predators, even if the flowers themselves do not provide nectar. Any flowers may also contain insects for food, which are the main protein in the hummingbird's diet, as well as cobwebs for nesting material. Colors of different colors can capture the attention of hummingbirds and draw them into the yard, where they can discover other, more suitable flowers, feeding areas, and nesting sites.

Replacing flowers

If there are flower beds in the yard filled with the wrong types of flowers, no matter how pretty the bed is or how lush the flowers are, hummingbirds will not visit. Luckily, it's easy to replace flowers to attract more hummingbirds without destroying the integrity of your established flower beds.

Whether or not each flower is suitable for hummingbirds, other birds may enjoy different colors and may use the smaller hummingbird-specific flowers.

Ideally, the best friendly bright colorful birds will include a range of flowers to meet the needs of all birds, as well as other trees, shrubs, and vineyards that can provide food, shelter, and nesting sites for all kinds of birds, including hummingbirds.

Photo - Roses © Valdiney Pimenta

❓ What color is a hummingbird?

👉 Hummingbird wings are rarely bright, their color is based on pigments, like in almost all other birds, and can be dull-buff, brownish or black [9] [6] (exception is Eulampis jugularis [en] [6] ).

❓ Can hummingbirds extract insects from flowers?

👉 There is no evidence that hummingbirds can extract insects from flowers, which seems to be related to the structure of the beak [32]. Hummingbirds cannot hold insects in their beaks even for a few seconds [14] .

❓ What is the right way to feed hummingbirds?

👉 Feeding, hummingbirds often first consume nectar on the periphery of their feeding territories, so that competitors get less [15]. Some male hummingbirds are able to cover distances of 0.5–1.5 km to protect their food territories during the flowering period [30]. This strategy is usually characteristic of brightly colored birds [35].

❓ What is the classification of hummingbirds?

👉 The modern classification of hummingbirds is based on the fifth volume of his "Check-List of Birds of the World" [1]. Peters's classification marked the end of the "golden age" of hummingbirds, since then new species have been described extremely rarely [14].

Video instruction: ?? WE DRAW THE HUMMBING BIRD WITH WATERCOLOR.

Top 10 Flowers To Attract Hummingbirds 💡 Gardening | HomeInteriorz.com

There are dozens of flowers that can attract hummingbirds, but some flowers are better at enticing these flying jewels than others. When choosing hummingbird flowers for your garden or landscape, look for flowers that have rich, vibrant colors (red is preferred but not essential to attract hummingbirds), special long or tapered forms that can accommodate long bills of soaring birds, and are rich in nectar to keep the bird coming back for more. Native species are always preferred because hummingbirds will be more familiar with them and plants will develop more easily with a minimum of care, and plants with long bloom times or repeat blooms are considered to be a reliable food source for hummingbirds for many weeks. Adding a variety of flowers will not only create an attractive hummingbird garden, but also provide ample food for a variety of hummingbirds throughout the spring, summer, and fall, and even explore flowers that can bloom in mild winters to feed overwintered hummingbirds in southern areas.

These 10 flowers are tried and true plants that love hummingbirds love. Check your local nursery or landscaping for popular and suitable varieties for your area and create a backyard stroller habitat!

❓ What are the best hummingbird flowers?

👉 The Lupine is worth a special mention on this list of hummingbird flowers. It has long, beautiful spikes of flowers that come in different sizes and colors (including white, red, purple, pink, orange, and cream) and attractive grayish-green foliage. Even with so many different species, the hummingbirds seem to appreciate every single one of them.

❓ What are the Best-Kept Secrets among hummingbird plants?

👉 Often flying under the radar, this might be one of the best-kept secrets among hummingbird plants. Yes, it is an annual, but once gardeners discover the power of this flower, they eagerly plant it again and again. You can find it in a whole spectrum of colors, including pink, white, red, lavender and green.

Learn more