Three characteristics characterize flowers that attract hummingbirds. They grow where it’s convenient for hummingbirds to hover and drink, and their tube-shaped, vibrantly colored blossoms have no scent. See which 14 vibrant flowers hummingbirds adore. Here’s how to turn your backyard into the ideal hummingbird habitat.
Lantana
Once established, lantana is a resilient plant that does not dislike heat or drought. It is an annual in most of the country, but in warm regions it can become a perennial shrub. Seek out non-invasive, novel varieties.
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Cardinal Ascent
With its ferny foliage and small red flowers fashioned like stars that hummingbirds adore, this heirloom plant is attractive. These plants are vines, as their name implies, and they grow swiftly to cover a fence or trellis. Red cypress vines, commonly known as cardinal climbers, are easy to grow from seed.
The Columbine
Hummingbirds can get early-season nectar from columbine, a spring blossom. It comes in a variety of hues, likes lower springtime temps, and rapidly self-seeds.
Penstemon
Native to North America, penstemons exist in several forms. Planting plants that are natural to your location is preferable. If you put them in full sun and well-drained soil, they require little care; they detest damp feet, especially in the winter.
The almost infinite alternatives are the reason we adore it. A broad range of floral hues, such as white, yellow, blue, purple, red, and orange, are available for selection. These are our top picks for creating a garden at a reasonable price.
Sunflower
Sunflowers range in height from one foot to ten feet and are incredibly easy to grow from seed. They also come in a wide variety of colors and sizes! All pollinators adore them, but hummingbirds depend on them for late-season sustenance. To maintain the blooms, plant a variety of sunflower varieties!
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Fuchsia
The most exotic-looking blooms are found in fuchsia. They are available in hot pink, pastel pink, and purple hues. The flowers look their finest when they cascade out of window boxes and baskets, which also maintain the blossoms at eye level so you can enjoy the hummingbird visitors.
Hosta
While most hostas are planted for their leaves, the enormous, bell-shaped blooms, which range in color from purple to white, are a wonderful source of nectar.
Reasons we adore it: Hummingbird plants are typically associated with sunny spots, but the little fliers also enjoy a tasty meal in the shadow.
Catmint
Long-blooming, heat-tolerant, and resistant to pests and deer, mint is a simple plant to grow. Shear off spent blossoms and approximately 1/3 of the stalk for a second cycle of blooming when the flowers fade.
While hummingbirds consume a variety of catmints, they are particularly fond of the blue blossoms of Nepeta sibirica, or Siberian catmint. Just be warned that this type can develop quite quickly. Make sure you understand these simple strategies for improving the quality of your garden.
Eastern Red Columbine
This perennial is easy to grow and does well in partial to complete shade. Older plants tend to lose vitality after three or four years, therefore it reseeds itself to refill. It may grow with other plants because of its airy tendency.
Though there are developed kinds available, native columbine is a popular in the early part of the season because of its vivid yellow stamens and scarlet spurs. Find out what frequent blunders people can be making when using hummingbird nectar.
Salvia
Choose any kind of salvia you like, just like hummingbirds do. The blossoms are tubular and perfect for sticking your beak inside. Salvias thrive in light to moderate shade.
Why we adore it: Salvias have an enormous range of colors and plant habits, and they bloom almost constantly, especially in hot, dry weather.
Honey suckle
Hummingbirds will go crazy for this climber if you put a bright trumpet honeysuckle vine on a fence, arbor, or trellis that receives full sun to partial shade.
Why we adore it: Flowers appear intermittently until October, following a burst of blossoms in late April. You can choose to prune or not prune. The form of honeysuckle is ideal for hummingbirds, such as this ruby-throat.
Agastache
The fact that hummingbird mint is a widespread name for one of the agastache species is not by accident. It kind does well in arid environments. In cooler, northern latitudes, opt for anise hyssop (Agastache foeniculum). Tiny tubular blooms in a range of colors and shapes are grown on thin stems. Good drainage and full sun are necessary for healthy plant growth.
Why we adore it: Rabbits and deer stay away from it.
Bee Balm
Grow bee balm for an easy way to draw hummingbirds. The birds are enamored with the nectar-rich blossoms, regardless of whether you select native or domesticated kinds. To prevent powdery mildew, bee balm need sun, moist soil, and lots of air circulation.
Why we adore it: The circular seed heads, which have the potential to self-sow, provide beauty in the fall and winter after the tubular pink, red, white, or violet flowers fade.
Cardinal Flowers
The cardinal flower, so called because of the scarlet robes worn by Roman Catholic cardinals, requires mulch in order to keep its roots warm during the summer and dry during the bitterly cold winter months in the north.
Why we adore it: Whether planted in full sun or partial shade, this self-rooting, reseeding, deer-resistant perennial adds brightness to areas with consistently moist soil. For several weeks, flower spikes open from bottom to top and remain in bloom. These are some more hummingbird-friendly plants.
