There are dozens of flowers that can attract hummingbirds, but some flowers are better than others at attracting these flying jewels.

If you are going to choose flowers to attract hummingbirds to your garden, look for flowers that have bright, rich colors (although the best color is red, this is not strictly necessary to attract hummingbirds), look for special long or conical shapes so the birds can accommodate their long beaks, and that are rich in nectar so the birds will want to come back for more drinks.

Native species are always preferred because hummingbirds will be more familiar with them and the plants will thrive more easily with minimal care.

Plants that have an extended bloom time, or repeat bloom, will be considered so that they will be a reliable food source for hummingbirds for many weeks.

Adding diverse flowers will not only create an attractive garden for hummingbirds, but will also provide abundant food for the different species of hummingbirds during the spring, summer and fall.

It would also be interesting to add flowers that can bloom in mild winters to feed hummingbirds that overwinter in areas near the tropics.

These 10 flowers are tried and true plants that hummingbirds love. Check with your nursery friend for popular cultivars appropriate for your region.

 

1 – Monarda or Bergamot

Monarda’s long spikes and spherical shape make it an interesting and attractive plant for many gardens. This plant thrives best in full sun and will grow 30 to 50 cm tall. Different cultivars are available in bright shades of pink, red, orange and purple.

 

2 – Lobelia Cardinalis

An ideal choice for attracting hummingbirds, this flower is also called Cardinal Flower. Its long flower stalks can grow up to 3 feet and perform best in moist, well-drained soils. The abundant red flowers have a delicate form that is attractive to both landscaping and birds, and add height and visual interest to tiered flower beds.

 

3 – Zinnia, very beautiful and effective to attract hummingbirds.

Easy to grow, this annual has a compact form, and grows best in full sun. It blooms repeatedly from late summer to mid-fall, making it an ideal choice for migrating hummingbirds, and flowers can be pink, red, orange, orange, yellow, white or multicolored.

 

4 – Salvia

Tall spikes of small, delicate flowers make this a great plant for flowerbed backgrounds and centers, and flowers range from mauve and pink to purple and blue. Related to mint, sage flowers emerge in mid-summer and will continue to bloom through late summer. This plant grows best in full sun and will get larger each year.

 

5 – Mary’s heart

Dicentra spectabilis, mary’s heart or bleeding heart is a stunning plant with attractive foliage and pendant heart-shaped flowers in white or pink, bleeding hearts are hardier in cooler climates and thrive best in lightly shaded locations. They grow 50 to 80 cm and can be divided for transplanting as they grow, making them an economical choice for hummingbird gardens.

 

6 – Butterfly bush, important to attract hummingbirds.

True to its name, this plant is as good at attracting butterflies as it is at attracting hummingbirds. The thick elongated clusters of flowers come in shades of pink and purple and will bloom repeatedly from mid-summer through fall. This is a drought tolerant plant that thrives in full sun and develops into a thick, gorgeous shrub over time.

 

7 – Red bignonia

Also known as trumpet vine or hummingbird vine, this plant can quickly dominate a small area and will climb on many surfaces. It has dense foliage and its long, tubular flowers are perfect for hummingbirds. It thrives best in full sun to partial shade and produces orange, red or yellow flowers, but beware of its invasive properties.

 

8 – Lupines, essential to attract hummingbirds.

This early-blooming flower is ideal for attracting spring hummingbirds before other flowers have emerged, and its blue and purple hues are beautiful in spring gardens. It is a drought tolerant plant that grows best in areas with full sunlight.

 

9 – Aquilegia

This elegant flower is ideal for hummingbirds. The flowers come in shades of blue, purple and pink, and it thrives in areas with partial shade, where it can grow 40 to 60 cm tall.

 

10 – Petunia, great for attracting hummingbirds.

Petunias are easy to grow and inexpensive for any garden, and are also ideal for containers. They do best in full sun and will bloom repeatedly in shades of pink, white, red, purple, purple, blue and stunning variegated hues, which provide abundant nectar for hungry hummingbirds.

 

Bonus 1: Agapanthus

Very easy to grow this bulbous plant with trumpet-shaped flowers in turquoise, white and pink. Blooms in late spring, early summer and prolongs flowering until mid-summer. It likes the sun but does not tolerate very high temperatures. It tolerates drought but needs moist soil to bloom.

 

Bonus 2: Honeysuckle, beautiful to attract hummingbirds.

A very easy to grow but very invasive vine. It has very fragrant white flowers. Grows in full sun and also tolerates partial shade.

 

Photo by James Wainscoat on Unsplash