Hummingbirds are attracted to flowers with an abundance of nectar that they can easily access. Their long, slender beaks and tongues are perfectly adapted for sipping nectar from blooms. While hummingbirds will visit many different flowers, they do tend to have preferences for certain blossoms that provide them with the most nutrition.
With over 30 different species of hummingbirds found in California, their favored flowers can vary across the state. However, some clear favorites stand out that attract these energetic, hovering birds from multiple species.
Red Flowers Tend to Be Preferred
Research has shown that hummingbirds are often drawn to flowers in shades of red. These include native wildflowers as well as cultivated ornamental varieties.
One reason red blooms are so popular is that they are visually striking against green foliage, making them easy for hummingbirds to spot. The color red also happens to correspond with the red end of the color spectrum, which stands out strongly in the vision of hummingbirds compared to that of humans.
Scarlet Sage
With its vivid red flower spikes, scarlet sage is a favorite of California hummingbirds. A number of species can be found hovering around and sipping nectar from these tubular blooms during their peak summer and fall flowering period.
Scarlet sage is a perennial herb in the mint family and a California native. Its Latin name is Salvia coccinea. It grows 1-3 feet tall and does well in gardens throughout the state, needing little water once established.
Fuchsia-Flowering Gooseberry
Another red-flowering California native, fuchsia-flowering gooseberry is a hummingbird magnet. This low-growing woody shrub produces drooping tubular red flowers that appeal to hummingbird species across the state.
With the Latin name of Ribes speciosum, the fuchsia-flowering gooseberry can be found growing wild in canyons and shady areas below 5,000 feet elevation. In gardens, it does well in partial shade with occasional watering required.
Paintbrush
Several red-flowering species of paintbrush can be found growing wild across California and they regularly attract hummingbird visitors. These include scarlet paintbrush (Castilleja miniata), Indian paintbrush (Castilleja affinis), and giant red paintbrush (Castilleja miniata ssp. elata).
Paintbrush are wildflowers in the figwort family with tubular, brightly colored blossoms. They bloom in spring and summer and add a beautiful pop of color to meadows, grasslands, and woodland areas while providing nectar for hummingbirds.
Orange and Yellow Blooms Also Prove Popular
While red appears to be an overall favorite, hummingbirds are also frequently drawn to flowers in shades of orange and yellow. Again, these warm, vivid colors are easy for the birds to spot.
California Poppy
The bright orange blooms of the California poppy are a classic draw for hummingbirds, along with other pollinators. This wildflower grows throughout California, lighting up fields and hillsides with its colorful spring blossoms.
Given its popularity with hummingbirds, the California poppy (Eschscholzia californica) is an excellent addition to home gardens hoping to attract these energetic little birds.
Lantana
Lantana is a popular and easy-to-grow ornamental plant that produces clusters of brightly colored, tubular flowers in shades of orange, yellow, pink, and more. The nectar-rich blossoms attract hummingbirds, making lantana a favorite among gardeners.
There are over 150 species of lantana, both perennial and annual. In California, perennial varieties such as Lantana camara do best and can bloom spring through fall following a winter dormancy period.
Fremontodendron
Known as the flannel bush, this large California native shrub produces abundant clusters of bright yellow, crinkly flowers in spring and summer. Hummingbirds flock to these blossoms for their nectar.
With two main species found in California gardens and wild areas, Fremontodendron californicum and F. decumbens are drought-tolerant once established and require little care beyond occasional pruning.
Tubular Blossoms Suit Hummingbirds’ Feeding Style
Along with color, the floral shape that a hummingbird-pollinated bloom takes is also important when seeking to attract these winged visitors.
Hummingbirds have specially adapted slender beaks and tongues that are ideal for accessing nectar from long, tubular blossoms. Therefore, flowers with this trumpet- or tube-like shape tend to be favored by hummingbirds across species.
Trumpet Vine
As its name hints, trumpet vine produces showy flowers with a characteristic tubular trumpet shape in colors like orange and red. Native trumpet vine species like Campsis radicans thrive in California and provide an excellent nectar source for local hummingbirds.
Trumpet vines grow rapidly to cover walls, fences, and trellises, producing flowers throughout the warm season that attract hummingbirds to gardens.
Penstemon
Commonly called beardtongue, penstemon is a diverse genus of wildflowers native to California. Over 270 species occur in North America, and numerous types can be found growing wild across California.
Penstemons produce tubular, two-lipped blossoms in colors like red, pink, purple, and white. These provide abundant nectar for hummingbirds, who can be observed visiting penstemon flowers in mountain meadows, chaparral habitat, and other areas across the state.
Columbine
Columbine flowers have elegant, bell-shaped blossoms with slender, tubular nectaries that perfectly match a hummingbird’s feeding style. Some yellow-flowered California native species, like golden columbine (Aquilegia formosa) are hummingbird favorites.
Garden columbines like Aquilegia x hybrida produce a wide palette of brightly colored blooms. Non-native columbines have naturalized across California, growing in mountain forests and canyons and drawing in hummingbird visitors.
Native Plants Are Especially Valuable
To provide the greatest benefit to California’s local hummingbirds, planting native flowers, shrubs and trees that have co-evolved with them is recommended. Some clear favorites include:
- Sages – California sage, pitcher sage, pineapple sage
- California fuchsia
- Manzanita
- Mariposa lily
- Penstemon
- Mimulus
- Cleveland sage
These plants provide a natural food source that hummingbirds have relied on for generations. Focusing on a variety of tubular, red, orange and yellow blooms will help make a garden attractive to the highest diversity of hummingbirds.
Provide Other Habitat Features
Beyond flowers, hummingbirds also need places to perch, nest and roost. Here are some other habitat features to incorporate:
- Trees and shrubs – For shelter and as nest sites
- Water features – Hummingbirds enjoy bathing and drinking
- Dead trees and snags – Offer perching and nesting spots
- Native grasses and flowers – Provide material for nest building
By meeting all of a hummingbird’s needs in your yard, you can create an inviting oasis for these special birds.
Key Considerations When Planning Your Hummingbird Garden
Here is a quick checklist of important points when designing a garden to attract hummingbirds in California:
- Select a variety of tubular, red, orange and yellow flowers
- Emphasize California native plants
- Offer continuous blooms spring through fall
- Include flowering trees and shrubs
- Incorporate a water feature
- Provide sheltered perching and nesting areas
- Eliminate pesticides
- Place feeders to supplement natural nectar
- Site flowers out of windy areas
Focusing on these key elements will help make your garden as welcoming as possible to California’s remarkable hummingbirds.
Hummingbird Species Found in California
To understand the best flowers and plants to attract hummingbirds in California, it helps to know which species occur across different regions of the state. Here is a list of common hummingbirds found in California:
| Species | Regions Found |
|---|---|
| Anna’s Hummingbird | Year-round across most of state |
| Allen’s Hummingbird | Coastal California and Coast Range |
| Rufous Hummingbird | Northwest California, migrates outside breeding season |
| Calliope Hummingbird | Central and northern California, migrates |
| Black-chinned Hummingbird | Southwest California, migrates |
| Costa’s Hummingbird | Desert and southern California, partially migratory |
This variety of species means that gardens across California can attract an array of beautiful hummingbirds by providing the plants and habitats these birds prefer.
Final Thoughts
To summarize, hummingbirds are highly attracted to tubular blossoms in shades of red, orange and yellow, particularly California native species. By planting the flowers, shrubs, and trees hummingbirds rely on for food and shelter in your yard, you can create a welcoming habitat for these special pollinators throughout the seasons.
A garden thoughtfully designed with hummingbirds in mind will soon be buzzing with activity and dazzling aerial displays from these energetic jewels of the air.
