Hummingbirds are attracted to many different types of flowering plants that provide nectar, which is the main component of their diet. Some of the most popular backyard plants that attract hummingbirds include:
Trumpet Vine
Trumpet vines (Campsis radicans) produce large, tubular, orange-red flowers that hummingbirds love. They are vigorous climbers that can grow up to 40 feet, so they need a strong support structure. Trumpet vines bloom throughout the summer.
Fuchsia
Fuchsias produce elegantly dangling flowers in shades of red, pink, and purple. Hummingbirds are drawn to the nectar hidden inside their small, colorful blooms. Fuchsia varieties include trailing types for hanging baskets or upright bush types. They bloom spring through fall.
Petunia
Popular garden petunias (Petunia x hybrida) have funnel-shaped flowers perfectly suited for hummingbird pollination. Varieties with red or purple blooms seem to attract hummingbirds the most. Petunias are easy to grow in beds, pots, or hanging baskets. They bloom spring to frost.
Lantana
Lantana (Lantana camara) is a heat-loving annual with clusters of small, bright flowers in reds, oranges, pinks, yellows, and purples. Hummingbirds visit lantana frequently to drink the nectar and feed on the insects these flowers attract. Lantana blooms from spring until the first frost.
Salvia
Salvias produce long spikes of tubular flowers in shades of red, pink, purple, orange, and white depending on variety. Pineapple sage (Salvia elegans) and scarlet sage (Salvia splendens) are two hummingbird favorites. Salvias bloom from spring through fall.
Columbine
Columbines (Aquilegia spp.) have elegant, spurred blooms with nectar-rich centers that attract hummingbirds. Native red columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) and hybrid columbines offer flowers in a range of colors. Columbines bloom in spring and early summer.
Coral Honeysuckle
Coral honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) is a native American vine that bears clusters of long, red tubular flowers that hummingbirds love. It�s a low-maintenance plant that blooms throughout the summer. Plant coral honeysuckle along a fence or trellis for beautiful vertical interest.
Bee Balm
Also called monarda, bee balm (Monarda didyma) has shaggy, colorful blooms in pink, purple, red, and white. The tubular flowers provide an excellent source of nectar to hummingbirds. Bee balm is a hardy perennial that thrives in sun and blooms all summer long.
Cardinal Flower
Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis) produces tall spikes densely packed with brilliant scarlet-red flowers that attract hummingbirds. This native wildflower thrives alongside streams or ponds. Cardinal flowers bloom from mid-summer into fall.
Butterfly Bush
Butterfly bushes (Buddleia davidii) live up to their name by attracting both hummingbirds and butterflies. Their long panicles of tubular flowers come in shades of purple, pink, red, white, and blue depending on variety. They bloom from mid-summer through fall.
Gladiolus
The tall, showy flower spikes of gladiolus offer nectar-rich blooms that hummingbirds readily visit. Solid or bi-color varieties in red, orange, pink, or yellow seem to attract hummingbirds the most. Plant gladiolus corms in spring for summer blooms.
Beardtongue
Also known as penstemon, beardtongue (Penstemon spp.) offers tubular flowers perfectly suited for hummingbirds. Native varieties like cardinal beardtongue (Penstemon cardinalis) have brilliant red blooms, but beardtongue comes in many colors. It blooms in late spring and early summer.
Firecracker Plant
Firecracker plant (Russelia equisetiformis) is a tender perennial with trailing stems covered in petite, tubular red flowers. The abundant nectar attracts hummingbirds all summer and into fall. Plant firecracker in beds or pots where trailing stems can freely spill over the edges.
Flowering Tobacco
Flowering tobacco (Nicotiana alata) opens its tubular, star-shaped blooms at night, which makes it a great plant to attract hummingbird moths. But it also attracts hummingbirds to its nectar-rich flowers in shades of white, pink, red, and lime green. Flowering tobacco thrives in heat and blooms from spring until frost.
Weigela
Weigela (Weigela florida) offers clusters of funnel-shaped flowers that attract hummingbirds to their nectar. Look for varieties with red flowers, such as ‘Red Prince’. Weigela is a deciduous flowering shrub that blooms in late spring and early summer.
Canna Lily
Canna lilies (Canna x generalis) produce large flowers in shades of red, orange, pink, and yellow that provide copious nectar. Hummingbirds are frequent visitors, as are butterflies. Plant cannas in the garden for tropical flair and summer-long color.
Conclusion
There are many wonderful options when it comes to selecting plants that will attract hummingbirds to your garden. Focus on flowers with tubular or trumpet-shaped blooms in colors like red, orange, pink, and purple. Include a variety of flowering seasons – from spring through fall – to provide nectar for hummingbirds all season long. With a little planning, you can create a haven that hummingbirds will flock to again and again.
