When choosing hummingbird flowers for your garden or landscape, look for blooms with rich, bright colors (red flowers are particular hummingbird favorites), long or tapered shapes that can accommodate the hovering birds’ long bills, and plentiful nectar to keep them coming back for more sips. Native plants are always preferred because hummingbirds will be more familiar with the flowers and the plants will thrive with minimal care. Also, consider plants with a long bloom time or repeat blooming, which will provide a reliable food source for hummingbirds for many weeks. The same plants loved by hummingbirds will also be attractive to butterflies, bees, and other pollinators. Check your local nursery or landscaping center for popular and appropriate cultivars for your area, and create your own hummingbird habitat today. If you are looking for inspiration, listed below are 10 of the best flower species for attracting hummingbirds to your landscape. This flower typically grows two to four feet tall and requires dividing every three to four years. It will self-seed freely in the garden unless the flowers are dead-headed after they bloom.
USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 9Color Varieties: Red, but purple and orange cultivars also availableSun Exposure: Full sun to part shadeSoil Needs: Rich, medium-moisture to wet soil
It is best positioned at the rear of mixed perennial garden beds. Adding mulch helps keep the soil moist and also prevents frost heaving in colder climates (north of zone 6). Cardinal flowers do not require division, but they are relatively short-lived perennials. However, it freely self-seeds and often colonizes permanently in the garden.
USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 9Color Varieties: Scarlet red; white and rose cultivars also availableSun Exposure: Full sun to part shadeSoil Needs: Rich, medium-moisture to wet soil
Heights range from six inches to about four feet, and flower colors are available in nearly every hue. After the hummingbirds have had their fill of the nectar, seeds will develop as the flowers mature, attracting finches and other seed-loving birds. Zinnias also make wonderful cut flowers. They like moist soil, but they can be susceptible to fungal diseases in humid conditions or when the foliage gets wet during watering. Give the plants plenty of space to encourage air circulation and avoid overhead watering.
USDA Growing Zones: 2 to 11; normally grown as an annualColor Varieties: All colors except blue and brownSun Exposure: Full sunSoil Needs: Humusy, moist, well-drained soil
Perennial salvia flowers emerge in mid-summer and bloom through late summer. They will bloom repeatedly if kept moist. This clump-forming plant grows 18 to 36 inches tall, requires no division, and steadily increases in size over time. It is a very easy plant to grow.
USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 11Color Varieties: Mauve, pink, purple, blueSun Exposure: Full sunSoil Needs: Dry to medium-moisture, well-drained soil
Foliage may turn yellow and die back in the heat of summer, but the plants reliably return each spring. This plant likes moist soil, but it must also be well-drained to prevent root rot.
USDA Growing Zones: 2 to 9Color Varieties: Pink, whiteSun Exposure: Part shade to full shadeSoil Needs: Rich, moist, well-drained soil
This is a drought-tolerant plant that thrives in full sun and develops into a thick, luxurious shrub over time, attracting more hummingbirds and providing great shelter for different types of birds. Caution: Buddleia davidii is regarded as an invasive plant in some regions, so check with local authorities before planting it. The cultivars are somewhat smaller and more well-behaved than the main species.
USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 10Color Varieties: Pink, purple, blueSun Exposure: Full sunSoil Needs: Medium-moisture, well-drained soil; tolerates drought conditions
It thrives best in full sun to partial shade, but beware of its invasive properties and aggressive growth. Frequent pruning is necessary to keep this plant from overwhelming a garden or escaping into surrounding areas.
USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 10Color Varieties: Orange, red, yellowSun Exposure: Full sun to part shadeSoil Needs: Average, well-drained soil
Plants typically grow three to four feet tall with spikes of dense flowers, although there are also dwarf varieties available that stay under two feet tall. No division is necessary, but they need to be replanted every three years or so. In hotter climates, lupines are often grown as annuals.
USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 8Color Varieties: Purple, blue; white, pink, and yellow cultivars also availableSun Exposure: Full sunSoil Needs: Evenly moist, well-drained soil; prefers slightly acidic soil
Columbine is most often used as an edging plant around fences and flower beds. It grows from one to three feet high, depending on the variety. Removing the flower stems after blooming will prompt additional flowers.
USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 8Color Varieties: Blue, purple, pinkSun Exposure: Full sun to part shadeSoil Needs: Average, well-drained soil
The flower thrives best in full sun and will bloom repeatedly, providing abundant nectar for hungry hummingbirds.
USDA Growing Zones: 10 to 11; normally grown as an annualColor Varieties: Pink, white, red, purple, blue, mixed colorsSun Exposure: Full sunSoil Needs: Medium-moisture, well-drained soil
