Attracting hummingbirds to your garden can be an incredibly rewarding experience. Watching these energetic little birds dart around your yard sipping nectar from brightly colored flowers is a delight. With some strategic planting of hummingbird favorites, you’ll be rewarded with regular visits from these tiny dynamos. We’ve compiled a list of 10 great plants that are tried and true for attracting hummingbirds.

Trumpet Vine

Trumpet vines are vine-like plants with brightly colored tubular flowers that hummingbirds find irresistible. There are several species of trumpet vine, but trumpet honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) and trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) are two of the most popular.

Trumpet honeysuckle is a twining vine that can reach lengths of 20-30 feet. It produces clusters of red trumpet-shaped flowers that bloom from spring through summer. Hummingbirds feast on the nectar-rich blossoms. Trumpet honeysuckle thrives in zones 4-10. Plant in full sun to light shade. It does well in average soil and is quite drought tolerant once established.

Trumpet creeper is a more aggressive spreading vine that can reach 40 feet. It produces dense clusters of bright reddish-orange flowers from mid-summer into fall. Hummingbirds flock to it. Trumpet creeper grows well in zones 4-9. It needs full sun and well-drained soil. It will climb trees and structures if not controlled.

Both trumpet vines add bold splashes of color to the garden. Their tubular blooms contain abundant nectar perfectly suited to a hummer’s long, slender bill. Once planted, they will provide a constant nectar source for generations.

Fuschia

With their elegant ballerina-like flowers, fuchsias are one of the most graceful hummingbird plants. Their pendulous blooms come in a diverse range of colors, often with contrasting sepals and petals. Fuchsias produce copious amounts of nectar, making them magnets for hummingbirds through the summer.

Some excellent fuchsia varieties for hummingbirds include:

Autumnale – This late blooming hardy fuchsia produces an abundance of red and purple flowers from summer into fall. It’s perfect for cooler climates, thriving in zones 4-9. Autumnale grows 3-6 feet tall and wide. Site in part shade to full sun.
‘Gartenmeister Bonstedt’ – This basket fuchsia features elegant dangling flowers of red sepals and purple-violet petals. It blooms heavily from late spring into fall. ‘Gartenmeister’ is a compact variety that maxes out around 2 feet tall and wide. Grow in zones 9-11. Site in partial shade.
‘Firecracker’ – With flowers of bright red sepals and purple petals, this variety pops in the garden. Firecracker blooms from early summer into fall, reaching a size of 1-2 feet tall and wide. Grow in zones 9-11, siting in morning sun and afternoon shade.
‘Day Glow Pink’ – As the name suggests, the flowers of this variety are a brilliant neon pink. The tubular blooms appear in abundance from early summer into fall. ‘Day Glow Pink’ grows up to 2 feet tall and wide. Site in partial shade in zones 9-11.

With their dazzling flowers and high nectar production, fuchsias will have hummingbirds visiting early and often. Plant them in borders, containers or hanging baskets to allow easy access.

Salvia

The salvias are a huge group of plants in the mint family that includes many hummingbird favorites. With their long tubular flower shape perfectly adapted for a hummer’s bill, salvias produce copious nectar. Popular types include:

Pineapple Sage – This herbaceous perennial flowers in late summer and fall with brilliant red tubular blooms. Pineapple sage can reach 4 feet tall and wide. Grow in zones 5-10 in full sun to light shade. Hummingbirds flock to it.
Autumn Sage – Blooming from summer into fall, autumn sage produces abundant spikes of red, pink, white or purple flowers atop a woody 2-3 foot bush. Site autumn sage in full sun in zones 7-10. An excellent hummingbird plant.
Scarlet Sage – Also known as salvia coccinea, scarlet sage flowers from summer to frost with many spikes of scarlet blooms. It makes a great border or container plant, reaching 18-24 inches tall and wide. Grow scarlet sage in zones 10-11. Site in full sun.
Mexican Bush Sage – This late summer bloomer explodes with electric blue flower spikes that attract hummers from miles around. It grows in zones 8-11 as a woody bush 2-4 feet tall and wide. Mexican bush sage thrives in full sun with good drainage.

With their long bloom seasons and nectar-rich flowers in colors hummers can’t resist, salvias are sure to bring in the crowds. Be sure to include several types for season-long enjoyment.

Bee Balm

Also known as monarda, bee balm produces dense, globular flower heads in shades of red, pink, purple and white. The blossoms have a minty aroma that draws in hungry hummers for the high-quality nectar. Some top bee balm varieties include:

Jacob Cline – This mildew resistant cultivar blooms with bright red flowers from early to late summer. It grows 4-5 feet tall in clumping form. Jacob Cline thrives in zones 4-9. Site in full sun to light shade.
Raspberry Wine – Producing deep raspberry pink blooms from mid to late summer, this variety grows 3-4 feet tall in an upright clumping form. Raspberry Wine bee balm grows well in zones 4-9 in sun to part shade.
Marshall’s Delight – The bright pink flowers of this bee balm bloom from early summer into fall. It forms a bushy 2 foot tall clump that spreads slowly. Grow Marshall’s Delight in full sun in zones 3-8.
Petite Delight – A more compact monarda growing 12-18 inches tall, Petite Delight blooms with bright purple flowers from early summer through fall. Grow it in full sun in zones 4-9.

Bee balms are great hummingbird plants with excellent nectar production. The range of flower colors ensures you’ll have some variety blooming at all times to attract hummers throughout the season. Plant in borders, beds or containers.

Lantana

Lantana is a tropical flowering shrub that produces colorful clusters of flowers all summer long. Their nectar-rich, multi-colored blooms make them a hummingbird favorite. Some top picks include:

‘Miss Huff’ – This hardy variety features abundant clusters of orange, yellow, and red flowers from early summer into fall. Miss Huff makes a great hedge or border, growing 3-5 feet tall and wide. Thrives in zones 7-9. Site in full sun.
‘Radiation’ – Producing a colorful mix of orange, yellow, pink, and red blooms, Radiation lantana is a profuse summer bloomer. It forms a spreading 2 foot tall and wide bush. Grow in zones 9-11 in full sun.
‘Dallas Red’ – As the name suggests, this variety features bright red flower clusters. It blooms constantly from late spring into fall. Dallas Red reaches up to 3 feet tall and wide. Site in full sun in zones 8-11.
‘New Gold’ – With its bushy habit and bright golden yellow flowers, New Gold lantana is very attractive to hummingbirds. It grows 2-3 feet tall and wide, flowering non-stop from summer through fall. Grow in zones 9-11. Needs full sun.

Lantanas are tropical butterfly and hummingbird magnets. Their extended bloom season and nectar production will have hummers visiting daily once established. They’re also quite drought tolerant.

Columbine

Columbines produce elegant, bell-shaped flowers with spurs full of abundant nectar perfectly suited for a hummer’s long bill. They come in a diverse range of colors, often with contrasting sepals and petals. Some top choices include:

Colorado Columbine – The wild columbine of Colorado produces bright red and yellow flowers in late spring and early summer. This short-lived perennial reaches 1-2 feet tall and wide. Grow in zones 3-9 in part shade.
Crimson Star – Featuring striking bicolor flowers of bright crimson sepals and white petals, this long-blooming variety starts flowering in late spring and continues into summer. Crimson Star columbine grows 24 inches tall and wide. Site in part shade in zones 3-9.
Black Barlow – Unique double dark purple flowers give this columbine variety a distinctive look. It blooms heavily in spring and early summer, reaching a height and width of 24 inches. Grow in zones 3-9 in light shade.
Magpie – The flowers on this variety resemble a flock of magpies, with dark purple sepals and white petals. Grows 18 inches tall and blooms from late spring into summer. Magpie thrives in zones 3-9 in part shade.

Columbines are ephemeral spring bloomers, but they produce copious amounts of nectar to fuel up hummingbirds after their long migrations. Plant columbines in lightly shaded borders and woodland gardens.

Penstemon

Commonly called Beardtongue, penstemons produce tubular flowers perfectly designed for hummingbird pollination. They bloom in a rainbow of colors through summer into fall. Some top varieties include:

Husker Red – Sturdy spikes of bright red tubular flowers top the deep maroon-red foliage of this 2-3 foot tall perennial. Husker Red blooms heavily from early summer into fall. Grows well in zones 3-8 in full sun and average soil.
‘Blackbird’ – Producing abundant spikes of inky violet-purple flowers from early to late summer, Blackbird penstemon looks striking in the garden. It has dark green foliage and grows 3 feet tall. Thrives in zones 4-9 in sun to part shade.
‘Tequila Sunrise’ – Bright golden-orange blooms with red freckles give this penstemon variety its name. It has green foliage and blooms profusely from early summer into fall, reaching 2 feet tall. Grow in zones 5-9 in a sunny spot.
‘Sour Grapes’ – Lavender-blue blooms cover this variety from early summer until frost. It has purple-green foliage that provides nice contrast. Grows to 18 inches tall and wide. Thrives in zones 3-8 in sun.

Penstemons offer diversity with a long bloom season, making them excellent hummingbird plants. They also attract bees and butterflies. Plant them in beds, borders and containers.

Agastache

Commonly known as hyssop, the agastache genus includes many outstanding hummingbird plants. Their nectar-rich tubular flowers bloom prolifically in shades of blue, purple, pink, orange and white depending on variety. Some top choices:

Anise Hyssop – One of the most popular, anise hyssop produces abundant spikes of lavender-blue flowers with minty foliage. Grows 2-4 feet tall in upright clumping form. Blooms from midsummer into fall. Thrives in zones 4-9 in sun to part shade.
Golden Jubilee – As the name suggests, this variety features bright golden-orange flower spikes. It blooms constantly from summer into fall, reaching 2-3 feet tall and wide. Grow Golden Jubilee in zones 5-9 in full sun.
Blue Fortune – Prolific spikes of violet-blue flowers from midsummer into fall on this popular variety. It grows bushy at about 20 inches tall and 30 inches wide. Thrives in zones 5-9 in sun to light shade.
Tutti Frutti – Provides great color with its mix of hot pink, orange and white flower spikes all on the same plant. A profuse summer and fall bloomer growing 18-24 inches tall. Site in full sun in zones 5-9.

With their outstanding nectar production and long bloom time, agastaches are absolute hummingbird favorites. Plant them massed in beds and borders for maximum color impact.

Cardinal Flower

With its towering spikes of brilliant red blossoms, it’s easy to see why cardinal flower is a hummingbird darling. This moisture-loving perennial lights up shady gardens and rain gardens in summer.

Some excellent cardinal flower varieties include:

Cardinalis – This popular native wildflower sends up numerous spikes of bright red flowers from mid to late summer. It grows 3-4 feet tall in wet soil and part sun to shade. Thrives in zones 3-9.
Queen Victoria – Producing vibrant rosy-pink flower spikes from summer into early fall, this variety reaches 3 feet tall. Does well in wet soil and part shade in zones 3-8.
Giant Red – As you’d guess, this variety features large spikes of fiery red flowers. It blooms midsummer to fall, reaching 4-5 feet in height. Grow in moist soil and light shade in zones 3-8.
New Hybrid Mix – For an interesting color mix, try this variety featuring spikes in red, pink, white and purple. Grows about 3 feet tall in wet zones 3-9 in part sun.

Cardinal flowers naturally thrive in damp soils along stream banks, pond edges and rain gardens. Their bright flower spires beckon hungry hummers. Plant them anywhere you can provide consistent moisture.

Weigela

Weigela is a spring-blooming deciduous shrub that produces copious brightly colored flowers hummingbirds love. They’re easy to grow, tolerating most soils. Some top weigela varieties include:

Minuet – This compact variety grows just 2-3 feet tall and wide. It produces abundant pink and white trumpet-shaped flowers in late spring. Minuet does well in zones 4-8 in sun to part shade.
Rumba – Featuring clusters of ruby-red flowers contrasted with yellow throats, Rumba weigela blooms heavily in late spring and sporadically through summer. It grows 6-8 feet tall and does well in zones 4-8. Site in full sun.
My Monet – Unique green leaves with pink and white variegation give My Monet weigela year-round interest. It blooms profusely with light pink flowers in late spring. Stays under 3 feet tall and wide. Grows well in zones 4-8 in sun or shade.
Spilled Wine – Deep pink flowers combined with dark purple wavy leaves give this compact weigela striking color. It blooms heavily in spring and sporadically after. Grows 18-24 inches tall and wide. Thrives in zones 4-8 in full sun.

Weigelas offer diversity with many compact, colorful varieties to provide an early season boost of nectar. Plant them in beds, shrub borders or containers.

FAQ About Hummingbird Gardening

Hummingbirds are fascinating creatures that can brighten up any garden. Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about attracting hummingbirds with the right flowers and feeders:

What is the best way to attract hummingbirds?

The best way to reliably attract hummingbirds is to provide both flowering plants with tubular blooms and hummingbird feeders. The flowers provide important natural food sources while the feeders give quick energy. Place feeders in open areas near flowering plants.

What flowers do hummingbirds like most?

Hummingbirds favor tubular flowers in the red, orange, pink and purple color spectrum. Some of their favorites include bee balm, trumpet vine, fuchsia, penstemon, salvias, columbine, cardinal flower and trumpet honeysuckle. Have flowers blooming from spring through fall.

What is the best hummingbird feeder?

Look for a feeder that is easy to clean and fill, won’t leak, and will withstand the weather. Feeders with built-in perches allow hummers to rest. Red is a favorite color. Select a feeder style you prefer like glass, plastic, or basin type.

Where should I hang a hummingbird feeder?

Hang feeders 5-7 feet off the ground in an open area for easy accessibility. Place near flowering plants so hummers can alternate between nectar sources. Avoid placing near bushes where predators may hide. Use an S-hook for easy repositioning.

How do I make homemade nectar?

Mix 1 part white sugar to 4 parts water. Heat until the sugar is fully dissolved. Let cool and fill feeders. Do not use honey, brown sugar, or artificial sweeteners. Change nectar every 2-3 days in warm weather to prevent spoilage.

How often should hummingbird feeders be cleaned?

Clean feeders at least every 2 weeks with a bottle brush, mild soap and water. Rinse very well before refilling. Clean more frequently in hot weather. Dirty feeders can harbor bacteria that make hummers sick.

What plants provide shelter for hummingbirds?

Hummingbirds appreciate woody shrubs and small trees that provide shelter and nesting sites. Some good options are rose bushes, lilacs, azaleas, honeysuckle, juniper, maple and oak trees. Place shelter plants near food sources.

When do hummingbirds migrate?

Most hummingbirds in the U.S. and Canada migrate south in fall around August-September and return north in spring around April-May. Plant food sources at proper times to provide fuel for their long journeys.

How can I keep hummingbirds returning?

Provide a diverse range of preferred plants and consistent food from clean feed

10 Great Plants for Attracting Hummingbirds