Gardening Plants & Flowers Flowers

15 Best Hummingbird Flowers to Plant

Best Flowers for Attracting Hummingbirds

The Spruce

If you want to cultivate an inviting hummingbird habitat in your yard, it's all about picking the right plants. The best hummingbird flowers feature bright blooms (red is a favorite for these flying jewels), tubular shapes to accommodate their long bills, and plentiful nectar.

No matter what growing zone you're in, there are many plants to attract hummingbirds. Selecting flowers with long bloom times or repeat blooming means you'll be treated to regular visits for many weeks. If you are looking for inspiration, here are 15 of the best hummingbird flowers to keep these winged wonders returning to your yard.

Diversity Is Important

A hummingbird garden featuring a wide variety of suitable flowers is more attractive and provides food throughout spring, summer, and fall. If you live in a southern region, investigate flowers that bloom through mild winters to offer much-needed food for migrating hummingbirds overwintering in your area.

  • 01 of 15

    Bee Balm

    red bee balm

    The Spruce / Adrienne Legault 

    • USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 9
    • Color Varieties: Red, but purple and orange cultivars are also available
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
    • Soil Needs: Rich, medium-moisture to wet soil

    The full spikes and spherical shape of perennial bee balm (Monarda didyma) make it an interesting and attractive plant in the garden—and a magnet for hummingbirds, butterflies, and other pollinators.

    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 you deadhead the flowers after they bloom.

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  • 02 of 15

    Cardinal Flower

    Cardinal flower plant spike with bright red petals and buds closeup

    The Spruce / Adrienne Legault

    • USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 9
    • Color Varieties: Scarlet red; white and rose cultivars are also available
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
    • Soil Needs: Rich, medium-moisture to wet soil

    The perennial cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis) produces long stalks of flowers growing as much as 4 feet tall. Its rich red blooms are delicately shaped, making it attractive as a garden plant and a food source for hummingbirds.

    It's best to position it at the rear of mixed perennial garden beds. Adding mulch helps moisten the soil and 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.

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  • 03 of 15

    Zinnia

    Bright pink zinnia flower with small layered petals in sunlight closeup

    The Spruce / Leticia Almeida

    • USDA Growing Zones: 2 to 11; normally grown as an annual
    • Color Varieties: All colors except blue and brown
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Humusy, moist, well-drained soil

    Zinnias are among the easiest annual flowers to grow, with bright bloom colors making them a favorite of hummingbirds and other pollinators. Most garden zinnias are cultivars of a few species within the Zinnia genus, especially Z. elegans, the common zinnia. There are literally hundreds of cultivars available, categorized by groups according to their growth habit and flower shape.

    Heights range from 6 inches to about 4 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, making them ideal plants to feed birds like finches. Zinnias also make wonderful cut flowers.

    They like moist soil but can be susceptible to fungal diseases in humid conditions or when the foliage gets wet during watering. Give the plants ample space to encourage air circulation and avoid overhead watering.

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  • 04 of 15

    Salvia

    Salvia plant with small purple flowers on spikes closeup

    The Spruce / Krystal Slagle

    • USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 11
    • Color Varieties: Mauve, pink, purple, blue
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Dry to medium-moisture, well-drained soil

    The Salvia genus within the mint family is very large, with several annual and perennial species. It's usually cultivars of Salvia nemarosa or Salvia greggii, also known as autumn sage, that are grown in the garden. Tall spikes of small, delicate flowers make salvia great plants for the backs or centers of flowerbeds.

    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.

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  • 05 of 15

    Bleeding Heart

    bleeding hearts

    The Spruce / Autumn Wood

    • USDA Growing Zones: 2 to 9
    • Color Varieties: Pink, white
    • Sun Exposure: Part shade to full shade
    • Soil Needs: Rich, moist, well-drained soil

    A stunning perennial plant with attractive foliage and dangling, heart-shaped blooms in white or pink, bleeding hearts (Lamprocapnos spectabilis) perform best in cooler climates and lightly shaded locations. They grow 24 to 36 inches tall, and you can divide them for transplanting as they lengthen.

    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.

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  • 06 of 15

    Butterfly Bush

    Butterfly bush plant with small pink flower clusters on thick elongated stalk

    The Spruce / Leticia Almeida

    • USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 10
    • Color Varieties: Pink, purple, blue
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Medium-moisture, well-drained soil; tolerates drought conditions

    True to its name, this deciduous flowering shrub is as good for attracting butterflies as it is for attracting hummingbirds. The thick, elongated clusters of flowers on a butterfly bush (Buddleia davidii) bloom repeatedly from mid-summer through fall.

    This drought-tolerant plant 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.

    Warning

    Buddleia davidii is an invasive plant in some regions, so check with local authorities before planting it.

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  • 07 of 15

    Trumpet Creeper

    Trumpet creeper plant with bright orange flowers closeup

    The Spruce / David Beaulieu

    • USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 10
    • Color Varieties: Orange, red, yellow
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
    • Soil Needs: Average, well-drained soil

    Also called trumpet vine or hummingbird vine, the trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) can quickly overpower a small area and will climb on many surfaces, including wooden arbors, fences, and trees. It has dense foliage, and its long, tubular flowers are perfect for hummingbirds.

    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.

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  • 08 of 15

    Lupine

    Lupine plant with purple and light pink flower spokes with leaves closeup

    The Spruce / Kara Riley

    • USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 8
    • Color Varieties: Purple, blue; white, pink, and yellow cultivars are also available
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Evenly moist, well-drained soil; prefers slightly acidic soil

    Wild lupines do not perform well in home gardens, but many hybrids make excellent, though short-lived, garden perennials. This early-blooming flower is ideal for attracting spring hummingbirds before other flowers have emerged and when insect food sources may still be scarce.

    Lupines (Lupinus x hybridus) typically grow 3 to 4 feet tall with spikes of dense flowers, although there are also dwarf varieties available that stay under 2 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.

    Don't Remove Spider Webs

    Tall plants, like lupines, are attractive locations for spiders to weave webs. If your goal is to draw hummingbirds to your garden, don't remove any webs appearing among the plants. Hummingbirds use the delicate web threads for material to build nests and often steal insects that are trapped in them.

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  • 09 of 15

    Columbine

    Columbine plant with small red and yellow spurs on thin stem closeup

    The Spruce / Adrienne Legault

    • USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 8
    • Color Varieties: Blue, purple, pink
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
    • Soil Needs: Average, well-drained soil

    There are several species within the Aquilegia genus that are used as garden perennials (for example, Aquilegia canadensis, the common columbine), but even more important are the many cultivars and hybrids developed from these species.

    Columbine is most often used as an edging plant around fences and flower beds. It grows from 1 to 3 feet high, depending on the variety. Removing the flower stems after blooming will prompt additional flowers.

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  • 10 of 15

    Petunia

    petunias

    The Spruce / Kara Riley 

    • USDA Growing Zones: 10 to 11; normally grown as an annual
    • Color Varieties: Pink, white, red, purple, blue, mixed colors
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Medium-moisture, well-drained soil

    Petunias are one of the most popular annual flowers since they are very easy to grow and inexpensive. They work well in just about any sunny garden location and are also favorites for containers, borders, and baskets in small spaces.

    The flower thrives best in full sun and will bloom repeatedly, providing abundant nectar for hungry hummingbirds.

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  • 11 of 15

    Penstemon

    Close up of the bloom of a purple penstemon flower

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    • USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 8
    • Color Varieties: Purple, blue, orange, red, yellow, pink, white
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Well-drained

    Beardtongue (Penstemon spp.) flowers are an ideal addition to your bird-friendly landscape. The bell-shaped blooms are filled with sweet nectar that hummingbirds can easily access, and each tall plant has many flowers.

    Perennial penstemons are easy to grow from seed, drought tolerant, and provide nectar throughout the summer. They need a full sun position to thrive and don't compete well with other plants, so select somewhere they have plenty of space to grow independently.

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  • 12 of 15

    Trumpet Honeysuckle

    Coral honeysuckle close up of blooms on the end of leafy branches

    The Spruce / Adrienne Legault

    • USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 11
    • Color Varieties: Red, pink, orange, yellow
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
    • Soil Needs: Loamy, sandy, clay, well-drained

    The spring-blooming tubular flowers of the trumpet honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) are a perfect early source of nectar for returning hummingbirds and other pollinators.

    You can train this easy-to-care-for vining plant to grow up a trellis where it gets plenty of sun, and while trumpet honeysuckles are drought tolerant, regular watering helps promote abundant blooms.

    Coral honeysuckle, as it is also known, is a great alternative to the invasive non-native common honeysuckle. Selecting native plants is preferential for supporting local wildlife, like hummingbirds, and they are well-adapted to local conditions.

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  • 13 of 15

    Coral Bell

    Close up of the pink blossoms of coral bell plants

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    • USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 9
    • Color Varieties: Red, white, pink, orange
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
    • Soil Needs: Rich, moist but well-drained

    The rich nectar in the small, bell-shaped blooms of native North American coral bells (Heuchera spp.) is a huge draw for visiting hummingbirds and butterflies. While these are short-lived perennials, regularly dividing your coral bells means you can keep a continual supply of these flowers in your yard.

    Pick a partial shade location with rich, well-draining soil to see them thrive. And, if you want to keep the hummingbirds happy, don't cut back the stems too soon in an effort to direct energy to the foliage. By deadheading spent blooms, birds can enjoy a plentiful supply of flowers right through summer and into the fall.

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  • 14 of 15

    Flowering Tobacco

    Close up of the purple flowers and green foliage of the tobacco flower

    The Spruce / Autumn Wood

    • USDA Growing Zones: 10 to 11; normally grown as an annual
    • Color Varieties: Yellow, green, white, pink, red
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
    • Soil Needs: Moist, well-drained

    The tobacco flower (Nicotiana alata) is a secret weapon in your hummingbird flower arsenal. It's often overlooked, but hummers love the trumpet-shaded blooms, and, as an added bonus, they are deer-resistant flowers.

    These flowers are easy to grow, providing you can provide the warm weather and rich, well-draining soils they love. They are generally grown as annuals and provide an abundant food source for hummingbirds through the summer and early fall.

    Be aware the tobacco flower is toxic to humans and pets.

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  • 15 of 15

    Delphinium

    Close up of the blue and lilac flowers of delphiniums

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    • USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 9
    • Color Varieties: Pastel, blue, pink, purple, white
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
    • Soil Needs: Moist loam, well-draining

    Delphinium species are ideal early summer, long-blooming additions to your hummingbird garden. The tall plants with bright, abundant flower spikes make a statement and are popular additions to cottage garden designs.

    Offer a sunny spot with rich, loamy, well-draining soil, and keep these plants evenly moist but not soggy to see them thrive. Delphiniums aren't fans of hot, dry summers, so are best suited to regions with cool summers with average temperatures between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

    Watch out for early signs of pest infestations or fungal diseases, like powdery mildew, and keep these plants away from curious kitties and canines. Delphiniums are toxic to people, pets, and horses.

FAQ
  • Do hummingbirds get anything from flowers?

    Hummingbirds get energy-providing nectar from flowers. These constantly hovering birds use up a lot of energy and need the sugary fluid nectar-dense flowers provide to help them survive. And, handily, as hummingbirds feed on these plants, they naturally pollinate the flowers, helping to produce more.

  • Do hummingbirds prefer feeders or flowers?

    Studies show that when nectar-rich flowers are abundant in an area, hummingbirds are less likely to visit available feeders. However, even if you have a yard filled with great hummingbird flowers, hanging some feeders with a homemade nectar recipe isn't a bad thing. They can be a handy extra source of energy during times when blooms are low or when competition is stiff.

  • Should hummingbird feeders be in sun or shade?

    Regarding hummingbird feeder placement, it's best to position it in a shady spot away from the intense afternoon sun. That way, you won't have to worry about the hummingbird nectar spoiling because it is too hot. Don't hide it away in the bushes, though. You still want it in a spot that is highly visible for the hummingbirds and easy for them to access.

  • What time of day do hummingbirds come to feeders?

    Dawn and dusk are the favorite feeding times for hummingbirds visiting your yard. These birds are diurnal (active during the day with periods of inactivity during the night), but if temperatures are mild enough and you have appropriate light sources around, you might find hummingbirds still visit flowers or feeders in your yard after the sun has gone down.

The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. Szopińska D. Diseases of zinnia. In: McGovern RJ, Elmer WH, eds. Handbook of Florists’ Crops Diseases. Springer International Publishing; 2016:1-31.

  2. Buddleja davidii Franch. Orange Eye Butterfly Bush. U.S. Department of Agriculture Plants Database.

  3. Toxic Plants. University of California.

  4. Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants: Nicotiana. ASPCA.

  5. Larkspur, ASPCA

  6. Flowers vs. Feeders: Hummers Buzz for Native Nectar. Project FeederWatch.