Hummingbirds are some of the most captivating visitors to any garden. Their iridescent feathers, rapid wingbeats, and delicate feeding behavior make them a favorite among gardeners and nature enthusiasts alike. Beyond their beauty, hummingbirds play a vital role as pollinators, supporting the health of flowers, shrubs, and even fruits in your garden.
If you want to create a hummingbird-friendly garden that keeps these tiny aviators returning throughout the season, selecting the right plants is key. Certain flowers provide the nectar, color, and shape that hummingbirds love. This guide highlights seven plants that attract hummingbirds, with detailed tips on planting, care, and maximizing their appeal.
1. Trumpet Creeper (Campsis radicans)
Why Hummingbirds Love It
Trumpet creeper is a vigorous climbing vine with trumpet-shaped, bright orange to red flowers, ideal for hummingbirds. Its tubular blooms allow hummingbirds to easily access nectar while facilitating pollination.
Planting Tips
- Light: Full sun for optimal flowering.
- Soil: Well-draining soil; tolerates a range of soil types.
- Watering: Moderate; keep soil moist during establishment.
- Care: Prune after flowering to maintain shape and encourage new growth.
Placement
- Train on trellises, arbors, fences, or walls to create vertical nectar sources.
Pro Tip: Trumpet creeper is fast-growing and self-sowing. Plant carefully to avoid it overtaking smaller plants.
2. Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
Why Hummingbirds Love It
Cardinal flower produces striking red spikes of tubular blooms that are rich in nectar. Its vibrant color acts as a visual cue, signaling food to passing hummingbirds.
Planting Tips
- Light: Full sun to partial shade.
- Soil: Moist, rich, and well-draining. Prefers consistently damp soil.
- Watering: High; keeps soil evenly moist.
- Care: Divide clumps every few years to maintain vigor.
Placement
- Ideal for edges of ponds, rain gardens, or moist garden beds, creating a water-friendly hummingbird habitat.
Pro Tip: Cardinal flower attracts not only hummingbirds but also butterflies and bees, supporting a pollinator-friendly ecosystem.
3. Bee Balm (Monarda didyma)
Why Hummingbirds Love It
Bee balm features clusters of tubular, brightly colored flowers in red, pink, purple, or white. Its long-lasting blooms provide abundant nectar for hummingbirds over several weeks.
Planting Tips
- Light: Full sun; tolerates light shade.
- Soil: Well-draining, fertile soil.
- Watering: Moderate; water regularly but avoid waterlogged soil.
- Care: Cut back spent blooms and divide every 2–3 years to prevent overcrowding.
Placement
- Plant in clumps or borders to attract hummingbirds from a distance.
- Combines well with asters and coneflowers for late-season nectar sources.
Pro Tip: Bee balm is prone to powdery mildew; ensure good air circulation around plants.
4. Hummingbird Mint (Agastache spp.)
Why Hummingbirds Love It
Hummingbird mint, also known as giant hyssop, produces spikes of tubular flowers in shades of purple, orange, pink, or red. The flowers are exceptionally nectar-rich and long-blooming.
Planting Tips
- Light: Full sun.
- Soil: Well-draining; tolerates poor soil once established.
- Watering: Low to moderate; drought-tolerant once mature.
- Care: Deadhead to prolong bloom; cut back in late fall.
Placement
- Perfect for garden beds, containers, or pollinator gardens.
- Combines with ornamental grasses for an attractive landscape design.
Pro Tip: Hummingbird mint attracts bees and butterflies too, creating a multi-pollinator habitat.
5. Coral Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens)
Why Hummingbirds Love It
Coral honeysuckle is a twining vine with bright red or coral tubular flowers. Unlike invasive Japanese honeysuckle, coral honeysuckle is non-invasive and perfect for hummingbird gardens.
Planting Tips
- Light: Full sun; tolerates partial shade.
- Soil: Well-draining, moderately fertile.
- Watering: Moderate; water until established.
- Care: Prune after flowering to maintain shape and encourage new blooms.
Placement
- Ideal for trellises, fences, arbors, or pergolas to provide vertical nectar-rich spaces.
Pro Tip: Coral honeysuckle flowers are also fragrant, making your garden enjoyable for humans while attracting hummingbirds.
6. Zinnias (Zinnia elegans)
Why Hummingbirds Love It
Zinnias are bright, daisy-like flowers that provide nectar and are extremely easy to grow. Their vivid red, pink, orange, and purple blooms make them a magnet for hummingbirds.
Planting Tips
- Light: Full sun.
- Soil: Well-draining, moderately fertile soil.
- Watering: Moderate; water at the base to prevent powdery mildew.
- Care: Deadhead regularly to prolong flowering season.
Placement
- Plant in beds, borders, or containers to provide accessible nectar.
- Group colors together to attract more hummingbirds from a distance.
Pro Tip: Zinnias are excellent for cut flower arrangements, letting you enjoy blooms indoors while supporting pollinators outdoors.
7. Salvias (Salvia spp.)
Why Hummingbirds Love It
Salvias, particularly red and tubular varieties, are highly attractive to hummingbirds. Their spiky blooms are nectar-rich, and many varieties flower late into the season.
Planting Tips
- Light: Full sun; tolerates light shade.
- Soil: Well-draining soil; moderately fertile.
- Watering: Low to moderate; drought-tolerant once established.
- Care: Deadhead and cut back after flowering to encourage new blooms.
Placement
- Salvias thrive in pollinator gardens, borders, and containers.
- Combine with ornamental grasses or bee balm for a dynamic, multi-season garden display.
Pro Tip: Salvias are long-blooming, ensuring a continuous food source for hummingbirds.
Designing a Hummingbird-Friendly Garden
To keep hummingbirds returning year after year, consider these design tips:
- Diverse color palette: Hummingbirds are particularly attracted to reds, oranges, and pinks.
- Varied flower shapes: Mix tubular flowers for nectar access and flat blooms for perching.
- Continuous bloom: Plant species with staggered bloom times for steady nectar availability from spring to fall.
- Water source: Include a shallow birdbath or dripper; hummingbirds need water for drinking and bathing.
- Shelter and perches: Provide shrubs, small trees, or trellises where hummingbirds can rest safely.
- Avoid pesticides: Chemical sprays can harm hummingbirds and beneficial insects.
Pro Tip: Place feeders alongside flowers to supplement natural nectar, encouraging frequent visits.
Benefits of a Hummingbird Garden
- Pollination: Hummingbirds help pollinate flowers, fruits, and vegetables, increasing garden productivity.
- Biodiversity: Attracts other pollinators like bees and butterflies.
- Visual and auditory beauty: Adds color, movement, and gentle humming sounds to your garden.
- Educational opportunities: Perfect for observing wildlife behavior and ecological interactions.
Pro Tip: Hummingbird gardens are rewarding for gardeners of all ages, offering both aesthetic enjoyment and ecological benefits.
Final Thoughts
Creating a hummingbird-friendly garden is about strategic plant selection, thoughtful placement, and year-round care. By planting trumpet creeper, cardinal flower, bee balm, hummingbird mint, coral honeysuckle, zinnias, and salvias, you provide abundant nectar sources, visual attraction, and safe shelter.
Key takeaways:
- Focus on nectar-rich, tubular flowers in vibrant colors.
- Stagger bloom times to ensure continuous food supply.
- Include water, perches, and shelter to encourage long-term visits.
- Avoid chemicals and pesticides to protect hummingbirds and pollinators.
With the right planning, your garden can become a hummingbird haven, offering beauty, movement, and ecological balance. These tiny aviators will not only enhance your outdoor space with their sparkling presence but also contribute to a healthy, thriving garden ecosystem all season long.