The 20 Best Hummingbird Flowers

Attract these fascinating and vibrant birds to your garden by planting a selection of their favorite nectar-rich blooms. Discover our top 20 Hummingbird flower picks, along with tips on creating the perfect hummingbird-friendly habitat.

Hummingbird are among the most captivating and enchanting creatures to grace any garden. With their iridescent plumage, lightning-fast movements, and delightful humming sounds, these tiny birds bring a sense of wonder and joy wherever they appear. Fortunately, you can invite these delightful visitors to your outdoor spaces by planting a variety of nectar-rich flowers they simply can’t resist.

In this article, we’ll explore the 20 best hummingbird flowers to incorporate into your garden, along with tips on creating the perfect hummingbird-friendly habitat. Get ready to witness the mesmerizing aerial acrobatics and sip from the same floral buffet as these remarkable winged jewels.

1. Fuchsias

Fuchsias are elegant and colorful flowering plants known for their distinctive, pendulous blooms and attractive foliage. Here’s a concise information chart about fuchsias:

Fuchsias are a hummingbird favorite, with their pendant-like blooms and abundant nectar production. These vibrant flowers come in shades of red, pink, purple, and white, providing a striking visual display.

2. Bee Balm

Bee balm, also known as Monarda, is a lovely perennial flowering plant admired for its colorful blooms and attractiveness to pollinators. Here’s a concise information chart about bee balm:

Bee balm, or Monarda, is a must-have for any hummingbird garden. Its brilliant red, tubular flowers are irresistible to these tiny birds, and the plant’s minty fragrance adds an extra sensory delight.

3. Sage

Sage, also known as Salvia, is a versatile and aromatic herb appreciated for its culinary, medicinal, and ornamental uses. Here’s a concise information chart about sage:

Salvias, particularly the red and purple varieties, are hummingbird magnets. Their long blooming season and spiky flower spikes make them a reliable source of nectar throughout the growing season.

4. Trumpet Vine

Trumpet vine, also known as Campsis radicans or trumpet creeper, is a vigorous and fast-growing perennial vine appreciated for its stunning trumpet-shaped flowers and ability to attract hummingbirds. Here’s a concise information chart about trumpet vine:

As its name suggests, the trumpet vine produces vibrant, trumpet-shaped blooms that hummingbirds simply adore. This vigorous vine is perfect for covering trellises or arbors, creating a stunning focal point in your garden.

5. Cardinal Flower

The cardinal flower, scientifically known as Lobelia cardinalis, is a striking perennial flowering plant admired for its brilliant red blooms and its attractiveness to hummingbirds. Here’s a concise information chart about the cardinal flower:

The cardinal flower’s intense red color and tubular shape make it an irresistible treat for hummingbirds. This perennial thrives in moist conditions and adds a vibrant pop of color to any garden.

6. Lantana

Lantana, also known as shrub verbena, is a colorful and versatile perennial flowering plant appreciated for its abundant blooms and tolerance to heat and drought. Here’s a concise information chart about lantana:

Lantana’s vibrant clusters of tiny, nectar-rich blooms are a surefire way to attract hummingbirds. These drought-tolerant plants come in a range of colors, including red, orange, yellow, and pink.

7. Coral Bells

Coral bells, also known as Heuchera, are elegant perennial flowering plants admired for their colorful foliage and delicate blooms. Here’s a concise information chart about coral bells:

While primarily grown for their attractive foliage, coral bells also produce delicate, wand-like blooms that hummingbirds find irresistible. Their compact size makes them perfect for borders or containers.

8. Butterfly Bush

The butterfly bush, also known as Buddleia or Buddleja, is a popular deciduous shrub admired for its fragrant, nectar-rich blooms that attract butterflies, bees, and other pollinators. Here’s a concise information chart about the butterfly bush:

Despite its name, the butterfly bush is also a hummingbird magnet. Its fragrant, cone-shaped flower spikes bloom throughout the summer, providing a steady nectar source for these tiny birds.

9. Honeysuckle

Honeysuckle, also known as Lonicera, is a versatile and fragrant flowering vine or shrub appreciated for its sweetly scented blooms and attractive foliage. Here’s a concise information chart about honeysuckle:

Honeysuckle’s tubular blooms and sweet fragrance are a hummingbird favorite. These vining plants are perfect for covering fences, arbors, or trellises, creating a fragrant and visually stunning display.

10. Petunia

Petunias are popular annual flowering plants known for their colorful blooms and versatility in garden landscapes. Here’s a concise information chart about petunias:

Petunias may be small, but their abundance of blooms makes them a valuable addition to any hummingbird garden. Choose varieties with trumpet-shaped flowers in bright colors like red, pink, or purple.

11. Hibiscus

Hibiscus, commonly known as rose mallow or tropical hibiscus, is a stunning flowering plant admired for its large, showy blooms and lush foliage. Here’s a concise information chart about hibiscus:

Hibiscus flowers are not only stunning to look at, but their large, nectar-filled blooms also attract hummingbirds. These tropical beauties add a touch of exotic flair to any garden.

12. Cuphea

Cuphea, also known as cigar plant or Mexican heather, is a charming and compact perennial flowering plant admired for its small, tubular blooms and attractive foliage. Here’s a concise information chart about cuphea:

Cuphea, or the cigar plant, is a unique and whimsical addition to any hummingbird garden. Its tubular, orange-red blooms resemble tiny cigars and are irresistible to these tiny birds.

13. Columbine

Columbine, scientifically known as Aquilegia, is a delightful perennial flowering plant appreciated for its unique and intricate blooms, attractive foliage, and graceful appearance. Here’s a concise information chart about columbine:

Columbine’s unique, bell-shaped blooms are a favorite among hummingbirds. These delicate perennials come in a range of colors, including red, yellow, and purple, ensuring a steady supply of nectar.

14. Jewelweed

Jewelweed, scientifically known as Impatiens capensis and also called touch-me-not or spotted touch-me-not, is a native annual flowering plant recognized for its unique seedpods that burst open upon touch, dispersing the seeds. Here’s a concise information chart about jewelweed:

Jewelweed, a native wildflower, is a hummingbird magnet with its bright orange, speckled blooms. This moisture-loving plant thrives in shady areas, providing a valuable nectar source in low-light conditions.

15. Penstemon

Penstemon, also known as beardtongue, is a diverse genus of perennial flowering plants appreciated for their colorful tubular flowers and attractive foliage. Here’s a concise information chart about penstemon:

Penstemon’s tubular flowers and tall spikes make them a highly attractive choice for hummingbirds. These hardy perennials come in a variety of colors, from red and pink to purple and white.

16. Zinnia

Zinnias are vibrant and cheerful annual flowering plants known for their profusion of colorful blooms and ease of cultivation. Here’s a concise information chart about zinnias:

Zinnias are not only beloved by hummingbirds but also by gardeners for their vibrant blooms and easy care. These cheerful annuals come in a rainbow of colors, ensuring a steady supply of nectar throughout the growing season.

17. Agastache

Agastache, also known as hyssop or hummingbird mint, is a genus of perennial flowering plants appreciated for their aromatic foliage and colorful, nectar-rich blooms. Here’s a concise information chart about Agastache:

As its name implies, agastache, or hummingbird mint, is a surefire way to attract these tiny birds to your garden. Its fragrant, tubular blooms and aromatic foliage make it a double treat for both hummingbirds and humans alike.

18. Crocosmia

Crocosmia, also known as montbretia, is a genus of perennial flowering plants appreciated for its striking, sword-shaped foliage and vibrant, funnel-shaped blooms. Here’s a concise information chart about Crocosmia:

Crocosmia, or montbretia, is a unique and eye-catching addition to any hummingbird garden. Its vibrant, tubular blooms and sword-like foliage create a bold display that hummingbirds can’t resist.

19. Scarlet Runner Bean

Scarlet runner beans, scientifically known as Phaseolus coccineus, are vigorous and ornamental flowering vines admired for their stunning scarlet-red flowers and edible beans. Here’s a concise information chart about scarlet runner beans:

While primarily grown for their edible beans, scarlet runner beans also produce vibrant, nectar-rich blooms that hummingbirds adore. Their vining growth habit makes them perfect for trellises or arbors.

20. Trumpet Creeper

Trumpet creeper, scientifically known as Campsis radicans, is a vigorous and deciduous flowering vine appreciated for its stunning trumpet-shaped flowers and ability to attract hummingbirds. Here’s a concise information chart about trumpet creeper:

The trumpet creeper is a vigorous vine that produces clusters of bright orange, trumpet-shaped blooms that hummingbirds simply can’t resist. This hardy plant is perfect for covering fences or trellises.

Creating a Hummingbird-Friendly Habitat

In addition to planting a variety of nectar-rich flowers, there are a few other elements to consider when creating a hummingbird-friendly habitat:

1. Provide water: Install a shallow birdbath or water feature to provide a source of drinking and bathing water for these tiny birds.
2. Offer shelter: Hummingbirds need safe places to rest and nest, so consider planting dense shrubs or installing a hummingbird house.
3. Avoid pesticides: Hummingbirds are sensitive to chemicals, so opt for organic pest control methods whenever possible.
4. Include perches: Place small branches or dowels near your hummingbird plants to give them a place to rest and survey their surroundings.
5. Plant in clusters: Group your hummingbird plants together to create a concentrated source of nectar, making it easier for these birds to feed efficiently.

By incorporating these tips and planting a diverse selection of hummingbird-friendly flowers, you’ll be well on your way to creating a vibrant and enchanting garden that will delight these remarkable winged visitors. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the captivating aerial displays and enchanting humming sounds that these tiny jewels bring to your outdoor oasis.