Best Hummingbird Garden Plants
Let’s look at the top hummingbird garden plants that will attract a “buzz” of activity for you to enjoy.
Hummers love the color red but that doesn’t mean every flower must be this color.
If you find plants that flower in red, pink, orange and purple (and to a lesser extent, white & yellow), you’ll attract flying jewels with no problems at all.
Besides color, focus on tubular shaped flowers.
Hummingbirds find them most valuable.
Top Hummingbird Plants
(for more info on Zones mentioned below, please see garden.org & PlantHardiness)
Red-hot Poker (Torch Lily)
This plant has a unique shape & is also known as “torch lily”. Ranging from yellow at the base to red at the tip, it will also have tints of white and orange.
Perennial
Botanical Name: Kniphofia
Zones: 5-9
Size: Ranges from 1-6 feet tall, 1-3 feet wide
Light: Full sun w/ some shade
Growing Conditions: Sandy, well drained soil.
Bloom Time: Late spring to fall
Bee Balm
Great option to get your hummer garden started. Usually, you’ll find red bee balm colors but white, pink and violet are also available. These hummingbird garden plants have a minty, sweet fragrance. You can even use the flowers and leaves in your salad.
Perennial
Botanical Name: Monarda didyma
Zones: 4-9
Size: 3-4 feet tall, up to 2 feet wide
Light: Full sun, although some shade is OK
Growing Conditions: Don’t set them too close together. Leave at least a foot and a half between each. They’ll spread out nicely. Keep watered so soil is moist, yet well-drained.
Bloom Time: Summer
Hollyhock
Since they grow up to eight feet these hummingbird garden plants will provide a great overall presence. These funnel shaped flowers will brighten up your space with colors such as white, pink, red, yellow and violet…and they’ll attract those hummers!
Biennial (Won’t flower until year 2)
Botanical Name: Alcea rosea
Zones: 3-9
Size: Up to 8 feet high, 1-3 feet wide
Light: Full sun
Growing Conditions: Keep soil well-drained. Best to place them against a building wall or fence to provide support.
Bloom Time: Early to mid-summer
Columbine
No matter where you live in N. America, you’ll be able to grow mostly red and yellow bell-shaped Columbine flowers to attract hummers. Other colors include pink, purple, blue and white.
Perennial
Botanical Name: Aquilegia canadensis
Zones: 3-9
Size: 1-3 feet tall, 6-24 inches wide
Light: Part/full shade to full sun
Growing Conditions: Well-drained, moist soil is needed.
Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer
Coralbells
Long evergreen foliage combined with red/pinkish flowers.
Perennial
Botanical Name: Heuchera
Zones: 3-9
Size: 1-3 feet high, 6-30 inches wide
Light: Some shade
Growing Conditions: Great for borders, beds and in containers, as well as groundcover. Need well-drained soil
Bloom Time: Spring to summer
Cardinal Flower
Native to N. America Cardinal flower will brighten your hummingbird garden with its bright red flowers and dark green leaves.
Perennial
Botanical Name: Lobelia cardinalis
Zones: 3-9
Size: 3 feet high, 1-2 feet wide
Light: Partial to full sun
Growing Conditions: Needs moist, fertile soil. Combine with bee balm for lots of red!
Bloom Time: Mid to late summer
Foxglove
Wonderful tall tubular spikes of white, purple, pink and yellow make for fantastic hummingbird garden plants.
Biennial (Won’t flower until year 2)
Botanical Name: Digitalis family
Zones: 3-9
Size: 1-6 feet high, 1-3 feet wide
Light: Part sun
Growing Conditions: Well-drained, moist, rich soil and afternoon shade. Should be placed where they won’t receive much wind resistance. Great combo with coralbells.
Bloom Time: Early summer
Trumpet Vine
Hummingbirds absolutely love Trumpet Vine! Use a sturdy trellis, fence or tree as weak structures can be pulled down by it. Offers wonderful orange flowers.
Perennial
Botanical Name: Campsis radicans
Zones: 4-9
Size: Can grow up to 40 feet
Light: Full sun
Growing Conditions: Doesn’t need fertilizer and can grow in soil that’s moist to dry.
Bloom Time: Summer
Salvia
Red Salvia will provide your garden extra “pop”. Some folks call it the “firecracker plant”. Although you’ll find these are mostly red you can also find colors such as purple, cream and salmon.
Annual
Botanical Name: Salvia splendens
Zones: Annual, so all zones
Size: 8-30 inches tall and 8-12 inches wide
Light: Full sun. If extra hot, provide some shade
Growing Conditions: Can even be grown during draughts, but best to keep soil cooled and moist by using mulch.
Bloom Time: Summer into fall
Butterfly Bush
It might be named after butterflies but hummingbirds love this one. Has a fruity scent. Comes in pink, blue, white and purple. Where it’s warmer you’ll find that Butterfly Bush grows into actual trees
Perennial
Botanical Name: Buddleia
Zones: 6-9
Size: Up to 15 feet high, up to 8 feet wide
Light: Full sun
Growing Conditions: Well-drained, moist soil is needed. Combines well with bee balm.
Bloom Time: Summer
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