Best Flowers to Attract Hummingbirds to Your Yard (2023)

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Let’s entice them with nature’s nectar. You’re craving that intimate connection with fluttering wings and hurried heartbeats. Your garden can fulfill those desires when planted with the flowers that most attract hummingbirds.

Red-hued blooms bursting with sweet sustenance call to them like a siren’s song.

Just a few well-chosen vines, shrubs, and beds will have your yard buzzing with life. With these plants, you’ll nurture lasting bonds between you, your space, and some of Earth’s most delicate creatures.

The world needs more caretakers who provide sanctuary to struggling species. Together, we can build an inviting habitat hummingbirds won’t be able to resist.

Flower Factors to Consider

When selecting flowers that draw in hummingbirds, let your heart lead you to the passionate reds and vibrant oranges that fuel their soul, but temper desire with the logic of climate and space.

Look first to native tubular blooms like cardinal flower, its scarlet spikes beckoning hummers to partake of nectar.

Arrange salvia and other moisture-loving plants in shaded beds where their bold colors attract attention.

With an array of suitable native plants, even a small garden can abound with energetic hummers darting amongst blossoms. Your wisdom and care transforms each flower bed into a welcoming habitat where hummers find respite.

By providing sustenance and shelter, you kindle an intimate bond – a sense of belonging between one small winged creature and one compassionate gardener.

Vines, Bushes, and Herbaceous Perennials

You’d hardly notice those hummingbird-friendly vines creeping up the arbor before those sweet nectar-slurpers come buzzin’ ’round your garden. Use native vines like honeysuckle to screen your windows, add vertical color to blank fences, and attract hordes of hummingbirds.

Plant sun-loving annual vines like hyacinth bean and cypress vine in fertile, well-drained soil. Watch ’em climb trellises and stakes, unfurling trumpet-shaped blooms for hungry hummers.

For perennial vines, try coral honeysuckle or trumpet vine. Give ’em room to roam on sturdy supports like walls or arbors. Soon ruby-throats will flock to bright tubular blooms while beneficial insects pollinate the blossoms.

Hummingbirds adore feasting on vining nectar- an essential energy source for their hovering feats.

Lantana

You’ll crave lantana’s dense flower clusters in vivid hues that entice hummingbirds all season long. This bushy perennial dazzles in flowerbeds or containers with free-flowering, heat-tolerant blooms.

Provide lantana with full sun exposure and well-drained soil. Shear spent flower spikes to promote continuous flowering. Allow established plants to go dormant in winter, then cut back hard before new growth emerges in spring.

Include lantana among salvias, bee balm, and trumpet vines to treat hummingbirds to nectar-rich feasts. Vibrant lantana flowers will have you longing for more of these low-maintenance, wildlife-friendly plants.

Penstemon

Penstemons draw ’em in with their tubular shape. To attract the most hummingbirds, consider these five key factors when selecting penstemon varieties:

1. Flower color – Reds, purples, pinks, and bluish hues are big draws.
2. Sugar content – Nectar with higher sugar levels fuels the busy birds.
3. Bloom time – Choose early, mid, and late bloom times for constant color.
4. Plant height – Taller types like Husker Red allow easy access.
5. Tubular shape – Their unique tubular blooms are irresistible.

With long flowering spikes packed with nectar-rich tubular blooms, it’s no wonder penstemons are prime picks. Pair them with other tubular flowers like trumpet vine and cardinal climber for even more appeal.

Trumpet Vine

Trumpet vines offer vivid red blooms on vigorous climbers to lure hummingbirds to your yard. These robust perennial vines can grow up to 40 feet, so provide sturdy support like a trellis. Trumpet vines thrive in full sun and moist, well-drained soil. Prune in early spring, cutting back up to one-third of the vine.

Common problems include insects like aphids and Japanese beetles. Diseases include powdery mildew, rust, and root rot.

	Spring	Summer	Fall
Water	Water weekly until established	Water deeply 1-2x per week	Reduce watering
Fertilize	Apply balanced fertilizer
Prune		Remove suckers and prune lightly	Prune vigorously to shape
Protect	Apply preventative fungicide	Monitor for pests	Discard diseased stems

With proper care, trumpet vines give years of hummingbird-enticing color. Their vigorous growth requires management but rewards you with stunning blooms.

Petunia

Petunias’ trumpet-shaped blooms in vivid colors will allure hummingbirds all season long. These prolific, eye-catching blooms come in a vibrant array of hues and patterns that appeal to the colorful pollinators.

Petunias bloom heavily in containers or flower beds with their spreading habit. For gardens, choose cascading varieties in colorful mixes that will drape decorative pots. Hybrids offer great color and shape diversity. Plant en masse for a high impact, floral carpet.

With proper light, water, and soil, petunias will keep hummingbirds visiting your yard all season with their bright, abundant flowers shaped perfectly for a hummer’s taste.

Salvia

You’d revel in the scarlet salvias swaying softly in the summer breeze, their tubular blooms beckoning sweet nectar-seeking friends. These brightly colored flowers are hummingbird magnets. Their long-blooming nature provides sustenance for weeks.

Propagate more plants easily by cuttings. Give them full sun for the brightest blossoming beauties. Try colored varieties like vivid violet for a colorful cocktail. Pair salvias with other tubular plants, like columbines, for a synergistic sanctuary.

Let these hardy perennials bring years of enjoyment with their showy blooms. Selecting the right hummingbird-friendly flowers creates an enticing ecosystem.

Lupine

Lupine’s tall spikes in purples, pinks, and whites make a stunning backdrop that’ll have the hummers flocking to your yard. As a passionate horticulturist, I love recommending lupines for any pollinator garden.

Though originally native to North America, lupines now grace gardens worldwide with their vibrant, elongated blooms.

These hearty perennials prefer organically rich, acidic soils and filtered sunlight. Propagate by seed in early spring, allowing extra time for stratification. Beware of fungal issues like anthracnose and promote good airflow.

Incorporate lupines into borders, meadows, and cottage gardens. Their vertical form mixes beautifully with coral bells, bleeding hearts, and rhododendrons. Cut a few vibrant spikes to add exclamation to summer flower arrangements! Let lupines infuse your landscape with color to entice hummingbirds.

Columbine

Columbine’s bell-shaped flowers come in bright shades that will lure hummingbirds to your garden.

1. Nectar-rich blooms with elongated spurs perfect for hummingbird beaks.
2. A long blooming period from late spring through summer.
3. Delicate foliage that adds texture.

Native columbine species like Aquilegia canadensis provide an excellent alternative to potentially invasive butterfly bushes. Plant columbine by woodland edges or feature the elegant blooms in cottage garden bouquets.

Hummingbirds will flock to drink the nectar from these shade-loving beauties. Capture close-up photos of hummingbirds probing the exotic-looking flowers.

Cardinal Flower

The vivid red cardinal flower’s tubular blooms beckon hummingbirds to feast on nectar in your garden from midsummer into fall. This stunning native wildflower thrives in moist soils and forms upright clumps with purple-bronze foliage.

The long spikes of scarlet flowers attract hummingbirds seeking energy-rich nectar. By providing ideal habitat like rain gardens or pond edges, you support hummingbird migration and nesting. With proper planting and maintenance, the cardinal flower naturalizes readily, rewarding you with brilliant color and buzzing visitors.

Partner with wildlife by cultivating plants that nourish pollinators. A cardinal flower’s radiance lights up your landscape while fueling essential ecological connections.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)