To create a hummingbird-friendly garden, it’s essential to plan your flower selection carefully. By choosing the right plants, you can attract these tiny, energetic birds to your yard throughout the growing season.
Your local garden center or cooperative extension office can provide guidance on which varieties work best in your area. Here are 16 flowers that are known to be particularly effective in drawing hummingbirds to your garden.
Bee Balm
The perennial bee balm blooms from June to September, offering a long season of vivid color. It is well-known for its range of colors, which include purple, pink, red, and white. Although it can withstand some shade, this plant prefers full sun and needs constant irrigation to keep the soil continuously moist. Because bee balm attracts a lot of pollinators, like bees and butterflies, it’s a great plant for gardens that support local ecosystems.
Trumpet Vine
The Trumpet Vine mainly flowers in the summer, with June through September being prime flowering months. It needs six hours a day of direct sunlight at least, and it thrives in full sun. Bees and butterflies are drawn to this perennial shrub, which is very attractive to pollinators. Once planted, it also requires modest watering and is regarded to be reasonably low-maintenance and drought-tolerant. A healthy and vibrant garden addition can be guaranteed with the right placement and maintenance.
Salvia
Salvia blooms in a variety of colors, including purple, red, pink, and white, and does so mostly in the summer. It needs well-drained soil and grows best in full light. Once established, gardeners will love its low maintenance requirements as it just has to be watered occasionally. Furthermore, salvia is a favorite plant of pollinators because of its nectar-rich blossoms, which draw butterflies and bees. This makes it an excellent choice for those looking to support local wildlife while adding perennial beauty to their garden.
Foxglove
The striking biennial or perennial foxglove grows well in hardiness zones 4 through 9. Its range of colors, which includes pink, purple, white, and yellow, makes it a flexible option for a variety of garden color schemes. It does well in areas that are partially shaded and between direct sunlight and shade. The only significant maintenance needed for foxglove is routine watering and sporadic deadheading to extend bloom duration and preserve plant health.
Columbine
The late spring to early summer blooming season usually lasts for many weeks. They are ideal for woodland gardens since they grow best in partial shade. There are several colors of these perennials, such as blue, red, pink, and white. Furthermore, columbines are known to draw pollinators like butterflies and bees, which enhances the ecological value of gardens. Once grown, they are generally minimal maintenance but do demand well-drained soil.
Fuchsia
Pink, crimson, purple, and white are just a few of the many color variations that fuchsia plants are known for. Their main flowering season is spring through fall. They do well in regions that are not exposed to direct sunlight all day because they grow well in partial shade. Well-drained soil with a slightly acidic pH is preferred for fuchsia. Depending on the climate and hardiness zone, these plants can be either annuals or perennials, and they need to be watered frequently to stay moist.
Cardinal Flower
The vibrant red flowers of the cardinal flower, which are well known to draw butterflies and hummingbirds, bloom from midsummer to early October. Because it grows best in moist soil, it’s perfect for places in your garden that are close to water features or other damp regions. Depending on the climate, this perennial plant enjoys partial shade to full sun. Even though it doesn’t require a lot of care, regular watering is necessary to promote strong development.
Lantana
Spring through fall brings long-lasting brightness to the garden with lantana blooms. They may accommodate a variety of aesthetic tastes because they come in a variety of hues, including red, orange, yellow, and purple. These blossoms are perfect for open, bright places because they flourish in direct sunshine. Lantanas help increase the biodiversity of gardens by drawing in a variety of pollinators, such as butterflies and bees. Once established, they usually require little watering, making them easy to manage.
Petunias
Petunias bloom for a very long time; usually, from April until the first frost. They thrive in full sun, requiring at least six hours of direct sunlight daily. Petunias come in a wide range of colors, including pink, purple, yellow, white, red, and pink. These flowers are a wonderful option for pollinator-friendly gardens since they draw butterflies and bees. Regular upkeep, such as deadheading faded blooms, extends the length of time that they bloom.
Zinnias
Zinnias are a plant that usually blooms in a variety of hues, including red, pink, yellow, and white, from late spring until the first frost. They require six hours a day or more of direct sunlight to grow. Zinnias want constant hydration, but since they can withstand some drought, you shouldn’t water them too much. Since these plants are annuals, they need to be replanted every year since they finish their life cycle in a single growing season.
Red Hot Poker
Kniphofia, or red hot poker, is a plant that usually blooms from late spring to early fall, displaying its eye-catching blossoms across several months. This perennial needs at least six hours of direct sunlight per day to flourish. Its watering requirements are minimal, and keeping it well-hydrated during dry spells is beneficial. Red Hot Poker needs well-drained soil because it can experience root rot in very wet soil. It attracts pollinators like bees and butterflies and is suitable for hardiness zones 5 through 9.
Bottlebrush
The late spring and early summer months are when bottlebrush plants usually bloom, producing a range of hues including red, pink, and white. These perennial plants have distinctive, brush-like blossoms that attract butterflies and bees, making them very appealing to pollinators. They thrive best in full sunlight, requiring at least six hours of direct sun each day. For optimal health and vivid look, bottlebrush plants require moderate watering and a well-drained, somewhat acidic soil.
Penstemon
The main flowering season for Penstemon, a genus of plants distinguished by its tubular flowers, is late spring to early summer. Shades of pink, blue, purple, and red are among the many colors that these plants can have. Their requirements for watering are moderate, and they do best on soil that drains well. Because penstemons draw butterflies and bees, they are great for pollinator gardens. They are generally found in hardiness zones 3 through 9, and because of their low maintenance needs, they may be planted in a variety of garden settings.
Hibiscus
Hibiscus blooms typically bloom from late spring to early fall. They come in a variety of colors, including pink, red, yellow, and white. They need at least six hours of direct sunlight per day to grow to their maximum potential. They love the sun. These plants are a useful addition to a garden because they attract pollinators like bees and butterflies. Relatively little maintenance is required, however regular irrigation is necessary to guarantee good blooms, particularly in warmer climes.
Butterfly Bush
The Butterfly Bush has a prolonged season of color from midsummer to fall and is well-known for attracting pollinators such as bees and butterflies. It can grow in a variety of garden settings because it likes well-drained soil and full sun. Zones 5–10 are suitable for this perennial plant, and it requires little care other than the occasional pruning to keep its shape and promote new growth.
Mimosa
The mimosa flower provides a prolonged time of fascination since it usually blooms from late spring to midsummer. It can withstand many different types of temperatures because it thrives in hardiness zones 6 through 9. Moderate watering requirements are met by soil that is consistently moist but not soggy. Furthermore, the feathery blossoms of the mimosa attract pollinators, such butterflies and bees, which benefits the local ecosystem. Its maintenance is generally low, making it a suitable choice for gardeners of all experience levels.