30 Beautiful Flowers To Attract Hummingbirds

By now you should be aware that hummingbirds like and are attracted to the color red. Therefore, it goes without saying that hummingbirds love red flowers. They’re also particularly fond of tubular flowers because they can hold a lot of nectar.

Besides having hummingbird feeders in your garden, it’s a good idea to plant lots of brightly colored flowers to attract these pretty little birds. This gives them an alternative food source and may also prevent male hummers from fighting with each other over just the one type of food.

Here’s a comprehensive list of 30 flowering plants that will help to attract hummingbirds to your garden.

1. Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)

This perennial plant produces long stalks with lots of small tubular flowers on them. Each stalk can grow up to four feet tall. One of the advantages of this plant is that it self-seeds. Therefore, once you’ve planted it, it will continue to appear all over your garden.

Planting Requirements:

• USDA growing zone 3 to 9
• Available in colors of red, rose and white
• Happily grows in full sun to part shade
• Requires a rich soil with plenty of moisture

2. Salvia (Salvia nemarosa)

Perennial salvias produce tall spikes covered in small tubular flowers. They will bloom from mid to late summer. This is the perfect time for hummingbirds to be in your garden. Salvias are very easy to grow and the clump will increase in size over summer.

Planting Requirements:

• USDA growing zone 4 to 11
• Available in colors of pink, purple, mauve and blue
• Prefers to grow in full sun
• Requires a well-drained soil

3. Butterfly Bush (Buddleia davidii)

As well as attracting butterflies, the buddleia is also very attractive to hummingbirds. This shrub produces long clusters of flowers from mid-summer to fall. The plant does really well if it’s pruned back once flowering has finished to keep a uniform shape.

Planting Requirements:

• USDA growing zone 5 to 10
• Available in color of pink, purple and blue
• Prefers to grow in full sun
• Requires a well-drained soil and is drought tolerant

4. Trumpet Creeper (Campsis radicans)

The trumpet vine is a fast growing creeper and produces long, tubular flowers. It will grow over practically anything in its way. However, it’s perfect for covering fences and arbors. It does require very frequent pruning to keep it in check.

Planting Requirements:

• USDA growing zone 4 to 10
• Available in colors of red, orange and yellow
• Will happily grow in full sun to part shade
• Prefers a well-drained soil

5. Columbine (Aquilegia spp.)

Who doesn’t love the smiling face of a columbine. These delightful perennials produce delicate flowers that your hummingbird visitors will love. It’s a good idea to remove the flower stems after they’ve bloomed to encourage the plant to produce more flowers.

Planting Requirements:

• USDA growing zone 3 to 8
• Available in colors of pink, purple and blue
• Will happily grow in full sun to part shade
• Prefers a well-drained soil

6. Petunias

Petunias are popular annual flowers that almost everyone has grown at one time or another. The flowers produce lots of lovely nectar for hummingbirds to enjoy and they come in a variety of colors.

Planting Requirements:

• USDA growing zones 10 to 11
• Available in colors of red, pink, purple, white, blue and mixed
• Prefer to grow in full sun
• Require a well- drained soil

7. Trumpet Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens)

This attractive vine produces clusters of red and orange tubular flowers. These are a particular favorite of the Ruby-throated hummingbird. Unlike the trumpet creeper though, this vine is not as aggressive and requires less pruning.

Planting Requirements:

• USDA growing zone 3 to 9
• Available in colors of red and orange
• Prefers to grow in full sun
• Requires a well-drained soil

8. Bee Balm (Monarda didyma)

This perennial plant produces lots of flowers on long stalks. The flowers contain lots of nectar and are attractive to bees, butterflies, and of course, hummingbirds. These flowers are easy to grow and clumps will need dividing every 3 to 4 years. The plants will also self-seed unless you remove the spent flower heads.

Planting Requirements:

• USDA growing zone 4 to 9
• Available in colors of red, orange and purple
• Grows happily in full sun to part shade
• Prefers a rich soil with plenty of water

9. Purple Rhododendron (Rhododendron catawbiense)

This stunning Rhododendron has large clusters of pink/purple flowers and is a native of North America. The flowers on each cluster are semi-tubular and are loved by hummingbirds. These will flower in May. The plants themselves are very hardy and can easily survive cold winters.

Planting Requirements:

• USDA growing zone 4 to 8
• Produces pink/purple flowers
• Prefers to grow in part shade
• Likes a rich soil with plenty of water

10. Tiger Lily (Lilium columbianum)

Lilies are truly the stunners in the flower world. They produce large spectacular blooms that hummingbirds absolutely adore. They’re easily grown from bulbs.

Planting Requirements:

• USDA growing zone 3 to 9
• Available in colors of red, orange, yellow, pink and white
• Will happily grow in full sun to part shade
• Prefers a moist but well-drained soil
• Particularly attractive to the Rufous Hummingbird

11. Canada Lily (Lilium canadense)

This is another spectacular lily that is preferred by the Ruby-throated hummingbird. It’s also grown from bulbs with large, showy blooms.

Planting Requirements:

• USDA growing zone 3 to 9
• Available in colors of red, orange and yellow
• Will happily grow in full sun or part shade
• Prefers a well-drained soil with lots of added organic matter

12. Mexican Cigar Plant (Cuphea)

These plants produce masses of tubular flowers in a variety of colors. They’re a perennial but are generally grown as an annual in most zones.

Planting Requirements:

• USDA growing zone 8 to 11
• Available in colors of red, orange, pink, lavender and purple
• Prefers to grow in full sun
• Requires a well-drained soil and is drought tolerant

13. Catmint (Nepeta spp.)

This perennial herb produces masses of tubular flowers on long stalks. As well as being stunning to look at and very attractive to hummingbird, this plant also has aromatic foliage.

Planting Requirements:

• USDA growing zones 3 to 8
• Flowers are blue/lavender but you can also get pink and white varieties
• Will happily grow in full sun to part shade
• Prefers a well-drained soil and is drought tolerant

14. Beardtongue (Penstemon spp.)

This long blooming perennial is favored by hummingbirds even more than salvia, columbines and honeysuckles. It’s tubular flowers are filled with nectar to keep those hummers coming back for more.

Planting Requirements:

• USDA growing zones 3 to 9
• Available in colors of red, pink, purple, blue and white
• Happily grows in full sun to part shade
• Requires a well-drained soil and is drought tolerant

15. Mango Tango (Anise Hyssop – Agastache spp.)

These aromatic flowers are drought-tolerant and rabbit and deer resistant. You can even grow compact forms in containers and hanging baskets. The flowers are long-blooming and are attractive to both hummingbirds and butterflies.

Planting Requirements:

• USDA growing zones 6 to 9
• Flowers are orange colored with rose calyxes
• Will grow happily in full sun and part shade
• Require a well-drained soil

16. Garden Phlox (Phlox paniculata)

This cottage garden perennial produces fragrant flowers on tall stems. There are varieties of Phlox that will bloom in early spring while others will bloom into fall. Hummingbirds love these flowers as do butterflies and bees.

Planting Requirements:

• USDA growing zones 3 to 9
• Colors available include red and orange
• Will happily grow in full sun to part shade
• Requires a well-drained soil with lots of added organic material

17. Blazing Star (Liatris spp.)

This perennial produces bottle-brush type flowers on tall stems. It also features lovely green grassy foliage. Apart from attracting hummingbirds, this perennial also attract plenty of butterflies and other pollinating insects.

Planting Requirements:

• USDA growing zones 3 to 9
• Flowers come in colors of bright purple and white
• Grows well in full sun but can tolerate part shade
• Requires extremely well-drained soil

18. Lungwort (Pulmonaria spp.)

This is one of the earliest flowering perennials to plant if you want to attract hummingbirds in spring. The flowers grow in small clusters on sturdy stems and they provide plenty of nectar for visiting hummers.

Planting Requirements:

• USDA growing zones 3 to 8
• Available colors include red, pink, white and blue
• Prefers to grow in part shade
• Requires a well-drained soil with plenty of added organic material

19. Weigela

This deciduous shrub produces profuse clusters of flowers in spring. It’s easy to grow and drought-tolerant once established. Generally, a light pruning after flowering is all the care it needs. The flowers are tubular and highly attractive to hummingbirds and butterflies.

Planting Requirements:

• USDA growing zones 4 to 8
• Colors range from vibrant red to pale pink
• Prefers to grow in full sun
• Will grow in any well-drained soil and is drought tolerant

20. Oregon Grape (Mahonia spp.)

This shrub blooms over winter and is an important food source for the Anna’s hummingbird. This evergreen plant produces shuttlecock-type flowers and edible blue berries.

Planting Requirements:

• USDA growing zones 5 to 11
• Flowers are yellow in color
• Prefers partial shade
• No particular soil requirements and will do well even in dry soil

21. Hardy Fuchsia

This is a hardy shrub with tubular flowers that are loved not only by hummingbirds but many other nectar eaters as well. Most varieties will tolerate some frost but if a really cold winter kills the shrub to the ground, it will quickly re-emerge from its base in the spring.

Planting Requirements:

• USDA growing zones 6 to 10
• Flowers are bright red to pink and purple
• Prefers partial shade
• Will grow in most soils and is hardy

22. Azalea

There’s nothing quite like the sight of an Azalea bush in full bloom. You’ll find that in spring, the entire bush is covered in brightly colored flowers. This is ideal for providing nectar to early hummingbird visitors.

Planting Requirements:

• USDA growing zones 3 to 10
• Available in a multitude of colors from red, pink and purple to white
• Will live happily in full sun to part shade
• Prefer a well-drained but moist soil that is high in acid

23. Flowering Currant (Ribes sanguineum)

This is one of the easiest deciduous shrubs to grow to attract hummingbirds to your garden in spring. It produces masses of sprays of currant shaped flowers. Plus, it has a lovely fragrance too.

Planting Requirements:

• USDA growing zones 6 to 8
• Available in colors of red and pink
• Prefers an open shade location
• Requires a well-drained soil with added organic matter

24. Flowering Quince (Chaenomeles speciosa)

Another spring flowering shrub that produces clusters of small rose-like flowers. The flowers can appear as early as late January. This means that this shrub is ideal to attract early migrating hummers to your garden. It will give them enough sweet nectar to fuel them for their journey.

Planting Requirements:

• USDA growing zones 5 to 9
• Available in colors from deep crimson to pale pink
• Prefers to grow in full sun
• Requires a well-drained soil

25. Yellow Bells (Tecoma stans)

A large growing shrub with masses of trumpet like flowers. It’s another favorite for attracting hummingbirds.

Planting Requirements:

• USDA growing zones 8 to 11
• Available in colors of yellow, orange and apricot
• Requires full sun to thrive
• Prefers a well-drained soil but plenty of water

26. Zinnia (Zinnia spp.)

These cheery annual flowers are a great addition to a hummingbird garden. Their bright flowers provide lots of nectar for hummingbirds and other pollinators. Plus, the seeds will attract seed-eating birds such as finches.

Planting Requirements:

• USDA growing zones 2 to 11
• Flowers are available in a multitude of colors
• Prefers full sun
• Requires a moist, well-drained soil

27. Bleeding Heart (Lamprocapnos spectabilis)

This lovely perennial produces dangling heart-shaped blooms that hummingbirds love. Even if the plant dies back in summer, it will grow again the following spring.

Planting Requirements:

• USDA growing zones 2 to 9
• Flower colors are pink and white
• Prefers part to full shade
• Needs a rich well-drained soil that is kept moist

28. Lupine (Lupinus x hybridus)

Hybrids of the Lupinus species provide excellent food for hummingbirds in spring. These are grown as perennials but need to be replanted every 3 years.

Planting Requirements:

• USDA growing zones 4 to 8
• Available in colors of purple, pink, blue, white and yellow
• Prefers to grow in full sun
• Needs a well-drained slightly acidic soil that is kept moisture

29. Indian Pink (Spigelia marilandica)

This clump-forming perennial produces trumpet-shaped flowers on stiff stems. This plant blooms in June at the height of summer. Therefore, it’s ideal for hummingbirds who have made your garden or neighborhood their home.

Planting Requirements:

• USDA growing zones 5 to 9
• Flowers are red
• Prefers to grow in part or full shade
• Will tolerate a wet soil

30. Fireweed (Chamaenerion angustifolium)

This perennial wildflower has long spikes of saucer-shaped flower clusters. However, you should be aware that this plant is self-seeding and can take over your garden if you’re not careful. Nevertheless, the masses of flowers are loved by hummingbirds and other pollinators.

Planting Requirements:

• USDA growing zones 2 to 7
• Flowers are deep pink in color
• Prefers full sun to part shade
• Need a moist but well-drained soil

Final Thoughts

We hope this list of 30 flowers that hummingbirds like has been useful. Why not choose a selection of these and plant your very own hummingbird garden.

The birds will love it and you’ll also get to enjoy the many blooms that will appear throughout the season. Are you growing your own hummingbird garden? Please share your stories with us in the comments below.