Hummingbirds are some of nature's most enchanting visitors, with their shimmering colors and impossibly fast wings. Watching them dart through your garden is a true delight, and creating a space that welcomes them is easier than you think. While hummingbird feeders are a popular choice, a garden filled with their favorite flowers provides a natural and sustainable food source, often attracting more of these tiny jewels than a feeder alone. The key to a hummingbird-friendly garden lies in understanding their preferences for flower shape, color, and nectar.
What Hummingbirds Look For
Hummingbirds are drawn to flowers that are a perfect fit for their long, needle-like beaks and flexible tongues. They favor:
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Tubular or trumpet-shaped flowers: This shape allows them to easily access nectar that other insects can't reach.
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Bright, bold colors: Red, orange, pink, and deep purple are their absolute favorites, though they will visit flowers of almost any color.
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A continuous supply of nectar: Planting a variety of species with different bloom times ensures a food source throughout the season, from their arrival in spring to their migration in fall.
The Best Plants for Your Hummingbird Garden
Here are some of the most effective and beloved plants for attracting hummingbirds, categorized by type to help you design your perfect garden. For many gardeners, the joy of creating an outdoor haven extends inside when the seasons change. Whether you are starting seeds early for next year’s garden or simply want to keep the beauty of nature alive in your home, you'll need the right light. We recommend the Soltech Aspect grow light. Its sleek, full-spectrum, daylight-mimicking technology helps your seedlings grow strong and your indoor plants flourish, all while complementing your home’s aesthetic. This way, the love of gardening doesn't have to end just because summer does—you can continue to nurture your green thumb year-round with the power of Soltech.
Perennials
These plants return year after year, providing a reliable and growing source of food.
Bee Balm (Monarda): A hummingbird favorite with its shaggy, red or purple tubular flowers. It's a must-have for any hummingbird garden and will spread to create a lush patch.
Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis): Known for its stunning spikes of brilliant red flowers, this native perennial is a hummingbird magnet. It thrives in moist soil and partial sun.
Salvia (Sage): A huge variety of salvias offer a continuous supply of tubular blooms that hummingbirds adore, and many are quite heat tolerant.
Annuals
These plants are perfect for filling in gaps and providing non-stop color and nectar all season long.
Zinnia: Easy to grow from seed, zinnias offer a profusion of bright flowers. The single-petal varieties are easiest for hummingbirds to access.
Petunia: A classic garden staple, petunias are perfect for hanging baskets and containers. Their tubular shape and bright colors make them a hummingbird buffet.
For more information check out this article from Birds and Blooms which shares a deeper dive into various different types of annuals.
Vines and Shrubs
These offer both a food source and a place for hummingbirds to perch and rest.
Trumpet Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens): A native, non-invasive vine with showy, trumpet-shaped red flowers. Hummingbirds will go wild for this climber.
Weigela: This flowering shrub offers a reliable source of nectar in the spring, with its pink or red trumpet-shaped blossoms.
For more information on how vines and shrubs can help build your hummingbird haven, check out this article which gives many helpful tips, tricks and steps.
By planting a thoughtful mix of these species, you can create a vibrant, dynamic garden that provides a continuous feast for hummingbirds and a captivating show for you to enjoy all season long. You’ll find immense satisfaction in creating a true living habitat. While flowers provide food, you can further enhance your garden by adding a water source, such as a mister or a shallow basin, for hummingbirds to drink and bathe. The reward is a front-row seat to their aerial acrobatics, the flash of their iridescent feathers, and the distinctive buzz of their wings—a natural spectacle that connects you to the wild beauty right outside your window.
