If you love watching hummingbirds dart and flash, adding plants to attract them will give you hours of pleasure. These tiny birds eat plant nectar. That means they love flowers that make it happen.
Depending on where you live, the hummingbirds vary in color, but they all zoom and zigzag through the air. Their tiny wings hold them steady as their long pointed beak reaches in the very bottom of a bloom to gather nectar.
Plants that attract hummingbirds are colorful, often reds and yellows. And the reward for the hummingbird is sugary nectar.
Annuals for Hummingbirds
![hummingbird: annual flower blossom](https://totalapexentertainment.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/annualneelakshi-singh-Afrs36ZDpas-unsplash-1024x683.jpeg)
If you live in an area with harsh winters, you can quickly establish a garden for the hummingbirds by planting annuals.
Introducing annual flowers to your garden allures hummingbirds, creating a vibrant habitat that invites their presence. During the hummingbird season, their blossoms offer a wealth of rich and plentiful nectar, serving as a steady nourishment source.
To maintain a steady source of nectar and attract hummingbirds throughout the season, cultivate an array of annual flowers with diverse blooming periods in your garden.
Plant ideas for annuals:
- Salvia (sage)
- Impatiens
- Cleome (spider flower)
- Nasturtium
- Lantana
You’ll add an array of colors and keep those birds zooming around your yard.
Perennials for Hummingbirds
![hummingbird: fuschia perennial](https://totalapexentertainment.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/fuschiamark-brennan-CPIE4QasKO4-unsplash-1024x681.jpeg)
Perennials stay in your garden for more than one year. This makes it easy to plan for color spots that attract hummingbirds, year after year. Birds remember. If you are paying attention, you’ll see the same characters appear in your garden.
Perennials are great fro creating color swathes—red here, orange there, purple in the corner, etc. Whether your garden is sunny or shady, you’ll find perennials to color your garden and attract and feed the hummingbirds.
Top perennial favorites for hummingbirds.
- Penstemon
- Kniphofia (Red Hot Poker)
- Sage (yep, it shows up twice)
- Aloe
- Fuschia
As time passes, you can add more perennials to accompany your original planting. You will attract hummingbirds as they feed on your “nectar collection.”
Shrubs and Vines for Hummingbirds
![hummingbird: large huneysuckle vine with flowers](https://totalapexentertainment.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/jhoneysuckeason-mitrione-gQKv0BnpcbM-unsplash-1024x683.jpeg)
Many shrubs and vines produce blooms that brim with nectar and attract hummingbirds. Plus, among the leaves and branches, you set up the perfect place to build a nest or two. Flowering shrubs are sure to attract.
In my yard, there’s a female who hides in among the leaves, but “talks” to me when I go outside. I hear her tiny peeps and then look into the bush until I see her. Your shrub could provide the same opportunity for hummingbird companionship.
Favorite hummingbird shrubs and vines:
- Crape myrtle
- Rose of Sharon
- Butterfly bush
- Honeysuckle
- Hibiscus
Along with the horizontal allure of annuals and perennials, flowering shrubs and vines add height to your colorful garden. Beautiful blooms and nesting opportunities are two great reasons to add shrubs and vines to attract hummingbirds.
Tips for Choosing Hummingbird Attracting Plants
If this is your first time planting to attract hummingbirds, you may want to start with plants rather than seeds. Keep your eyes open and these tips in mind when your out at a garden center or plant nursery.
- Choose plants with tubular flowers. They are hummingbird favorites.
- Bright colors like red, orange, and pink attract the birds.
- Select long-blooming plants. This helps hummers know the best spots in your garden so they return.
- Plant in groups or even masses. These big displays help hummingbirds find your garden for repeat visits.
- Select for staggered bloom times among your plants. This provides a longer season for the birds to favor your garden.
Whether you start small with one or two plants or create vibrant color spots in your garden, you’ll enjoy the flashing, dashing visits of the hummingbirds.
About The Author
Zara Altair is a writer and author of historical mysteries set in 6th Century Italy. She is passionate about books, film, film history, and sharing her knowledge with others. Engage with Zara, her educational insights, and her tips for fellow writers by following her on X(Twitter) and Threads.
Zara is a seasoned journalist and accomplished writer with deep expertise spanning entertainment, literature, film writing, neuroscience, and health. Zara blends critical analysis with a profound passion for storytelling.