One of the first signs that spring has finally arrived is when you see a hummingbird in your backyard. These small, bright birds are attracted to flowers with long blooms and tubular shapes because they offer nectar for drinking.
The “night-blooming flower that attracts hummingbirds” is a night blooming flower that is usually found in tropical and subtropical regions. It’s also known as the “moonflower.”
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Most of us are aware that providing beautiful, nectar-filled flowers to our yard can attract more hummingbirds. But deciding what to plant may be difficult, so we’ve compiled a list of hummingbird favorites that can turn your garden into a hummingbird magnet in no time.
Hummingbird-friendly flowers include:
- Beebalm
- Flowering Cardinal
- Sage Salvia
- Currant, Red-Flowering
- Penstemon
- Catmint
- Petunia
- Vine with Trumpets
- Columbine Crimson
- Mint for Hummingbirds
- Honeysuckle Trumpet
- Aloe Vera Gel
- Pokes That Are Red-Hot
- Bells of Coral
- Fuchsia from California
- Esperanza
Before you start creating a garden that will attract hummingbirds, there are a few things to consider. Hummingbirds aren’t always attracted to vivid blooms.
Knowing which blooming plants hummingbirds eat allows you to keep these little iridescent gems coming back year after year.
Hummingbird Attracting Flowers
Many people just hang a bright red hummingbird feeder, but it may be difficult to maintain it clean and supplied with new sugar water. Providing hummingbird-attracting floral plants and letting nature take care of the feast is a considerably simpler and more appealing choice.
There are a few things to bear in mind while planting flowers to attract hummingbirds.
Brightly colored, trumpet-shaped blooms attract hummingbirds. Avoid buying any brilliantly colored blooming plant from a garden shop since it may not last more than one season.
When selecting flowing plants to attract hummingbirds to your landscape, keep the following in mind:
- If at all feasible, use native blooming plants.
- Choose plants that bloom for a longer period of time.
- Choose floral plants that self-seed.
- Plant a variety of blooming plants to ensure that they bloom throughout the season.
- While planting, keep predators in mind.
- Provide a freshwater supply.
It takes some forethought to create a beautiful garden full of blooming plants that attract hummingbirds, but if you choose carefully the first season, the garden should survive for many years without extra investment.
Let’s go through the factors to consider while planning your hummingbird-friendly landscape.
Hummingbirds are attracted to native flowers.
Hummingbirds have evolved to consume native vegetation as their natural meal. If you pick plants that have evolved to your environment, they are more likely to flourish in your location.
Hummingbird-friendly blooming plants don’t have to be dull, and some of them may be rather striking. When evaluating which plants to pick, the National Wildlife Federation provides a thorough list of native plants particular to each area that you may use as an educational and useful reference.
Indigenous plants, apart from being the plants that hummingbirds have evolved to eat on, need less care to grow. They also consume less water and are less susceptible to plant diseases than exotic plants.
To attract hummingbirds, use plants that bloom for longer periods of time.
Hummingbirds will return to your garden if you provide a constant supply of tasty nectar-filled blossoms.
Choose plants that will bloom continuously throughout the migratory hummingbird season, not just once in the summer.
When planting for hummingbirds, use self-seeding flowers.
Although it might be great to go out and buy a few new plants each season to add a splash of color to your garden, try to choose species that can self-seed.
Once planted, plants like Bee Balm and Coral Honeysuckle will flourish year after year. Some blooming plants, such as petunias, only bloom for one season and must be replanted every year.
Hummingbirds are attracted to a wide variety of flowers.
Bright hues, particularly reds and oranges, attract hummingbirds. They will, however, gladly eat on any tubular, nectar-filled flower they come across, so don’t restrict yourself when planting.
Choosing a range of colorful hummingbird-friendly plants will also help to stretch blooming season out over a longer period of time. This is necessary to ensure that blooms are accessible at all times.
Keep an eye out for hummingbirds in your region during the migratory months. The National Audubon Society provides a database that will help you keep track of when hummingbirds are expected in your region.
Hummingbirds will feed safely on flowering plants.
Hummingbirds are amazing aerial acrobats that seem to float motionless while sipping nectar from blossoms. They’re both entertaining and intriguing to see.
Consider if you have any hummingbird predators in the region when choosing flowers to attract hummingbirds to your yard.
Grow flowers that are high off the ground, especially if you have outside cats. Hummingbirds may be ambushed by cats springing from the ground and capturing them while they are eating.
Creeping flowers, such as Honeysuckle types that may be planted on a support trellis, will give a profusion of blossoming blossoms for hummingbirds, making ground-dwelling predators tough to capture.
Hummingbirds like water as well as flowers.
It’s not because hummingbirds don’t bathe that you’ve never seen one swimming about in your standard birdbath. The reason for this is that hummingbirds like to bathe.
Hummingbirds will come to your garden if you grow vibrant hummingbird-friendly flowers, but they will remain longer if more of their requirements are addressed and a water supply is present.
Hummingbirds like flowing water that they may bathe in, even if it’s only a gentle trickle from a garden faucet or a fountain that cascades over a ledge. These intriguing tiny birds seldom swim, but if they locate a suitable water source, they will drink and bathe to their hearts’ content.
Flower Types That Attract Hummingbirds
Finding the first hummingbird of the season is a thrilling experience. You may make your yard a favorite resting spot by planting flowers that attract these small birds.
The list below includes 16 flowers that are likely to attract hummingbirds to your yard.
1 – Balm of Bees
Bee balm, also known as Mondarda, is a multipurpose and easy-to-grow plant that hummingbirds love. The vivid red blossoms may reach a height of four feet and attract butterflies and bees.
Bee Balm comes in a variety of varieties that are native to North America. Jacobs Cline is one among the most popular plants for attracting hummingbirds. Hummingbirds of all kinds flock to it because of its vibrant red hue.
Because it grows via subterranean rhizomes, bee balm thrives in a variety of soil types. In fact, if it’s in a good spot, you may need to prune it back on a regular basis until it’s established.
Bee balm like to be in the sun, however it is not drought resistant. It blooms throughout the summer, and the blossoms may linger into the early autumn.
Bee balm petals may be used as potpourri, and the leaves can be brewed into tea, in addition to being a beautiful color-rich plant in your yard that will attract hummingbirds.
2 – Flowering Cardinal
If you have a particularly wet patch of soil in your garden, a favorite flower to attract hummingbirds is the Lobelia cardinalis, commonly known as the Flowering Cardinal. These indigenous plants come in shades of red, pink, and white, but red is always the preferred color is planting to attract hummingbirds.
Flowering Cardinals are good choices in areas where there is abundant wildlife as it is both deer and rabbit resistant. And although other animals may avoid it, hummingbirds clamber to enjoy the sweet nectar in the tubular flowers.
The Flowering Cardinal plant is between 2 to 4 feet tall, and it thrives in full sun and partial shade. This beautiful plant has adapted in such a way that it depends on hummingbirds for pollination. Flowering usually takes place from summer through to fall.
3 – Sage Salvia
Salvia, a broad genus of plants in the sage family, is another favorite of red-breasted hummingbirds. Salvia comes in a variety of hues that will attract a variety of birds to your garden, but red is the color of preference for hummingbirds.
The salvia plant’s flowers are grouped in elegant spikes with tubular-shaped blossoms. The height of the plants varies depending on the species and may range from 1 to 6 feet.
Salvias are drought-tolerant and low-maintenance plants. They need at least 6 hours of direct sunlight every day and bloom from late spring to early autumn.
Because they don’t lay seeds, these lovely hummingbird-friendly plants create a great striking border and stay in bloom for a long time.
4 – Currant, Red-Flowering
The Currant, Red-Flowering, Ribes sanguineum, is a large native shrub that will bloom early in spring, so it is a good choice if you want to attract hummingbirds from the start of the season. It occurs naturally in the western parts of the US.
Currant, Red-Flowering develops attractive red clusters of highly scented flowers that hummingbirds find irresistible. The fast-growing deciduous shrub can reach a height of almost 10ft. It is easy to grow and is drought resistant.
An added benefit of the Currant, Red-Flowering is that it is not on the deer menu, so the plant will continue to be attractive and attract hummingbirds even if your garden is visited by browsing deer.
Penstemon (number 5)
When it comes to adding color variation to your hummingbird garden, Penstemon is a great low-maintenance alternative. These native plants are also known as ‘Beardtongue,’ a term derived from the blooms’ appearance, which resembles an open mouth with a protruding tongue.
Penstemon are resilient plants that prefer drier soil and are attractive additions to water-wise landscaping projects. They come in a variety of shapes and hues, ranging from the ever-popular hummingbird red to purple and blue tones.
These lovely perennials vary in height from 1 to 4 feet and have long clusters of tubular-shaped blooms. Penstemon will brighten up your garden with a splash of hummingbird-friendly color, especially in May and June.
Catmint, number six
It turns out that catmint is appealing to more than just cats. Hummingbirds like it as well. Catmint is a great blooming plant for filling in gaps between bigger feature plants and adding perfume and color to your landscape.
Because of the profusion of lavender flowers on each stem, Nepeta cataria, often known as catnip or catmint, has long-lasting tubular blooms that will attract hummingbirds. It is a low-growing plant that grows to roughly 40 inches in height.
Catmint flowers from late spring to late autumn, providing food for hummingbirds throughout their migratory flights.
Petunia #7
Colorful petunias may immediately convert any dreary scene into something beautiful. These bright-eyed tiny plants are popular in borders and hanging baskets, and they produce masses of beautiful blooms that attract hummingbirds.
These low-growing, easy-to-care-for flowers come in a wide range of hues, allowing you to mix and match and add bursts of brilliant color to any sunny spot in your garden.
If you wish to attract passing hummingbirds, including some red and orange petunias is usually a good idea. They will, however, drink from any accessible blossoms if they learn your garden is fully supplied with delectable flowers.
8 – Vine with Trumpets
If you want a true hummingbird magnet to plant in your garden, Vine with Trumpets should be high on your list of choices. This hardy perennial vine produces large clusters of red-orange flowers that hummingbirds love.
Campsis radicans, more commonly known as Vine with Trumpets, is so popular with hummingbirds that it is also known as Hummingbird Vine in some areas.
Although Vine with Trumpets is native to eastern parts of the US, it is also widely grown in gardens across the country. The plant is a vigorous grower during the summer months and can grow up to 30 ft if provided with sturdy vertical support.
This hummingbird-friendly plant grows so quickly that it may need to be clipped on a regular basis to prevent it from taking over the whole garden. Its profusion of summer flowers, on the other hand, are a visual pleasure for both humans and hummingbirds.
9 – Columbine Crimson
Hummingbirds will visit your yard if you plant any kind of Columbine flowers. Hummingbirds love to drink nectar from these blooms because of their unique form.
Hummingbirds do, however, have a favorite variety of columbine flowers. The Columbine Crimson, Aquilegia Formosa, is an absolute treat in any hummingbird-friendly garden.
The pendent-shaped blooms resemble red embers with brilliant yellow centers and strong crimson tones on the top. Although the blooms are short-lived, once the plant has established itself in favorable circumstances, it will self-seed and continue to produce nectar-filled blossoms throughout the growing season.
Columbine is a clump-forming, low-maintenance plant that tolerates semi-shade circumstances better than many other hummingbird-friendly plants. It can grow up to 3 feet in height.
10 – Mint for Hummingbirds
Agastache, commonly known as Mint for Hummingbirds, is an excellent option for very sunny areas. Its informal-looking masses of tiny, tubular flowers can be a charming addition to naturalistic garden settings.
Agastache blossoms will not only attract a swarm of hummingbirds, but also a swarm of butterflies and bees. This native plant grows best in damp, well-drained soil.
This plant’s blossoms are resistant to deer and rabbits and come in a variety of colors including pink, mauve, and purple. The plants range in height from one to five feet tall, depending on the cultivar.
This plant’s compact cultivars may be cultivated in pots or hanging baskets.
11 – Honeysuckle Trumpet
Although many types of Honeysuckle are invasive, the Honeysuckle Trumpet is one you should consider planting in your garden area if you wish to attract lots of hummingbirds.
From spring through autumn, this spectacular plant, sometimes known as the coral Honeysuckle, will give a constant stream of vivid red tubular blossoms that will be a feast for hummingbirds.
The Honeysuckle Trumpet is an easy-to-grow, native plant. Its vigorous growth during the growing months may need to occasionally be pruned back to keep it neat.
Aloe Vera 12 Gel
One of the most striking and easily recognized plants in many gardens is the Aloe Vera Gel. The long spikes of tubular flowers will beckon hummingbirds to drink.
Many people already keep Aloe Vera Gel handy to treat burns or skin ailments, but besides the medicinal uses of the leaves, hummingbirds are attracted to the profuse, brightly colored rosettes of flowers.
Aloe Vera Gel is easy to grow. However, it is a longer-term project in terms of attracting hummingbirds because mature plants will only send up flower stalks around the age of 4 years. But the long wait is definitely worth it as your garden will become a hummingbird Mecca while the plants bloom.
Red Hot Pokers (#13)
The name alone should indicate that these hardy plants will be popular with hummingbirds. In the warmer southern regions, the characteristic spikes of vividly colored blooms will bloom throughout summer.
Torch lilies, sometimes known as red hot pokers, are drought and heat tolerant. Despite the fact that the plants are native to southern Africa, they have become popular among gardeners looking for a low-maintenance yet eye-catching addition to their hummingbird-friendly landscape.
Pokers reach a mature height of 4 feet and may thrive in poor soil. To maintain these lovely plants in peak shape for their hummingbird visits, avoid overwatering or soggy soil.
14 – Bells of Coral
When it comes to variety, Bells of Coral have got it all. The foliage on these plants varies greatly from palest natural colors to vivid shades of peppermint green and cerise pink.
Hummingbirds are attracted to the plant as it puts up beautiful fronds of delectable tubular blooms. Hummingbirds are drawn to the scarlet blossoms of the Hollywood type, which stand out against the sea of black foliage from which they emerge.
Bells of Coral are small plants that only reach a maximum height of around 36 inches and bloom from late spring through late summer. They do very well in full sun to part shade conditions.
15 – Fuchsia from California
Fuchsia from California is an exquisite red-orange flowering plant that is so popular with hummingbirds that it is often called Hummingbirds Trumpet.
Epilobium canum is a plant that is native to Arizona yet can flourish and live in most climates. The Hummingbird trumpet will return year after year after it has established itself. Growing this plant against a sun-facing wall where it can absorb all of the available sun’s rays is advised for milder climes.
This low-growing plant produces masses of blossoms during late summer and into fall. Fuchsia from California does not require rich soil and can thrive with minimal watering.
Esperanza (16)
Tecoma stans, the Esperanza plant, with yellow bell-shaped blooms that seem cheerful. The vivid colors and quantity of the blooms contrast well with the dark green leaves in any garden.
The enormous trumpet-shaped golden leaves attract hummingbirds rapidly. Aside from its gorgeous flowers, the plant is drought hardy and thrives throughout most of the southern United States.
These brilliant perennial shrubs need rich, well-draining soil and should be planted in sunny regions. They grow quickly and may reach a height of 9 feet.
One of the major benefits of growing Esperanza in your hummingbird garden, apart from its magnificent beauty, is its prolonged bloom duration. This plant may produce flowers from April to November in perfect circumstances.
Last Thoughts
Spring is approaching, and adding some bright hummingbird-friendly blooms to your garden can give your outdoor space a new perspective. If the garden is full of their favorite flowers, the small visitors will flock in droves.
When choosing flowers to attract hummingbirds, bear in mind that they prefer vivid red or orange blossoms, and native species should be prioritized wherever feasible.
The “perennial plants that attract butterflies and hummingbirds” are the most beautiful flowers in the world. They are perennials, which means they will grow year after year. This makes them ideal for those who want to add beauty to their garden without a lot of work.
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