Hummingbirds flitting, hovering, and peeping in the garden is one of the best rewards from planting native and adapted plants in your garden. Luckily there are hundreds of plants that are great for luring hummingbirds to your garden. Plants can provide blooms for nectar, sources of insect food, shelter for nesting, and even as a prized lookout perch. Want some suggestions of easy to grow, consistently available, alluring plants that hummingbirds can't resist? Please keep reading...
Hamelia patens - Hummingbird Bush - USDA zones 8-11 (annual everywhere)
A fast growing, woody heat and humidity tolerant shrub. Large glossy green foliage turns bright to deep red during periods of cold weather. They can drop some leaves or go reluctantly deciduous if frost hits, but they recover quickly when temps warm back up. They reach a moderate size of 3-5 ft. high & wide. Hummingbirds are attracted to the clusters of bright orange tubular flowers for nectar. Easy to grow and adaptive plants.
Hesperaloe parviflora - Red Yucca - USDA zones 5-11
A hardy and tough succulent perennial with arching, smooth olive green narrow foliage form vase-shaped mounds. In the spring to summer, plants produce numerous tall flower stalks adorned with bright red to salmon-pink short trumpet shaped blooms that are attractive to hummers. Easy to grow, tolerant of heat, and drought, but don't mind extra moisture if they get it, as long as they have good drainage. TIP: Vigorous, full-sized plants perform best in the coldest regions, rather than newer dwarf selections that tend to be slower growing.
Penstemon eatonii - Firecracker Penstemon - USDA zones 5-11
During spring to summer these plants form 1-2ft. stalks lined with bright scarlet tubular blooms that hummingbirds adore. The mounding plants are comprised of large, glossy green spoon-shaped leaves. A surprisingly reliable root hardy perennial, they are native to a wide range of CA, AZ, NV, over to the four corners region of the Colorado Plateau. Full to part sun. Easy to grow and tolerant of heat and cold.
Penstemon parryi - Parry's Penstemon - USDA zones 8-11. Native to AZ, it is a perennial with narrow blue-gray leaves sometimes edged in pink. In the spring, these magical bloomers light up the desert with tall vertical stems of bright bubble-gum pink flowers. Bloom stalks are typically 1-2 ft. tall, but can reach up to 3 ft. Flowers open from the bottom of the stalk upward, which extends the bloom period to the satisfaction of many migratory hummingbirds. Plant in full sun, and well-drained soil. Easy to grow and can self-sow in agreeable conditions.
Ruellia brittoniana - Mexican Petunia - USDA zones 8-11 (annual everywhere)
Dark green leafed plants with sturdy herbaceous vertical stems never stop blooming from spring to frost. Nectar-rich dark purple petunia-like blooms form in early spring. They thrive in the heat and bloom best in full sun, but can tolerate filtered or only morning sun. Easy to grow, reliable, continuous blooms make them great hummingbird plants. TIP: Contain rhizomatous roots.
Salvia greggii - Autumn Sage - USDA zones 8-11 (annual everywhere)
A popular long-blooming, small woody shrub that produces loads of bright magenta flowers spring to autumn. They grow 2-3 ft. high and wide with small, green sage-scented round leaves. Plant in filtered or morning sun in hot desert climates, other locations they can tolerate full sun exposures. Hummingbirds are highly attracted to their flower color and numerous blooms for nectar.
Tecoma x 'Sparky' - USDA zones 8-11 (annual everywhere)
These are woody, deciduous shrubs with medium-sized lush dark green leaves. Plants are fast growing, thrive in the heat, are drought tolerant and can grow to 3-5 ft. in one season. Bright golden blooms ringed with red stand out on panicles held well above the foliage. Deadhead spent flower stalks for continual summer bloom. Easy to grow, adaptable and tolerant, they make great container plants for summer show.
Fast Flying Little Friends
As mentioned earlier, plants like blooming Hesperaloes, and Yuccas, or Agaves can all offer beneficial branched flower stalks they use for lookout perch. Ocotillo canes, palm trees and winter deciduous trees in mild climates are other good options to consider for this reason. Remember, they feed on tiny, soft-bodied insects like gnats, aphids, whiteflies, etc., especially when nesting, so, put the pesticides down. Even a tiny bit can cause them harm. Try to be more tolerant of a few pests, reminding yourself that they are a great source of protein for your hummingbird friends. Reliable water, and of course supplemental feeders also serve to draw these fast little flying friends to your garden and back yard.
**Blogs & photos by Daniel S. Goodspeed, without use of AI. No photos or blog info may be reprinted or reproduced without permission or consent of the author, Happy Valley Plants™ or its subsidiaries.**
