The Best Plants to Attract Hummingbirds to Your Garden

This North American native is a favorite among hummingbirds because of its inviting open shape and bright colors. You’ll love this perennial, too, for its cheerful blooms in shades of red, pink, purple, and white as it also attracts butterflies and bees to your garden. Bee balm thrives in moist, rich soil and a sunny location. If you’re planting a container garden, choose the dwarf variety of bee balm for a perfect fit.

Part of the mint family, this plant features delicate lacy flowers in hues of white, pink, or lavender-blue. Catmint is an excellent companion for roses, tulips, or other tall flowers, adding depth and contrast to your garden. This sun-loving plant emits a faint lavender scent, drawing in hummingbirds and a variety of other pollinators. Plus, its easy-going nature makes it a low-maintenance addition to any outdoor space.

A standout in the buttercup family, this plant is another crowd-pleaser. Known for its unique jesters’ cap blossoms, columbine flowers in red, yellow, white, blue, pink, salmon, and purple. It enjoys partial shade and adapts well across various zones and soil types, ensuring there’s a species perfectly suited for every garden.

Coral bells, another plant native to North America, are celebrated for drawing in hummingbirds. While they traditionally feature green leaves and pink blooms, you can now find varieties that offer a rainbow of colors—purple, rose, lime green, gold, and any color in between. Coral bells are late bloomers, so don’t expect them to make their debut until late spring.

Closely related to the tobacco plant, flowering tobacco produces delightful blossoms in an assortment of shapes, sizes, and colors. Available in shades of green, pink, purple, red, white, and yellow, it’s versatile enough for landscape bordering or container gardens when choosing compact varieties. Its intense fragrance is not only appealing to people but also hummingbirds and other pollinators, making it a dual delight for the senses.

Larkspur, also known as delphinium, gets its name from the Greek word for “dolphin,” inspired by the shape of its buds. While this plant is not as easy to grow as others on our list, larkspur is well worth the effort for its stunning beauty. With spiky blooms in shades of blue, purple, white, and lavender, delphiniums enrich any garden. There are over 300 species of larkspur, ranging from annuals and biennials to perennials, so this plant promises a recurring display in your hummingbird garden each spring and summer.

The petunia, a garden staple and hummingbird favorite, blooms in two main varieties—grandiflora and multiflora. Grandiflora petunias produce large, showy flowers perfect for container gardens, while multiflora petunias, with their abundant small flowers, excel in garden beds and planters. This heat-tolerant plant offers a rainbow of color options, such as white, red, pink, purple, and yellow, making a bright statement in any garden setting.

For those looking for a burst of vibrant color all summer long, red hot pokers (also known as torch lilies or poker plants) are an ideal choice. These perennials are drought and heat tolerant which make them a great option for warmer southern climates. Although renowned for their fiery red blooms, poker plants also flower in yellow, coral, and cream. These plants are a hummingbird’s delight, offering a sweet, delicious nectar that’s as attractive to wildlife as the flowers are to the eye.

Scarlet sage is a dependable and enduring plant that is sure to draw hummingbirds by the dozens to your backyard. Its tubular flowers bloom in beautiful shades of pink, white, and red. Scarlet sage is relatively low maintenance and reaches heights of two to four feet. If grown in containers, remember to water daily so you can enjoy a summer full of vibrant blooms and the delightful company of hummingbirds.

Trumpet honeysuckle is the only vine on our list of plants known to attract hummingbirds. This climber showcases a cascade of orange, red, or pink flowers that bloom from early spring to late summer. After flowering, trumpet honeysuckles produce small red berries. Whether grown on a lattice, hanging basket, or container, the elegantly arching form and tubular blooms of this plant will catch the eye of hummingbirds passing by.

Verbena is known for its drought resistance, offering a display of vibrant flowers throughout the summer. With varieties that range from ground-hugging trailers to taller plants, there’s a perfect variety for every garden. This plant blooms in clusters of small flowers, with hues that include red, pink, purple, blue, and lilac. As you enjoy its lively colors, take pleasure in knowing that you’re providing a feast for a host of pollinators.