A garden is incomplete without a variety of hummingbird-friendly plants. Lupines are a popular choice, offering colorful spires of blooms and pretty foliage. They are hardy and tolerant of hot summer weather, but you should be wary of their heat-sensitivity. They have spiky tubular flowers on tall spikes, with clumps of coarse foliage that create a fountain-like appearance. These tall-growing plants look particularly striking when planted in clusters or as single specimen plants.
Penstemon
Hummingbirds are attracted to the tubular blooms of penstemon, also known as beardtongue. The plant is drought tolerant, and its blooms are designed for the needs of hummingbirds. Penstemon blooms in mid-to-late summer. Penstemon flowers are attractive, vibrant, and low maintenance. Plant it in your garden to attract hummingbirds.
The scarlet-red flowering penstemon is Bridges’ penstemon. It has normal hummingbird pollination adaptations: downward-pointing corollas, and no special landing surface for smaller insects. The lower lip is also shorter than the upper, and the anthers open on the top and along the length of the flower’s stem. In addition, these flowers are not as fragrant as the ones grown for humans.
Regardless of your planting location, penstemon will be happy to thrive in partial shade to full sunlight. It prefers slightly dry soil and a good drainage area. Penstemon flowers are very attractive to hummingbirds and can grow in nearly any kind of garden, from rock gardens to full sun areas. They require little care and require very little water. They will attract hummingbirds to your garden if you follow a few simple guidelines.
Cardinal flower
The Cardinal Flower is an excellent choice for attracting hummingbirds to your garden. It grows in moist, partly shaded areas and is a favorite nectar plant of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. If you want to attract hummingbirds without spending a fortune, you can also plant it for other reasons. It will spread by seed and reseed itself, making it a great option for a natural hummingbird feeding station.
The Cardinal Flower is a native of North America. Its natural range includes most of the eastern and midwestern states as well as southern Canada. This plant prefers moist or wet locations, and doesn’t do well when covered in snow or mulch. Cardinal Flowers produce small, leafy off-shoots at the base of the plant. These must remain uncovered during the winter, as they may die off if covered in leaves. During warm sunny days, the leaves of the Cardinal Flower may still be available, and the birds can feed on these.
Figwort
Figwort flowers are among the most popular plants for attracting hummingbirds to your yard. Although these flowers are not particularly showy, they are quite beautiful up close. The color ranges from yellow to green, and some varieties are even bright red. Figwort flowers have two lips: the upper one protects the stamens, which look like a big tongue inside the open mouth.
Figwort is a nectar-rich plant, attracting a wide range of insects and birds. Its flowers attract hummingbirds, including the Ruby-throated Hummingbird. Despite its short life span, figwort can grow to over five feet in height. The flowers are a great addition to any backyard or garden, and they are not easy to find at most nurseries. Despite being a relatively rare plant, figwort brings a unique, native touch to your landscape.
Mexican cigar flower
If you’re growing flowers for hummingbirds, consider planting a Mexican cigar plant. This relative of the Cigar Plant, Cuphea ignea and Cuphea micropetala, has exotic flowers and doesn’t mind heat or humidity. Hummingbirds love these flowers, which are also known as firecrackers. Operation Ruby Throat has included Mexican cigar in its list of the 10 best exotic hummingbird plants.
This perennial Mexican cigar plant is drought tolerant and prefers light, well-drained soil. It’s a good choice for containers because of its compact form. Although it can grow to a height of 25 inches, the Mexican cigar is a great choice for the home garden. It can be propagated by stem cuttings or seeds. Make sure the soil is moist and fertile. Water the Mexican cigar plant regularly, and don’t forget to prune it at the end of the season.
Red canna lily
In zones 8 and above, red canna lilies are suitable for planting year-round. The rhizomes are horizontal storage units with growth points called eyes. You can divide the plant into three or five rhizomes after cutting off spent flowers. Cannas are suitable for hummingbird gardens because they attract numerous hummingbird species. After flowering, cannas produce clusters of black seeds.
Canna lilies are easy to grow and care for, and their vibrant red flowers will attract a variety of pollinators, including hummingbirds. These plants look great in large containers and sunny beds. They tolerate cold winters well, and are hardy to zones seven to 11.
Bee balm
When it comes to growing plants for hummingbirds, you should be able to attract them to your yard by adding bee balm to your garden. Bee balm plants can be difficult to grow and require proper growing conditions. It prefers a well-drained soil, with even moisture. Some varieties can tolerate clay or drought. It blooms early to late summer, and can be pruned to extend the blooming period. However, bee balm is easily spread and can take over your garden.
Native to North America, bee balm is a perennial flowering plant with small leaves and flowers. The blooms are bright red and resemble sea anemones. Bees love the spicy, lemony scent of the flowers and nectar. It can be planted in flower beds, herb gardens, or even large fields. It grows up to four feet tall and spreads rapidly. The flowers can be trimmed to a pleasing shape for attracting hummingbirds.
Impatiens
Whether you’re growing flowers for yourself or for your hummingbird guests, you can make sure to plant some impatiens flowers. Hummingbirds are beneficial pollinators, and many gardens benefit from them. They help keep the ecosystem balanced by feeding on many types of insects. Brightly colored flowers such as impatiens will attract hummingbirds to your garden. Read on for helpful tips.
Sunstanding Cherry Red New Guinea impatiens perform best in full sun. They grow 36 inches tall and wide and bloom continuously throughout the summer. Sunstanding Coral Aurora is a good choice for shade or sun conditions, and produces attractive, magenta-pink flowers. Alternatively, you can grow the Sun Harmony Baby Pink, which bears 2-inch-wide shell-pink flowers. A variety with long blooms is recommended for areas with high humidity.
Petunias
The best time to plant petunias is early spring, when the threat of frost is past. Planting them later is usually too late and will not attract hummingbirds. The best time to plant them is during the same season that you plan to put up a feeder. Also, petunias need direct sunlight and need to be grown in a sunny location. Hummingbirds enjoy feeding in direct sunlight.
Some kinds of petunias are better for attracting hummingbirds than others. Specifically, red petunias will draw hummingbirds, as do purple ones. Petunia exserta is native to Brazil, but it can be grown anywhere in the U.S., and the nectar in these flowers will draw hummingbirds. The flowers of these plants will be slightly sweeter than those of most other flowers, so if you want to attract hummingbirds, try red petunias.
Catmint
If you want to attract hummingbirds to your garden, plant catmint. The flowering plant has a grey green foliage and white to pale lavender flowers. Cut the plants back after they’ve finished blooming to encourage more flowering later in the summer. Once established, the plant is quite drought-tolerant. The newer varieties of catmint grow between 12 and 18 inches tall and have sterile seeds.
The sweet, minty nectar from hummingbird-friendly plants is a source of energy for hummers. Hummingbirds have the fastest metabolism of any animal, and they spend most of their waking hours seeking out sugary flowers. In fact, they visit over 2,000 flowers per day, consuming as much as one gram of sugar per minute. They tend to be attracted to brightly colored flowers and tubular shapes.