Attracting hummingbirds is a rewarding pursuit for many gardeners. These tiny, high-energy birds require a specialized diet and seek specific floral characteristics to support their fast metabolism. This leads many to wonder about the suitability of common garden plants, like the purple coneflower (Echinacea), as a reliable food source. The question of whether this popular perennial is a hummingbird favorite is common when planning a pollinator-focused landscape.
Why Coneflowers Are Not a Primary Nectar Source
Coneflowers (Echinacea) are beneficial to many garden visitors, including bees and butterflies, but they are not a preferred or primary nectar source for hummingbirds. The structure of the coneflower is the main reason for this lack of preference. The bloom has a flat, open, daisy-like shape with a prominent central cone, which makes the nectar easily accessible to generalist pollinators that can perch or crawl.
The nectar is not protected deep within a floral tube, which is the feature hummingbirds typically seek. Hummingbirds may occasionally be observed near coneflowers, but this is usually to forage for small insects trapped within the flower head. These small arthropods provide the protein that hummingbirds need, as nectar is exclusively a carbohydrate source. The Echinacea flower does not offer the concentrated, abundant, or easily accessible sugar reward required for their hovering flight.
Defining the Ideal Hummingbird Flower
The most attractive flowers for hummingbirds possess specific characteristics that match the bird’s anatomy and foraging behavior. A tubular or trumpet shape is the defining trait of a flower optimized for hummingbird feeding. This long, slender form perfectly accommodates the bird’s bill and lengthy, trough-like tongue, allowing access to nectar reserves inaccessible to most insects.
The corolla length often matches the length of the hummingbird’s bill, which maximizes the efficiency of nectar extraction. While hummingbirds visit flowers of many colors, they show a strong visual preference for bright shades, particularly red and orange. This color attraction acts as a beacon, guiding them to the most rewarding flowers.
A successful hummingbird flower must offer nectar with a high sugar concentration, ideally between 20% and 30% sucrose, to fuel the bird. Hummingbirds must consume large amounts of nectar daily to maintain their high metabolic rate, so they quickly learn to favor plants that provide a high yield. This combination of shape, color, and rich nectar content defines the criteria for an ideal source.
Top Alternative Flowers for Attracting Hummingbirds
Gardeners creating a hummingbird haven should focus on planting species with a tubular structure and a prolonged bloom time. Bee Balm (Monarda) is a top choice, featuring whorls of tubular flowers in shades of red, pink, or purple rich with nectar. This perennial attracts hummingbirds throughout the summer.
Another option is Salvia (Sage), which offers vibrant spikes of tubular blooms. Many varieties, including scarlet sage (Salvia splendens), bloom for a long duration and are low-maintenance, providing a consistent food source. For early-season sustenance, Columbine (Aquilegia) is an excellent native perennial with intricate, spurred flowers that store nectar deep within, offering a reward before many other plants begin flowering.
The Trumpet Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens), a native vine, produces clusters of trumpet-shaped flowers, typically in red or orange. This plant is a great alternative to aggressive non-native honeysuckle varieties and provides both nectar and vertical structure. Hummingbird Mint (Agastache) is another choice, with its densely packed spikes of tiny, tubular flowers that bloom from summer into fall.
The Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis) is a stunning plant with brilliant red, tubular flowers specifically adapted for hummingbird pollination. Its intense color and specialized shape make it a reliable attractant. Penstemon (Beardtongue) offers bell-shaped flowers rich in nectar and is often drought-tolerant, making it a robust choice for a hummingbird-friendly garden.