Hummingbirds require an immense amount of energy to sustain their hovering flight. This rapid, energy-intensive lifestyle necessitates a nearly constant intake of fuel. Their bodies burn calories at an extraordinary rate, relying heavily on the sugary fluid found in flowers. Selecting the right plants is the most effective way to attract and sustain them in a garden.
Defining the Ideal Hummingbird Flower
The unique flower types hummingbirds favor result from co-evolution, where the bird and the plant have adapted to benefit one another. Successful hummingbird flowers possess a specific physical structure: a long, tubular or trumpet shape. This deep corolla ensures that only a creature with a long bill and tongue can reach the nectar, effectively excluding most insects.
These specialized flowers typically produce nectar with a high concentration of sucrose, sometimes reaching 25% sugar content. Hummingbirds possess acute color vision and visit flowers of many hues, but they show a strong attraction to blooms in the warm spectrum, particularly red or orange. This preference is often because bees, which are major nectar competitors, tend to ignore flowers in this color range.
Top Perennial Flowers and Shrubs
Perennial plants and woody shrubs are excellent long-term investments for attracting hummingbirds, returning reliably each season with dense bloom coverage.
Perennial Flowers
A popular perennial choice is Bee Balm (Monarda), which features clusters of tubular flowers in shades of red and pink. This native plant offers a concentrated nectar source throughout the mid-summer. The native Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis) produces striking spikes of brilliant red, tubular flowers. This species often depends on hummingbirds for pollination. Penstemon, or beardtongue, offers bell-shaped blooms that hummingbirds easily access, with varieties like Penstemon barbatus providing scarlet coloring.
Woody Shrubs and Vines
Among the woody plants, Honeysuckle (Lonicera) vines, particularly the native Lonicera sempervirens (Coral Honeysuckle), offer early-season nectar in their tubular flowers. The shrub Weigela is also a nectar producer, with many cultivars featuring pink or red blossoms that provide a reliable food source in the spring.
Top Annual Flowers and Vines
Annual flowers and vines provide vibrant, season-long color and quick growth in a hummingbird garden.
Annual Flowers
Annuals like Fuchsia have pendulous, tubular flowers that hang down, perfectly positioned for feeding. They thrive in shady locations where many sun-loving perennials cannot grow. For sunny spots, New Guinea Impatiens offer larger, nectar-rich flowers. Flowering Tobacco (Nicotiana alata) is another annual, presenting trumpet-shaped blooms that are often fragrant and open late in the day. These fast-growing options bridge gaps in the perennial bloom schedule.
Annual Vines
Vines, such as the Cypress Vine (Ipomoea quamoclit), use vertical space to create a dense wall of forage. Its small, red trumpet flowers are prolific and provide a high-volume nectar supply throughout the summer and into the fall.
Creating a Continuous Nectar Source
To ensure hummingbirds establish a reliable feeding pattern, the focus must shift to a comprehensive garden strategy. This involves succession planting, which means choosing a variety of plants that bloom at different times, from early spring through late autumn. Staggering bloom times guarantees a continuous source of nectar, supporting the birds throughout their presence, including migration periods.
It is also beneficial to group flowers together in dense clusters rather than scattering single plants. Hummingbirds are territorial and will defend a concentrated food source, making mass planting more appealing than sparse blooms. Furthermore, strictly avoid using systemic neonicotinoid pesticides on any flowering plants. These chemicals contaminate the nectar and disrupt the hummingbird’s metabolism.