Hummingbirds are among the most captivating creatures in the Americas, acting as significant pollinators across the continent. Their unique ability to hover, fly backward, and maintain incredibly high activity levels is fueled by a diet consisting primarily of flower nectar. To sustain their hyperactive metabolism, these tiny birds must constantly seek out high-energy sugar sources, making a garden tailored to their dietary and habitat needs the most effective way to ensure regular visits. This guide identifies the specific floral characteristics and plant varieties that serve as the best fuel sources for hummingbirds.
What Hummingbirds Look For in a Flower
The preferences of a hummingbird are dictated by a co-evolutionary relationship with the plants they feed on. Due to their high metabolic rate, they must consume roughly twice their body weight in nectar every day. This drives them to seek out flowers that offer the greatest energetic reward for the least amount of effort.
Hummingbirds show a strong preference for red and orange flowers, which act as a visual beacon easily spotted against green foliage. This color preference is partly because many competing insects are less attracted to the red end of the color spectrum. The shape of the flower is equally important, as hummingbirds favor deep, tubular, or trumpet-like structures. This shape perfectly accommodates the bird’s long bill and tongue, allowing them to access nectar often out of reach for most insects.
The quality of the nectar inside the flower is the ultimate determining factor for a returning visit. Hummingbird-pollinated flowers typically produce nectar with a high concentration of sucrose, a sugar easily and quickly metabolized by the birds’ specialized digestive systems. This combination of color, protective shape, and sugar-rich fuel ensures the birds receive the energy they need while the flower receives reliable, targeted pollination.
Top Plant Recommendations for Attracting Hummingbirds
Annuals
Annual flowers bloom continuously from spring until the first frost, providing a steady nectar source. Planting Fuchsia is an excellent strategy, as the pendant, tubular flowers in shades of red and pink are a natural fit for their feeding style. Fuchsia plants thrive best in partial to full shade, making them ideal for patios and covered porches. Petunias also offer trumpet-shaped blooms in vibrant reds and purples that are easily accessible to hummingbirds, requiring full sun to partial shade for the best flower production.
Another choice is Cuphea (Firecracker Plant), which produces numerous slender, tubular flowers that are typically bright red or orange. These plants enjoy full sun and often maintain their blooms even through the peak heat of summer. Lantana is a vigorous annual in most regions, featuring clusters of small, tubular florets in shades of red, orange, and yellow. Lantana is drought-tolerant and performs best in full sun, offering a dense mass of color.
Perennials
Perennial plants provide a permanent source of food year after year, often growing into large, nectar-rich clumps. Bee Balm (Monarda didyma) is a mint family member with unique, shaggy flower heads composed of many small, scarlet or crimson tubes. This plant prefers full sun to partial shade and is attractive to hummingbirds due to its high nectar content.
A native perennial is the Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis), which features brilliant, true-red tubular flowers densely packed along a tall spike. This perennial thrives in moist soil and partial shade, making it a spectacular addition to a rain garden or border.
Salvia (Sage) varieties offer consistent nectar sources for hummingbirds, with many species boasting long bloom times. Look for varieties with bright red or purple flowers like Salvia greggii or Salvia coccinea, as their tubular shape is perfectly suited for hummingbirds. Salvias generally require full sun and well-drained soil, and their upright habit makes the blossoms highly visible. Penstemon (Beardtongue) also features striking, tubular flowers on tall stalks, often in shades of red, pink, or purple. Many Penstemon varieties are adaptable and drought-tolerant once established, preferring a sunny location.
Vines and Shrubs
Integrating vines and shrubs provides both food, protective cover, and perching spots. Trumpet Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) is a non-invasive native vine that produces clusters of narrow, trumpet-shaped flowers in shades of coral or scarlet. This vine tolerates a range of light conditions and provides an early-season nectar source as hummingbirds return from migration.
The aggressive Trumpet Vine (Campsis radicans) is a classic choice, producing large, showy orange-red blooms that are a magnet for hummingbirds. This woody vine requires a sturdy trellis and full sun, though gardeners should manage its vigorous growth. Lantana can also grow as a woody perennial shrub in warmer climates, providing dense clusters of red and orange flowers continuously throughout the summer. Planting a shrub or vine near a window allows you to enjoy the feeding behavior of the hummingbirds up close.
Creating a Hummingbird-Friendly Garden Ecosystem
The layout and maintenance of the garden significantly influence a hummingbird’s decision to visit and stay. Hummingbirds spot large blocks of color more easily than scattered individual plants, so planting flowers in dense groups, or “drifts,” is more effective. This strategy creates a concentrated visual target, maximizing the available nectar reward.
A successful hummingbird garden must ensure a continuous food supply spanning the entire season. This is achieved by staggering the bloom times of different plant species, selecting a mix of early, mid, and late-season bloomers. Providing nectar from early spring through late fall is important for supporting migrating birds as they travel long distances.
Hummingbirds also require specific elements for habitat maintenance beyond just flowers. They need a source of water, often preferring a fine mist from a sprinkler or mister, as they tend to fly through the spray rather than land in a birdbath. Taller structures, such as trellises, dead tree branches, or tall shrubs, should be included to offer safe, high perches for resting and territorial observation. Finally, minimizing or eliminating the use of pesticides is important because hummingbirds rely on small insects and spiders for protein, especially when feeding their young.