Creating a hummingbird-friendly garden is a delightful way to invite these charming, energetic birds into your outdoor space. These tiny, colorful birds love bright, tubular flowers that are full of nectar. You can create a beautiful, hummingbird-friendly space supporting pollinators by choosing the right plants.
Understand their thriving conditions and care instructions to get started.
Bee Balm
Bee balm, with its vibrant tubular flowers in red, pink, purple and white shades, is a favourite for the hummingbird. It thrives in USDA zones 3–9 and flourishes in rich, moist, slightly acidic soil. It blooms well under full or partial sun and grows to a height of 2–3 feet. It’s a low-maintenance plant that is also deer-resistant. It draws hummingbirds and adds a splash of vibrant color to your garden beds.
Silk Tree
The Silk Tree, or Mimosa is loved by hummingbirds for its fluffy pink flowers that produce abundant nectar. Moist, well-drained soil with bright or partial sunlight is ideal for their growth. It can reach up to 40 feet tall and 50 feet wide, adding a unique, tropical feel to your garden. However, it’s essential to note that the Silk Tree is considered invasive in some regions, particularly the Southeast, as it can spread rapidly and outcompete native plants.
Phlox
Phlox is a fragrant bloom in shades of lavender, pink, white, and red, which are attractive to both hummingbirds and butterflies. It thrives in USDA zones 4 to 8, it prefers moist, well-draining soil and requires full sun in northern areas or partial sun in the south. Reaching 2–3 feet in height and width, phlox is a versatile plant that complements any pollinator garden.
Red Columbine
Red columbine is perfect for attracting hummingbirds during their spring migration with its distinctive red and yellow blooms. Suitable for zones 3 to 8, this compact plant thrives in moist, slightly acidic soil under full or partial sun. At just 1 to 2 feet tall, it’s an excellent choice for adding early spring interest to your garden while providing vital nectar for returning hummingbirds.
Mexican Bush Sage
Mexican Bush Sage’s spiky flowers, available in purple, pink, and white, are a drought-tolerant favorite of hummingbirds. Ideal for zones 8 to 10, where the plant is usually perennial, it grows in well-drained soil under full sun. Thanks to its abundant and striking blossoms, Mexican bush sage stands 2 to 3 feet tall and sustains late-season container gardens.
Cardinal Flower
The Cardinal Flower is a native U.S. plant adored by hummingbirds for its bright red, tubular flowers. It prefers moist, rich, and slightly acidic soil and flourishes in full to partial sun. This perennial grows 2 to 4 feet tall and provides a vital nectar source for hummingbirds, especially during summer. Its striking blooms make it a standout choice for rain gardens, pond edges, or any damp spot in your landscape. While it’s relatively low maintenance, consistent watering is essential to retain moisture in the soil.
Lantana
Lantana is a tropical favorite, featuring clusters of vibrant flowers in yellow, orange, pink, and red that hummingbirds find irresistible. Thriving in zones 7–11, it prefers well-drained soil and full sun. With the capacity to grow up to 6 feet tall and wide, lantana works beautifully in containers or hanging baskets, making it an adaptable choice for both large gardens and smaller spaces.
Fuchsia
Fuchsia is ideal for shaded areas, producing dangling tubular flowers in a number of colors like pink, red, purple, or violet. It thrives in USDA zones 10 to 11 and is usually 1 to 2 feet tall. It performs at its best in moist, well-drained soil with partial to full shade while also adding elegance and color to your garden.
Trumpet Vine
Known for its bold orange or red trumpet-shaped flowers, the trumpet vine is a vigorous grower hummingbirds adore. Perfect for hardiness zones 4 to 10, it thrives in damp, well-drained soil under maximum or moderate sunlight. This climber can reach an impressive 40 feet in length, making it an excellent choice for trellises or fences. However, its aggressive growth requires regular maintenance.
Coral Bells
Coral bells are compact plants with small but nectar-rich flowers in red, pink, white, or orange hues. Thriving in zones 4 to 9, they grow best in well drained and moist soil with full to partial sun. Typically reaching a height of 8 to 18 inches, coral bells are ideal to add a touch of color to attract hummingbirds to smaller garden spaces or borders.
Butterfly Bush
The butterfly bush is a well-known pollinator magnet, with purple, pink, white, or blue flowers that also attract hummingbirds. Thriving in zones 5 to 9, it grows in well-drained, moist soil under full sun. They are usually 3 to 12 feet tall and add abundant color and nectar to your garden while supporting biodiversity.
Passionflower
Passionflower’s exotic blooms in purple, blue, pink, or red are a stunning addition to any garden, attracting both hummingbirds and butterflies. Ideally suited for zones 7 to 10, this climbing vine generally grows in moist and well-drained soil under complete or partial sunlight. With height ranging from 10 to 30 feet, passionflower creates a striking focal point in larger gardens or on trellises.
Mandevilla
Mandevilla is known to produce abundant trumpet-shaped floweinave colors like pink, red, or whitand they blooming prolifically in warm climates. Thriving in zones 10 to 11, it grows in moist, well-drained soil and prefers bright sunlight. This versatile plant, which can reach 3 to 10 feet tall, adds tropical flair to containers or garden beds while providing a consistent food source for hummingbirds.