Hummingbirds are among the most enchanting visitors you can invite into your garden. Their shimmering feathers, rapid wingbeats, and darting flight make them look almost magical. But what truly fascinates gardeners is how predictably these tiny birds respond to the right flowers.
If you plant the right mix of brightly colored, nectar-rich blooms, hummingbirds will show up—often within days. In fact, they may return to your garden every year and even remember specific flowers.
This guide explores the best flowers to attract hummingbirds, explains their favorite blooms, answers whether hummingbirds remember every flower, and lists the top hummingbird-attracting garden plants you can grow in any climate.
What Is a Hummingbird’s Favorite Flower?
While hummingbirds enjoy a wide range of nectar plants, one flower consistently ranks as their absolute favorite:
Red Trumpet-Shaped Flowers
Hummingbirds are most attracted to red, orange, and sometimes pink tubular blooms because:
- These colors stand out to them more than others
- Tubular shapes fit their long bills perfectly
- Other insects (like bees) can’t access the deep nectar easily
- The nectar in these flowers is usually high in sugar (20–30% nectar concentration)
Top “Favorite” Hummingbird Flowers
- Trumpet Vine (Campsis radicans) – perhaps the top hummingbird magnet
- Bee Balm (Monarda)
- Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
- Red Salvia (Salvia splendens / Salvia coccinea)
- Red Hot Poker (Kniphofia)
- Fuchsia (Fuchsia hybrids)
- Coral Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens)
These species consistently draw hummingbirds because they offer:
✔ High nectar sugar
✔ Long blooming periods
✔ Bright coloration
✔ Flower shapes specially evolved for hummingbird pollination
If you are trying to attract hummingbirds for the first time, adding even one or two of the above can immediately increase your chances.
Do Hummingbirds Remember Every Flower?
Yes—hummingbirds have remarkable memories.
How good is a hummingbird’s memory?
Hummingbirds can remember:
- Every flower patch in their territory
- How long it takes each flower to refill with nectar
- Which specific plants have higher sugar content
- Which gardens or feeders gave them reliable food last season
- The exact locations of feeders even after months of migration
Their memory is so strong that scientists found they use it to plan feeding routes called traplines—a repeated loop of the most efficient nectar sources.
Do they remember individual flowers?
Not in the sense of identifying “Flower #1 vs Flower #2,” but they do remember which flower clusters are:
- Most productive
- Safest
- Fastest to refuel
They even avoid flowers they drained recently until they know they’re refilled.
In other words, hummingbirds don’t just visit your yard randomly—they visit strategically, like skilled energy managers.
Hummingbird Attracting Flowering Garden Plants
To consistently bring hummingbirds into your garden, you need to grow:
- Plants with high nectar output
- Plants with long blooming seasons
- A mix of perennials, shrubs, annuals, and vines
Below are the best categories and species to grow.
Best Flowers to Attract Hummingbirds ( 40+ Species)
1. Trumpet-Shaped Flowers (The #1 Hummingbird Attractor)
Hummingbirds evolved alongside flowers with long, narrow tubes. These flowers hold nectar deep inside, making them perfect for hummingbirds’ long bills and tongues.
Best trumpet-shaped blooms
- Trumpet Vine (Campsis radicans)
- Crossvine (Bignonia capreolata)
- Coral Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens)
- Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
- Red Hot Poker (Kniphofia uvaria)
- Scarlet Gilia (Ipomopsis aggregata)
Why hummingbirds love them:
- Deep nectar reserves
- Flower shape excludes bees
- High energy reward
2. Red and Orange Blooms (Color Matters!)
Hummingbirds can see more color shades than humans, especially in the red spectrum.
Best colorful choices
- Red Salvia (various species)
- Bee Balm (Monarda didyma)
- Zinnias
- Petunias
- Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja)
- Flame Acanthus (Anisacanthus quadrifidus)
Why hummingbirds love them:
- Hummingbirds associate red with reliable nectar
- Bright colors act like “visual feeders”
3. High-Nectar Perennials (Reliable Year After Year)
Top perennial flowers:
- Penstemon (Beardtongue)
- Columbine (Aquilegia)
- Hosta (tall varieties)
- Lantana (in warm climates)
- Agastache (Hummingbird Mint)
- Catmint (Nepeta)
These provide long-season blooms and require minimal maintenance.
4. Flowering Shrubs for Hummingbirds
Shrubs add height and structural value to the garden while also supplying abundant nectar.
Best options:
- Weigela
- Flowering Currant (Ribes sanguineum)
- Azaleas and Rhododendrons
- Cape Fuchsia (Phygelius)
- Butterfly Bush (Buddleia)
- Bottlebrush (Callistemon)
Shrubs often bloom early in spring, giving hummingbirds key fuel when they return from migration.
5. Annual Flowers (For Continuous Bloom)
Annuals keep producing flowers all season, making them ideal hummingbird magnets.
Best annuals:
- Salvia splendens
- Petunias
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Impatiens
- Nasturtiums
- Cuphea (Cigar Plant)
If you want fast attraction, plant red salvia and cigar plant.
6. Vines and Climbers (Perfect for Vertical Spaces)
Vines offer tons of flowers in small spaces.
Best hummingbird vines:
- Trumpet Vine
- Coral Honeysuckle
- Passionflower
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Cypress Vine (Ipomoea quamoclit)
- Morning Glory (select varieties)
Vines often bloom prolifically and add visual drama to fences and pergolas.
7. Hummingbird-Friendly Wildflowers (Low Maintenance)
If you prefer native, ecological gardening:
Best native choices:
- Scarlet Sage (Salvia coccinea)
- Fireweed (Chamerion angustifolium)
- Cardinal Flower
- Paintbrush
- Indian Blanket (Gaillardia)
- Wild Bergamot
Native plants support natural ecosystems and require less water.
50+ Best Flowers to Plant for Hummingbirds (Quick List)
Here’s a comprehensive list you can use in gardening plans:
Perennials
- Penstemon
- Bee Balm
- Hosta
- Lantana
- Agastache
- Yarrow
- Lupine
- Daylilies
- Coneflowers
- Red Hot Poker
Annuals
- Salvia
- Zinnia
- Petunia
- Impatiens
- Nasturtium
- Marigold (supplementary)
- Verbena
- Cleome
Vines
- Trumpet Vine
- Coral Honeysuckle
- Cypress Vine
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Morning Glory (select types)
- Passionflower
Shrubs
- Weigela
- Butterfly Bush
- Cape Fuchsia
- Flowering Currant
- Azalea
- Bottlebrush
Wildflowers
- Cardinal Flower
- Scarlet Sage
- Fireweed
- Paintbrush
- Wild Bergamot
- Blanket Flower
How to Design a Hummingbird Garden (Step-by-Step)
1. Plant in Clusters
Hummingbirds find flowers faster when they are planted in groups of:
- 3
- 5
- 7
- or more
Clustered red blooms act like a visual beacon.
2. Provide Continuous Bloom All Season
Choose plants that bloom during:
- Early spring – Columbine, flowering currant
- Summer peak – Salvia, penstemon, zinnias
- Fall – Autumn sage, pineapple sage, agastache
This ensures hummingbirds will keep returning.
3. Avoid Pesticides
Hummingbirds eat small insects for protein.
Pesticides poison their food source and can harm the birds directly.
4. Add a Water Source
Hummingbirds love:
- Misters
- Drippers
- Small fountains
- Leafy wet surfaces
They often bathe in fine water mist.
5. Provide Perches
They use:
- Small branches
- Trellises
- Wires
- Decorative stakes
Perches allow them to rest between feeding visits.
6. Add Feeders (Optional but Very Effective)
Use the 4:1 sugar-water recipe:
- 4 cups water
- 1 cup white sugar
No red dye needed—flowers and feeder color already attract them.
Best Regional Hummingbird Flowers (USA, Canada & Beyond)
Eastern U.S.
- Cardinal Flower
- Bee Balm
- Coral Honeysuckle
- Trumpet Vine
Western U.S.
- California Fuchsia
- Penstemon
- Agastache
- Red Hot Poker
Southwestern States
- Ocotillo
- Desert Willow
- Texas Sage
- Flame Acanthus
Canada
- Bee Balm
- Columbine
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Zinnias
Tropical Regions
- Heliconia
- Hibiscus
- Firebush (Hamelia patens)
- Lantana
Why Hummingbirds Prefer Certain Flowers
Hummingbirds choose flowers based on:
✔ Nectar sugar content
Ideal nectar is 20–30% sucrose.
✔ Flower shape
Tubular flowers perfectly match hummingbird bills and tongues.
✔ Color
Red = strong attraction
Orange and pink = high appeal
White and yellow = moderate
✔ Availability
They prefer plants that:
- Bloom heavily
- Bloom repeatedly
- Refill nectar fast
✔ Competition
Flowers avoided by bees and butterflies are preferred.
Common Mistakes When Planting Hummingbird Gardens
Avoid these pitfalls:
❌ Planting only one or two species
❌ Only using feeders and ignoring flowers
❌ Using pesticides
❌ Planting pale-colored blooms
❌ Not providing water
❌ Letting cats into the garden (danger for birds)
Advanced Tip: Create a Nectar Highway
A “nectar highway” is a chain of hummingbird-friendly gardens across your yard.
Steps:
- Plant flowers along pathways
- Space them 8–12 feet apart
- Mix tall and short species
- Provide perches every few meters
This makes hummingbirds travel through your entire garden daily.
Conclusion
Creating a hummingbird-friendly garden is one of the most rewarding things a gardener can do. With the right flowers—especially red, tubular, high-nectar blooms—you can transform your backyard into a feeding paradise for these dazzling birds.
Hummingbirds absolutely do remember where good flowers grow, and once they discover your garden, they will keep returning year after year.
By planting a rich mix of perennials, annuals, vines, wildflowers, and shrubs, you can ensure a season-long nectar supply that keeps your garden buzzing with hummingbird activity.
Hi, There and Welcome to BirdsNews.com, is here to help you learn and care about pet birds. and this blog is a journal of everything I’ve learned.