Hummingbirds visit yards that feature native plants with sweet nectar. To attract these birds by spring, first order and plant some flowers. These 11 native species will develop strong roots in the winter and will be one of the first plants open as the migrating birds return. You'll be able to watch one of the best natural events right in your yard.
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Order plants in late winter so that the roots can establish before spring. It is recommended to choose bare-root plants from trusted nurseries because they are typically less expensive and establish quicker than potted plants.
Cardinal Flower
A perennial that thrives in wet to moist soil and partial shade is the Cardinal Flower. It attracts hummingbirds and has brilliant red spikes that bloom during summer. The Cardinal Flower can grow anywhere from 2-4 feet in height, and prefers to be consistently moist. It self seeds readily and is good to plant in groups. Usually, hummingbirds will visit multiple times a day to feed, and will even defend their areas. Once established, it is good to plant moisture loving natives alongside to create a dynamic bed. A reliable hummingbird feeder will also keep them coming even in between the flowering cycles.
Did You Know?
Most of the time, Cardinal Flowers are pollinated by just one species: the Ruby-throated Hummingbird. Most other bees cannot reach the pollinator, but due to their tubular shape, they can reach the insides of the flowers.
Columbine
The unique spurred flowers of the Columbine species are created perfectly for the beak of a hummingbird. Native species such as the Eastern Red Columbine, open in early to mid-spring, allowing hummingbirds access to nectar. These woodland perennials grow best with partial shade and well-drained soil which also makes them ideal to grow under trees and in border gardens. The flowers encapsulated in the red and yellow colors hang on stems reaching upwards of 1 to 3 feet, and provide an elegant looking addition to your garden. Even after the flowers bloom and die, the Columbine plant will remain with compound leaves of a blue-green color which will provide a nice texture for your garden. Staying self-sufficient across gardening zones and forming a larger colony is something these perennials have in common. For best results place your Columbine flowers close to the house to watch the hovering and feeding of the bees and butterflies. For weary migrating travelers, the early blooming of this plant is essential for providing an immediate energy source.
Bee Balm
Bee Balsam blossoms all summer long in various colors, attracting hummingbirds thanks to their appealing colors and nectar. Moist soil will keep this native perennial growing best, although it can adapt to a variety of soil conditions. The plant matures to a height of about three feet, creating clumps from rhizome spread, and supplies continuing feeding stations for several hummingbirds simultaneously. All varieties aren't very different in blooming time, while each of the bright red variety may be blooming a little earlier, which might mean they may be the best for birds. Rhizome spreading will allow these plants to increase their collection of nectar, meaning that they will need to be pruned multiple times through their growing phase. Each of Bee Balsam's varieties will attract not just birds, but also butterflies and other native North American meadow pollinators. Bee Balsams leaves and flowers can even be harvested to make tea. Because bee balms can be affected by some diseases, it is best to plant them in small groups of three to five so that their leaf diseases will not conduct to others in their group. Their leaves will also contribute to a clean aromatic charm in the outdoor seating area.
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Seed Needs Panorama Mixed Bee Balm Seeds
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Transform your gardening space into a vertical hummingbird feeding station with Coral Honeysuckle! As a native vine, Honeysuckle is non-invasive, and unlike its aggressive exotic cousins, its behavior is calm, making it perfect for your home! It produces bushes of trumpet flowers from spring to fall, providing an abundant food source, and servicing a pollinator's never-ending appetite. Autumn brings lovely red berries that feed songbirds. Honeysuckle does best in full sun to partial shade from spring to fall and is fairly flexible with soil conditions. Honeysuckle vines can grow to be an average of 10 to 20 feet! Nesting will also be available for hummingbirds, and in warmer climates, the semi-evergreen foliage will provide year-round interests. Honeysuckle will not wrap around trees or invade.. make her your porch, mailbox, or other attractions. With its extended bloom, Honeysuckle offers plenty of active hummingbirds, making it an ideal choice for your garden!
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In late spring and early summer, the Fire Pink produces bright red, star shaped flowers and brings life to woodland gardens. This southeastern native likes partial shade, and well-drained soil. It is also great for naturalizing open woodlands and their edges. Fire Pink has slender stems that can reach 2 feet and extend above basal rosettes of foliage. Each flower has 5 petals, making them brilliant flowers, and fire pinks are perfect for hummingbird feeders because they have tubes that are the correct size for hummingbird bills. While they are beautiful and delicate compared to other hummingbird plants, they can be quite charming when they bloom. Fire Pinks are found growing best in slightly acidic soils that have good organic content. They are also intolerant of soggy conditions. Fire Pink self seeds small colonies, but individual plants can also be short lived. The flowers appear as spring migration peaks, which is when they are most important for northbound hummingbirds. It can be combined with ferns and other woodland plants for native plant communities. It can be placed with other plants where the morning sun can reach the flowers but the plants can be protected by afternoon shade.
Penstemon Beardtongue
Tough native perennials, Penstemon species, are great in moisture deficient gardens because they thrive in well-drained soil and full sun. Their spiked tubular flowers come in colors that resemble a rainbow and are a favorite for feeding Hummingbirds. The Deceptive blooms can grow to be anywhere from 1-3ft tall. Because the plants can thrive in lean soil and do not require constant watering, they are finatics about drought. For optimal results, choose a Penstemon species native to northern America. The plants can be semi-evergreen and provide winter interest. While the flowers are red, Penstemon barbatus and Penstemon eatonii are great at attracting hummingbirds. For best impact and a reliable source of nectar for the hummingbirds, plant in groups. Because they multiply gradually and are low maintenance, you will be able to enjoy more flowers every year.
Wild Bergamot
Wild Bergamot loves the sun and can grow in all kinds of soils, even boring and dry ones, and stubborn ones that usually give trouble to other perennials. Bergamot can grow between 2-4 feet tall and with the right conditions, it can bloom all summer long. When lots of other summer plants are done blooming, Bergamot will still be alive and kicking blooming and providing the opportunity for hummingbirds to visit its many flowers. Bergamot will spread by itself and it will create drifts of flowers that spreads all over the place for meadow gardens or an informal border. It produces a really nice and fragrant smell that people will love, while the deer will steer clear. This plant can grow in all types of conditions. It will do better in garden beds that have water but a dry prairie will suffice too. When planted in masses it will create a beautiful sight, that other plants will bring to life. Other planes will be drawn toward the mass creating waves of life. It is good to hear that the flowers will stay alive for a long time. It is best to cut off the flowers that have died because it will keep them flowering and once they have died you can leave them alone so the birds in the winter will find food in them and they will keep the dead plants looking nice and full for a long time.
Royal Catchfly
Royal Catchfly has tubular flowers with a bright scarlet red color that seem to be designed perfectly for hummingbirds. This southeastern native plant blooms from late spring to early summer giving out nectar during a critical time when spring flowers fade away and summer flowers are still not in bloom. The bright flowers are found at the tops of stems that grow to be 1-3 feet tall. They provide vertical accents in border or woodland gardens. Royal Catchfly does best in rich organic soil that is well-drained and shady. Individual plants tend to die after a few years, but they tend to self-seed in great conditions, returning time and time again. The stems give this plant its name "catchfly" as they can hold small insects but pose no threat to hummingbirds. This plant also does well in gardens that mimic the conditions of the woods as it needs some warm afternoons and dappled light. Plant Royal Catchfly against a dark background where their bright flowers will pop to create a contrast. The bright red blooms will also attract hummingbirds.
Salvia Greggii
The Autumn Sage (Salvia Greggii) is a great addition to your garden! This low-maintenance native is a perennial that's compact, growing to about two to three feet tall and wide and forming neat mounds. Once established, the Autumn Sage is drought tolerant, and once it receives moderate watering, it will bloom even more. A red variety of the Autumn Sage will be especially attractive to hummingbirds and if you want to maximize your chances of attracting them, then the ‘Furman’s Red’ cultivar is your best option! It’s also very easy to create container gardens, use them as border plants, or do large plantings of them, since the aromatic leaves keep deer away! They do best in gardens that receive lots of sun and little shade and are well drained. In addition, they are especially valuable to western and southern gardens since they are drought tolerant and have long blooming seasons, which is when the hummingbirds need the nectar the most. Overall, this is a great plant to have in your garden for its low-maintenance needs and attraction to hummingbirds.
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The ornamental plant Red Yucca has become increasingly popular due to their vibrant colors. The plant was first discovered in the region of Texas and Mexico and is well-suited to cold and hot climates, as well as drought-like conditions. Red Yuccas also require little maintenance before the plant can be left to grow on its own. The Red Yucca plant can best be described as having spiky grass-like foliage that vertically accents the plant while creating attractive clumps. The plant also releases sweeps of eye-catching spikes in the spring that can last until early fall, especially with deadheading. The Red Yucca will thrive in full, dry, and hot conditions which make them great for drought-like environments. The Red Yucca plant has also been described as the best plant for attracting hummingbirds, as the plant flower is known to be really great at attracting them. Over the years the plant can grow slowly but surely into an impressive specimen. There are also yellow flowering varieties of the plant but the red colored flowers are known to have better performances at attracting more hummingbirds.
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Agastache species create flower spikes in various colors, such as red, orange, pink, and purple. These species also attract hummingbirds during the summer and fall seasons. Agastache are very aromatic and prefer full sunlight and well-drained soil. They do best in areas that have good drainage and good air circulation. Native species (like Sunset Hyssop and Texas Hummingbird Mint) are also drought tolerant and are well adjusted to hotter climates. Their tubular flowers are very dense and are attached to a single, vertical stem. These stems can be anywhere from two to four feet tall. They provide an abundance of nectar to pollinators and also have prolonged blooming periods. Agastache also blooms from the middle of summer to when frost arrives which is very important for migrating hummingbirds. The foliage on Agastache species has a scent similar to that of anise and this will deter deer but will also attract beneficial insects. They are also able to survive without much care. Agastache species do not suffer from pests or disease so also require less effort. To attract the most pollinators, these flowers spikes should be planted together.
