10 Flowers That Will Bring All the Hummingbirds to Your Yard

Coneflower

Coneflowers, or Echinacea, come in many varieties, and their bright blooms attract hummingbirds. “The red ‘Tomato Soup’ echinacea boasts fragrant, bright-red flowers that are particularly appealing to hummingbirds,” Pavlich says.

Coneflowers are easy-to-grow perennials and require full sun, well-draining soil of moderate composition, and a good, slow-release fertilizer once or twice a year, Pavlich explains. Summertime watering prolongs their bloom time. 

• Hardiness Zone: USDA Zones 3-9
• Light: Full to partial sun
• Soil: Well-draining, fertile

Bee Balm

Bee balm (Monarda spp.) is a perfect perennial flower for hungry hummingbirds. “Bee balm has tubular blooms in very bright colors and produces tons of nectar,” says Laura Janney, CEO of The Inspired Garden.

Bee balm blooms come in red, pink, and purple hues. For growing bee balm, continuously deadhead to promote more blooms, Janney advises. “It is prone to mildew, so give it proper spacing and if it gets unsightly, you can cut back.”

• Hardiness Zone: USDA Zone 3-9
• Light: Full sun to partial shade
• Soil: Rich, moist soil

Honeysuckle

Honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.) is a popular perennial that comes in many varieties, with brilliant colors ranging from red to yellow, pink, and orange. This low-maintenance plant is attractive to hummingbirds, and they especially love L. sempervirens (coral honeysuckle) and L. ciliosa (orange honeysuckle).

“Honeysuckle is brightly colored, trumpet-shaped, has a sweet scent, and produces nectar—a hummingbird magnet!” Janney says. “Honeysuckle needs a trellis or fence to attach to, and stay on top of this plant, as many varieties are invasive.” 

• Hardiness Zone: USDA Zones: 4-9
• Light: Full sun to partial shade
• Soil: Well-draining, loamy, sandy

Sage

Salvia encompasses a wide range of sage plants, including annuals and perennials. It’s visually striking with bright long spikes with many tubular blooms that produce nectar, making it enticing to hummingbirds, Janney explains.

“Salvia comes in shades of blues and reds and the annual cultivar continues to bloom all summer long,” she says. You can grow these low-maintenance, tall plants in your garden for mid-summer to late-summer blooms. 

• Hardiness Zone: USDA Zones 4-11
• Light: Full sun
• Soil: Well-draining, dry to medium moisture

Dwarf Hummingbird Mint

“Hummingbirds love colorful, tubular flowers, making Agastache ‘Kudos Mandarin,’ also known commonly as dwarf hummingbird mint, an excellent choice with its cheery, bright orange flower plumes,” Pavlich explains.

Dwarf hummingbird mint thrives in full sun and well-drained, fertile soil. Once this herbaceous perennial cultivar is established, it is drought-tolerant and low-maintenance.

• Hardiness Zone: USDA Zones 5-10
• Light: Full sun
• Soil: Well-draining, loamy

Hummingbird Mint

If you want a larger version of hummingbird mint with long-lasting blooms from early summer to late fall, regular hummingbird mint (Agastache) has a strong allure for hummingbirds.

The tubular blooms are filled with nectar and these low-maintenance perennial plants are a long bloomer, Janney says. “Hummingbirds also love the scent,” she explains. “It’s also a bee magnet!” To encourage more blooms, deadhead your hummingbird mint.

• Hardiness Zone: USDA Zones 5-10
• Light: Full sun
• Soil: Fertile, well-draining, loamy

Zinnia

The annuals’ bright and bold big blooms are easy for hummingbirds to see, Janney explains, and their centers are filled with nectar. You can plant zinnias (Zinnia elegans) in your garden or in containers, wherever you want to attract hummingbirds. “Continuously deadhead as it encourages new blooms,” Janney says. “It also makes a great cut flower!”

• Hardiness Zone: USDA Zones 2-11
• Light: Full sun
• Soil: Moist, well-draining

Petunia

Petunias (Petunia spp.) are popular annuals with bright tubular blooms filled with nectar for hummingbirds. These colorful flowers come in red, pink, white, violet, blue, and mixed shades.

Petunias are ideal for containers and sunny garden locations. “To care for petunias, keep pinching back and deadheading so it doesn’t go to seed,” Janney advises. 

• Hardiness Zone: USDA Zones 10-11
• Light: Full sun
• Soil: Well-draining, medium moisture

Lantana

“Lantana attracts hummingbirds with bold clusters of blooms that are filled with nectar,” Janney says. The vining plant is a perennial in warm climates and an annual in temperate areas with cold winters.

Lantana plants (Lantana camara) produce brilliant blooms in hues ranging from red, purple, yellow, and orange, to white, pink, and blue. Plant lantana in sunny garden areas, containers, or as a ground cover. Keep deadheading lantana to encourage new growth, Janney advises. 

• Hardiness Zone: USDA Zones 7-11
• Light: Full sun
• Soil: Well-draining, neutral

Red Hot Poker

Red hot pokers (Kniphofia) are prized perennials with stunning spiky flowers in vivid orange, red, and yellow. “Red hot poker attracts hummingbirds and other pollinators with its bright, tubular-shaped flowers,” Pavlich says.

Kniphofia loves a sunny location, rich garden soil that is well draining and a good fertilizer—something that one would use for flowering bulbs. Summertime watering will prolong their bloom time.

• Hardiness Zone: USDA Zones 5-9
• Light: Full sun
• Soil: Well-draining