The Best Plants to Attract Hummingbirds for Your Garden

Table of Contents

Hummingbirds are fascinating and beautiful creatures that can bring life to your garden. If you want to attract these lovely birds to your garden, you need to know which plants will work best.

In this post, we will discuss the top plants that can help you attract hummingbirds to your garden. Additionally, we will look at why planting these particular flowers is important and the benefits of having hummingbirds in your garden.

How to attract hummingbirds to your garden

Attracting hummingbirds to your garden isn't a challenging task; it's all about providing their basic needs:

• Provide a food source: Hummingbirds depend on nectar for energy. Hence, planting nectar-rich flowers can be beneficial.
• Add water features: Hummingbirds love to flutter around water features or birdbaths.
• Create shelter: Providing shrubs, bushes, and trees gives the birds ample space and shelter.

Why planting the best hummingbird plants is important

Attracting hummingbirds to your garden is not just about adding beauty and color but also essential for pollination. The feeding behavior of hummingbirds facilitates cross-pollination in plants.

Benefits of hummingbirds in your garden

Apart from their beauty, hummingbirds offer several benefits to our gardens, such as:

• Aeration of soil
• Pest control
• Pollinate flowers, helping the environment

Top Hummingbird Plants for Your Garden

1. Cardinal flower

The cardinal flower, with its bright red flowers, is one of the best plants to attract hummingbirds. They are also low maintenance and can be planted in both sun and shade.

2. Bee Balm

Another plant that hummingbirds love is the bee balm. It has beautiful red or purple flowers, and it's easy to grow in any garden. It attracts not just hummingbirds but also bees and butterflies.

3. Salvia

Salvia has brightly colored flowers that are available in various hues of color ranging from orange, red, pink, and purple. These colors are highly attractive to hummingbirds.

4. Trumpet Vine

The trumpet vine is another top hummingbird plant that provides an excellent source of nectar. This fast-growing and low-maintenance plant comes with beautiful red, yellow, or orange trumpet-like flowers, making the perfect spot for hummingbirds to feed.

5. Butterfly Bush

As the name suggests, the butterfly bush is a favorite of butterflies, but it's also an excellent plant for attracting hummingbirds. These bushes come in bright, colorful flowers and have a fantastic aroma.

Other Nectar-Rich Flowers for Hummingbirds

Apart from the top five hummingbird plants mentioned above, there are other nectar-rich plants flowers that hummingbirds love:

1. Columbine

Columbine, with its beautiful flowers, is a perfect plant for attracting hummingbirds. The tubular shape of the flower makes it easy for them to extract nectar and also provides good shelter.

2. Lupine

Lupines are tall, showy perennials that bloom with large heads of flowers in various hues of pink, purple, and white. They attract not only hummingbirds but also bees and butterflies.

3. Foxglove

Foxglove has tubular-shaped blooms that come in different colors, including pink, red, yellow, and white. These flowers are highly attractive to hummingbirds and add a beautiful touch to your garden.

4. Penstemon

Penstemon is one of the best plants to attract hummingbirds with its brightly colored tube-like flowers ranging from orange, pink, to red.

Perennial Flowers that Attract Hummingbirds

Perennials are an excellent option for those looking for long-lasting plants that will add color and beauty to their gardens. Here are some options for perennials that attract hummingbirds:

1. Lantana

Lantana is a colorful perennial flowering bush that comes in bright pinks, oranges, yellows, and purples. It's an excellent source of nectar for hummingbirds and is also a low maintenance plant.

2. Bleeding Heart

Bleeding hearts are perennials that come in an assortment of colors, from pink to white. These plants require constant moisture and grow best in partial shades.

3. Coral Honeysuckle

Coral Honeysuckle is a vine-like plant native mainly in US Southeast regions with bright coral-like red flowers that attract hummingbirds. It's also low-maintenance and grows well in full sunlight.

Shrubs for Attracting Hummingbirds

Shrubs provide not only shelter for many animals but also a good source of nectar for hummingbirds. Here are some shrubs that can attract hummingbirds to your garden:

1. Bottlebrush

The bottlebrush is a unique-looking evergreen shrub with long spikes of vibrant red flowers that resemble a slightly curved comb. Their flowers produce plenty of nectar, making them very attractive to hummingbirds.

2. Weigela

Weigela is a hardy, deciduous shrub that produces fresh green foliage and colorful flowers in the shades of pink, purple, and red. They're easy to care for and can attract hummingbirds and butterflies to your garden.

3. Fuchsia

Fuchsia is an exotic and unique-looking, flowering plant that comes in shades of pink, red, purple, and white. It's a perfect choice if you're looking for low-maintenance shrubs that can attract hummingbirds.

Hummingbirds are lovely birds that can bring life to your garden. Attracting them by planting their favorite nectar-rich flowers is a wonderful way to enjoy the presence of these fantastic creatures in your outdoor space.

Final thoughts on the best plants for attracting hummingbirds to your garden

Planting any of the above-listed plants will undoubtedly help create an ideal habitat for hummingbirds, bringing color and life to your garden.

How to care for your hummingbird plants

It's important to keep your hummingbird plants well-watered, fertilized, and trimmed regularly during blooming periods to prevent overgrowth and provide enough nectar for the birds to feed.

FAQ

Here are some frequently asked questions about planting hummingbird-friendly gardens:

What do hummingbirds like to eat besides nectar?

Hummingbirds depend mainly on nectar for energy; however, they occasionally feed on insects and spiders for protein as well.

How often should I water my hummingbird plants?

Most hummingbird plants require consistent watering to reach their full potential. It's recommended to water them once or twice a week and mulching them with organic materials to conserve moisture.

Which colors attract hummingbirds?

Hummingbirds are attracted to bright, bold colors, particularly red, orange, and pink hues.

What is the best time of day to view hummingbirds?

Early in the morning or late afternoon is the best time to watch hummingbirds feeding.

Can I grow hummingbird plants in containers?

You can plant hummingbird plants in containers, provided there's enough space for growth and adequate drainage.

Do all types of hummingbirds like the same flowers?

Not all types of hummingbirds are attracted to the same flowers. Some prefer certain shapes, sizes, or colors of flowers.

Can I plant hummingbird plants in shade?

Yes, many hummingbird plants can grow in partial to full-shade, such as columbine, bleeding heart, and coral honeysuckle.

Will other animals be attracted to my hummingbird plants?

Other animals such as bees, butterflies, and some insects will likely visit your garden; that's why planting hummingbird-friendly gardens is essential in improving biodiversity and pollination.

Can I use pesticides on my hummingbird plants?

Using pesticides on hummingbird plants may harm the birds or their food source. Instead, cultivate pesticide-free gardening methods or use natural pest controls.

What are some common mistakes people make when planting for hummingbirds?

Some of the common mistakes include planting the wrong plants, not providing shelter or water sources, using pesticides, or over-planting a single type of flower. Always research before planting and provide sufficient care to your plants.