Top Annual and Perennial Flowers That Attract Hummingbirds

Why Hummingbirds Love Certain Flowers

Hummingbirds have evolved to seek out flowers that provide abundant nectar. Their long, slender bills and extendable tongues are perfectly adapted to feeding from tubular, funnel-shaped, or trumpet-like blossoms. While they are especially drawn to bright red, orange, and pink flowers, they will also visit blooms in purple, blue, yellow, and white if the shape and nectar supply are right37.

Key flower traits that attract hummingbirds:

• Tubular or funnel-shaped blossoms

• Bright colors (especially red, orange, pink, and purple)

• High nectar production

• Blooms held away from dense foliage for easy hovering

Top Annual and Perennial Flowers That Attract Hummingbirds

1. Bee Balm (Monarda)

• Type: Perennial

• Zones: 3–9

• Bloom: Summer

• Colors: Red, pink, purple, white

• Why Hummingbirds Love It: Tubular blooms packed with nectar; also attracts butterflies and bees2358.

• Growing Tips: Full sun to part shade; prefers moist, well-drained soil.

2. Salvia (Sage)

• Type: Annual or perennial, depending on species

• Zones: Varies

• Bloom: Late spring to fall

• Colors: Red, purple, blue, pink, white

• Why Hummingbirds Love It: Long-blooming, tubular flowers; easy access to nectar56.

• Growing Tips: Full sun; drought-tolerant once established.

3. Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)

• Type: Perennial

• Zones: 3–9

• Bloom: Midsummer to fall

• Colors: Brilliant red

• Why Hummingbirds Love It: One of the best native nectar sources; tall spikes of vivid red tubular flowers1238.

• Growing Tips: Prefers moist, even boggy soil; full sun to part shade.

4. Trumpet Vine (Campsis radicans)

• Type: Perennial vine

• Zones: 4–9

• Bloom: Summer

• Colors: Orange, red

• Why Hummingbirds Love It: Large, trumpet-shaped flowers loaded with nectar1.

• Growing Tips: Full sun; can be aggressive—plant where it has space to climb.

5. Penstemon (Beardtongue)

• Type: Perennial

• Zones: 3–9

• Bloom: Late spring to early summer

• Colors: Red, pink, purple, white, blue, yellow

• Why Hummingbirds Love It: Tubular blooms in a palette of colors; native species are especially attractive2346.

• Growing Tips: Full sun; well-drained soil.

6. Zinnia

• Type: Annual

• Zones: All

• Bloom: Summer to frost

• Colors: All except blue

• Why Hummingbirds Love It: Easy to grow, long-blooming, and provides a landing pad for feeding249.

• Growing Tips: Full sun; deadhead to extend bloom.

7. Fuchsia

• Type: Annual (in most climates)

• Zones: 9–11 (perennial), annual elsewhere

• Bloom: Summer to fall

• Colors: Pink, purple, red, white

• Why Hummingbirds Love It: Exotic, pendant-shaped flowers; perfect for hanging baskets and containers at eye level1.

• Growing Tips: Morning sun, afternoon shade; keep soil moist.

8. Cuphea (Cigar Plant)

• Type: Annual or tender perennial

• Zones: 10–11 (perennial), annual elsewhere

• Bloom: Spring to frost

• Colors: Orange, red, purple, pink

• Why Hummingbirds Love It: Deep orange, cigar-shaped flowers are irresistible to hummingbirds; blooms nonstop through hot summers17.

• Growing Tips: Full sun; keep fertilized and watered.

9. Phlox

• Type: Perennial or annual

• Zones: 3–8 (perennial)

• Bloom: Summer

• Colors: White, pink, purple, red

• Why Hummingbirds Love It: Fragrant, colorful clusters provide nectar all summer13.

• Growing Tips: Full sun to part shade; deadhead for continuous bloom.

10. Agastache (Hummingbird Mint)

• Type: Perennial

• Zones: 5–10

• Bloom: Summer to fall

• Colors: Pink, purple, orange, yellow

• Why Hummingbirds Love It: Minty fragrance, dense spikes of tubular blooms, and continuous nectar supply56.

• Growing Tips: Full sun; drought-tolerant.

11. Columbine (Aquilegia)

• Type: Perennial

• Zones: 3–8

• Bloom: Spring

• Colors: Red, yellow, blue, purple, pink, white

• Why Hummingbirds Love It: Early spring nectar source; intricate, spurred flowers13.

• Growing Tips: Full to part sun; self-seeds readily.

12. Lupine

• Type: Perennial

• Zones: 4–8

• Bloom: Late spring to early summer

• Colors: Blue, purple, pink, white, yellow

• Why Hummingbirds Love It: Tall spires of nectar-rich blooms1.

• Growing Tips: Full sun; prefers cool summers.

13. Trumpet Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens)

• Type: Perennial vine

• Zones: 4–9

• Bloom: Late spring to summer

• Colors: Red, orange, yellow

• Why Hummingbirds Love It: Clusters of tubular flowers; native honeysuckle is preferred over invasive Japanese honeysuckle14.

• Growing Tips: Full sun to part shade; train on trellises or fences.

14. Butterfly Bush (Buddleia)

• Type: Perennial shrub

• Zones: 5–9

• Bloom: Summer to fall

• Colors: Purple, pink, white, yellow

• Why Hummingbirds Love It: Large, fragrant flower spikes; attracts butterflies too6.

• Growing Tips: Full sun; deadhead to prevent self-seeding.

15. Sunflower (Helianthus)

• Type: Annual or perennial

• Zones: Varies

• Bloom: Summer to fall

• Colors: Yellow, red, orange, brown

• Why Hummingbirds Love It: Late-season nectar and seeds for other wildlife1.

• Growing Tips: Full sun; easy to grow from seed.

Native Plants: The Hummingbird’s Best Friend

Native flowers are especially valuable for hummingbirds, as they’ve co-evolved with local bird species and often provide optimal nectar. Examples include:

• Bee Balm (Monarda)

• Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)

• Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)

• Penstemon (various native species)

• Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)

• Indian Pink (Spigelia marilandica)

• Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa)

• Royal Catchfly (Silene regia)3

Planting a variety of natives ensures a continual feast for hummingbirds and supports the broader ecosystem.

Designing a Hummingbird-Friendly Garden

1. Plant for Continuous Bloom:
Select a mix of early, mid, and late-season bloomers so nectar is available from spring through fall.

2. Cluster Flowers:
Group the same species together in clusters of three or more to create a more visible and attractive target for hummingbirds.

3. Provide Vertical Layers:
Use a mix of groundcovers, perennials, shrubs, and vines to offer feeding, perching, and nesting sites.

4. Avoid Pesticides:
Many pesticides harm pollinators and reduce insect populations, which hummingbirds rely on for protein.

5. Add Water:
A mister, dripper, or shallow birdbath provides drinking and bathing spots.

6. Use Bright Colors:
Red, orange, and pink are especially attractive, but purple and blue flowers also draw hummingbirds367.

Bonus: Other Plants Hummingbirds Love

• Catmint (Nepeta)

• Hosta

• Larkspur (Delphinium)

• Foxglove (Digitalis)

• Weigela

• Petunia

• Snapdragon

• Marigold

• Pentas

• Fire Pink (Silene virginica)

• Coral Bells (Heuchera)1269

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do hummingbirds only like red flowers?
A: No. While red is especially attractive, hummingbirds will visit flowers of many colors as long as they have the right shape and nectar supply367.

Q: Can I use hummingbird feeders instead of flowers?
A: Feeders are helpful, but flowers provide a more natural, healthy, and varied diet, plus support for other pollinators7.

Q: What about trees and shrubs?
A: Flowering shrubs like weigela, butterfly bush, and native azaleas are excellent for hummingbirds, as are small flowering trees like redbud and serviceberry.

Conclusion

Creating a garden full of flowers that hummingbirds love is one of the most rewarding ways to support wildlife and enjoy nature up close. By planting a diverse array of nectar-rich, tubular, and brightly colored flowers—especially native species—you’ll provide food, shelter, and beauty all season long. Watch as hummingbirds dart, hover, and sparkle among your blooms, bringing life and color to your garden for years to come.

References:
1 Country Living
2 Birds & Blooms
3 Grow Native!
4 Reddit Gardening
5 Rare Roots
6 SummerWinds Nursery
7 YouTube
8 Longfield Gardens
9 Parrans Greenhouse