34 Best Flowers to Attract Hummingbirds to Your Garden

Hummingbirds are among nature's most captivating creatures—their iridescent plumage, helicopter-like hovering, and ability to fly backward make them a joy to watch. These tiny birds have enormous energy needs, consuming up to 10,000 calories a day by visiting thousands of nectar-rich flowers. The more blooms you provide, the greater your chances of hosting these aerial acrobats.

Creating a hummingbird haven doesn't mean sacrificing garden beauty. With strategic planning, you can design a stunning landscape that offers food, shelter, water, and safety. Below are 34 outstanding flowers that hummingbirds love, organized with their scientific names and native ranges to help you choose the best fit for your region.

Top Nectar-Rich Flowers for Hummingbirds

Bee Balm (Monarda didyma)

Native to: North America. This mint-family perennial produces shaggy, tubular blooms in red, pink, or purple—irresistible to hummingbirds.

Bottlebrush (Callistemon citrinus)

Native to: Australia. Its bright red, brush-like flower spikes are a hummingbird magnet in warm climates.

Butterfly Bush (Buddleja caryopteridifolia)

Native to: America, Asia, and Africa. Long, fragrant panicles in purple, pink, or white bloom all summer.

Catmint (Nepeta cataria)

Native to: Europe, Asia, and Africa. Lavender-blue flower spikes atop aromatic foliage attract both hummingbirds and pollinators.

Chinese Lantern (Physalis alkekengi)

Native to: Europe and South Asia. Known for its bright orange, papery husks, but the small white flowers also draw hummingbirds.

Spider Flower (Cleome hassleriana)

Native to: Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Brazil. Tall, airy clusters of pink, white, or purple blooms with long stamens.

Columbine (Aquilegia vulgaris)

Native to: Northern Hemisphere. Delicate, spurred flowers in a rainbow of colors; early-season nectar source.

Daylily (Hemerocallis fulva)

Native to: China, Japan, and Korea. Trumpet-shaped blooms in orange, yellow, or red; each flower lasts one day but plants bloom profusely.

Delphinium (Delphinium staphisagria)

Native to: Northern Hemisphere and Central Africa. Towering spikes of blue, purple, or white flowers add vertical drama.

Dianthus (Dianthus caryophyllus)

Native to: Europe, Asia, and North Africa. Clove-scented, fringed petals in pink, red, or white; low-growing and long-blooming.

Firebush (Hamelia patens)

Native to: North and South America. Tubular orange-red flowers cover this shrub continuously in warm weather.

Flowering Maple (Abutilon pictum)

Native to: America, Australia, Asia, and Africa. Bell-shaped blooms in yellow, orange, or red; maple-like leaves.

Flowering Tobacco (Nicotiana alata)

Native to: South America. Fragrant, star-shaped flowers open in evening; white, pink, or lime-green varieties.

Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea)

Native to: Europe, Asia, and Africa. Tall spires of tubular, speckled blooms in purple, pink, or white; biennial.

Fuchsia (Fuchsia magellanica)

Native to: New Zealand, South and Central America. Pendulous, two-toned flowers in red/purple, pink/white; ideal for hanging baskets.

Bellflower (Campanula latifolia)

Native to: Asia, Africa, and Mediterranean region. Upright spikes of large, bell-shaped blue or white flowers.

Hollyhock (Alcea rosea)

Native to: Europe and Asia. Towering stalks with large, single or double blooms in many colors; biennial or short-lived perennial.

Impatiens (Impatiens pseudoviola)

Native to: Tropics of the northern hemisphere. Shade-tolerant, prolific blooms in red, orange, pink, or white.

Lantana (Lantana camara)

Native to: America, Africa, and Australia. Clusters of small, multicolored flowers that change hue as they age; heat-loving.

Lupine (Lupinus angustifolius)

Native to: Mediterranean and North and South America. Dense spires of pea-like flowers in blue, purple, pink, or white.

Penstemon (Penstemon campanulatus)

Native to: North America and east Asia. Tubular flowers in red, pink, purple, or blue; drought-tolerant once established.

Phlox (Phlox caespitosa)

Native to: North America. Fragrant, flat-topped clusters of pink, purple, or white flowers; creeping or upright forms.

Petunia (Petunia axillaris)

Native to: South America. Classic trumpet-shaped blooms in every color; continuous flowering with deadheading.

Pincushion Flower (Scabiosa columbaria)

Native to: Europe and Asia. Dome-shaped, lavender-blue or pink flower heads on wiry stems; long bloom season.

Rhododendron (Rhododendron simsii)

Native to: Asia. Large, showy trusses of bell-shaped flowers in spring; evergreen foliage provides year-round shelter.

Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus)

Native to: Asia. Late-summer blooms in white, pink, purple, or blue; upright shrub form.

Sage (Salvia officinalis)

Native to: Mediterranean region. Aromatic foliage with spikes of blue-purple flowers; culinary and ornamental.

Scarlet Sage (Salvia splendens)

Native to: Brazil. Brilliant red, tubular flowers on compact plants; annual in cool climates.

Trumpet Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens)

Native to: China, Europe, America, and India. Non-invasive vine with coral-red, tubular flowers; blooms spring to fall.

Shrimp Plant (Justicia brandegeeana)

Native to: Mexico and Florida. Unique, shrimp-like bracts in salmon-pink or yellow; white tubular flowers emerge from bracts.

Torch Lily (Kniphofia uvaria)

Native to: South Africa, America, Australia, and Europe. Tall spikes of tubular flowers in red, orange, yellow; dramatic vertical accent.

Trumpet Bush (Tecoma stans)

Native to: North and South America. Clusters of bright yellow, trumpet-shaped flowers; heat and drought tolerant.

Weigela (Weigela florida)

Native to: Eastern Asia. Funnel-shaped flowers in pink, red, or white along arching branches; spring to early summer bloom.

Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus)

Native to: Northwest Africa, Europe, and western Asia. Yellow, iris-type flowers on tall stems; thrives in moist soil.

Design Tips for a Hummingbird-Friendly Garden

• Layer your plantings: Combine trees, shrubs, vines, and herbaceous plants to create varied heights for feeding, perching, and nesting.
• Choose bright colors: Hummingbirds locate food by sight; red, orange, and pink flowers are especially attractive.
• Provide moving water: A mister, dripper, or fountain lets them bathe and drink on the wing.
• Space plants for flight: Allow enough room between plants for easy maneuvering.
• Plant dense shrubs: Offer shelter from predators and harsh weather.
• Avoid pesticides: Chemicals harm the insects hummingbirds also eat and can sicken the birds directly.
• Stagger bloom times: Select species that flower sequentially to provide nectar from spring through fall.
• Offer nesting material: Leave small piles of dryer lint, plant down, or spider silk for nest building.

As a bonus, a hummingbird garden will also draw butterflies, bees, and other pollinators, doubling your wildlife enjoyment. With thoughtful plant selection and a few habitat enhancements, your yard can become a year-round sanctuary for these dazzling birds.