Want more hummingbirds? Grow these plants! Birds & Blooms readers share the blooming plants that hummingbirds love most in their yards.
Canna Lily
“Hummingbirds love to hover around our canna lilies and enjoy the nectar. Once the flowers bloom, the birds go to them instead of the feeder,” say Birds & Blooms readers Robert and Lois Hammond of Leonardo, New Jersey.
Ivy Geranium
“Every year I buy a big, beautiful ivy geranium to hang in front of my living room window. The hummingbirds love the nectar and perching on the vines,” says reader Sue Williams of Scappoose, Oregon.
Vermillionaire Firecracker
“My ruby-throated hummingbirds are addicted to vermillionaire firecracker plant (cuphea)!” says reader Helen Gorski of Stanhope, New Jersey.
Hot Lips Salvia
“The best plants to attract hummingbirds for us is Hot Lips salvia. It blooms from May through November and will overwinter if the temperature is above 26 degrees. It continually blooms, and Anna’s hummingbirds visit many times each day,” says reader Katie Goodwin of Portland, Oregon.
Trumpet Vine
“My hummingbirds love orange, red and yellow trumpet vines. The birds get territorial and try to keep any oncoming hummers away,” says reader Betty Skrzypek of Niagara Falls, New York.
Flame Acanthus, Turk’s Cap, Autumn Sage
“My neighbor always had hummingbirds, so I asked her what the secret was. Her response was flame acanthus. As soon as I planted one, hummers came. I’ve also planted Turk’s cap and autumn sage. These hummingbird plants bloom into fall when we get lots of migrants,” says reader Beth Hamaty of Abilene, Texas.
Lantana
Lantana (note: invasive in some areas) plants attract the most hummingbirds, plus butterflies and bees. It grows large and hearty, and they all love it,” says reader Roberta Calgaro of Clemmons, North Carolina.
Red Penstemon and Zinnias
Hummingbirds mainly stay close to a nearby mountain with the cover of trees, but during summer and fall migration they drop into town more regularly. I watched for several weeks as waves of hummingbirds enjoyed the same red penstemon plants and a group of cut-and-come-again zinnias,” says reader Rachel Spear of Casper, Wyoming.
