25 Vibrant Flowers That Will Attract Hummingbirds to Your Yard
You can't go wrong with these pollinator-friendly blooms.
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Whether you're a birdwatching expert or not, a hummingbird sighting never gets old. If you're eager to increase your chances of spotting hummingbirds in your home garden, there's an assortment of colorful flowers that are worth keeping on your radar.
These tiny creatures have long, thin bills and extendable tongues that are the perfect match for all kinds of tubular flowers in vibrant shades like red, orange, and pink. Below, we've highlighted some of our favorites, along with helpful tips, including their hardiness zones and sunlight requirements. Bonus? You'll also enjoy the visual interest that these flowers add to your outdoor space.
Bee Balm
Thanks to this North American native plant, you can encourage hummingbirds to visit your yard. The tubular flowers are part of the mint family and happen to be a popular choice among gardeners to help keep deer, gnats, and mosquitoes away.
Hardiness zone: 3-9
Sunlight: At least six hours of full sun daily
Foxglove Beardtongue
Hummingbirds have an easy time reaching the nectar of these tall flowers, which grow between two to four feet tall. The showy perennial is a go-to choice for borders, raised beds, you name it.
Hardiness Zone: 3-8
Sunlight: Full sun or partial shade
Penstemon
You'll spot this low-maintenance plant in purple, blue, pink, red, and white hues. The North American native plant tends to have a long blooming period and their tall nature is perfect for hummingbirds to feed on their nectar.
Hardiness Zone: 3-9
Sunlight: At least six hours of full sun
Rose of Sharon
These five-petal flowers are another popular pick when it comes to giving hummingbirds easy access to nectar. They come in an array of pretty hues, including pink, purple, blue, and white. Keep in mind that pests like Japanese beetles and aphids can pose problems for this plant.
Hardiness Zone: 5-9
Sunlight: Full sun
Salvia
From pineapple sage to scarlet sage, hummingbirds are drawn to the tubular shape of salvia along with their bold shades like red, pink, and orange. They are also pretty versatile, as they look good along pathways or in containers.
Hardiness Zone: 8-10
Sunlight: Full sun
Delphiniums
Hummingbirds can't get enough of these tall flowers. The striking blooms typically grow from two to six feet tall, making them perfect for hummingbirds' bills. You'll often find them in shades of purple and blue.
Hardiness Zone: 3-7
Sunlight: Full sun
Fireweed
Fireweed is another great nectar source for hummingbirds. Along with their bold pink color, their tall shape is the perfect match for hummingbirds' long beaks and tongues.
Hardiness Zone: 2-7
Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
Fuchsia (Fuchsia Magellanica)
Fuchsia isn't only attractive to the human eye—hummingbirds love these flowers, too! With a bright, tubular shape, fuchsia is the ideal flower type for a hummingbird's thin beak. Plus, these flowers produce lots of nectar, which is exactly what hummingbirds are on the hunt for throughout the season.
Hardiness Zone: 6-9
Sunlight: Morning sun, afternoon shade
Cardinal Flower (Lobelia Cardinalis)
Like the bird with the same name, cardinal flowers are a gorgeous red, which just happens to be a hummingbird's favorite color. They're also not lacking in shape, either. Their tubular flowers allow hummingbirds easy access to their abundant nectar.
Hardiness Zone: 3-9
Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
Foxglove (Digitalis)
Foxglove comes in a variety of bright colors that are visually appealing to hummingbirds. Think shades of purple, pink, and red. Because their blooms hang open, hummingbirds are easily able to feed off the available nectar using their thin beaks.
Hardiness Zone: 4-9
Sunlight: Direct sunlight
Columbine (Aquilegia)
Certain varieties of columbines bloom in multiple colors. Their contrasting shades are attractive, especially to pollinators like hummingbirds.
Hardiness Zone: 3-9
Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
Trumpet Vine (Campsis Radicans)
As their name suggests, these flowers resemble the horn of a trumpet. Their bright orange color and long tubular flowers make them the perfect food source for hummingbirds on the hunt.
Hardiness Zone: 4-9
Sunlight: Direct sunlight
Pink Azalea (Rhododendron Periclymenoides)
Azaleas are a backyard favorite, and for good reason. They're colorful, versatile and low-maintenance. Luckily, their pink and red funnel-shaped flowers are loved by hummingbirds too.
Hardiness Zone: 5-9
Sunlight: Morning sun, afternoon shade
Impatiens
Although not tubular, impatiens still provide hummingbirds with a reliable source of nectar. Their bright color definitely doesn't hurt, either.
Hardiness Zone: 10-11
Sunlight: Partial shade, indirect sunlight
Red Begonia (Begonia Interspecific)
This flower fits the bill for many reasons—it's red, holds plenty of nectar and has an ideal structure for feeding. Hummingbirds can easily hover on top, sucking the nectar from the gorgeous blooms.
Hardiness Zone: 9-11
Sunlight: Partial shade
Hibiscus
Hibiscus flowers add an exotic touch to any backyard garden, and hummingbirds definitely notice. Their eye-catching blooms keep these birds fed all season long.
Hardiness Zone: 10-12
Sunlight: Direct sunlight
Zinnia
Zinnias, known for their annual growth and low-maintenance nature, are particularly intriguing to pollinators like hummingbirds. The best part? They thrive in direct sunlight with minimal care!
Hardiness Zone: 2-11
Sunlight: Direct sunlight
Purple Lupine (Lupinus Polyphyllus)
Thanks to their tall purple blooms, this flower adds character to any garden. They're known for attracting hummingbirds, bees and butterflies. Keep in mind that they're also deer-resistant.
Hardiness Zone: 4-9
Sunlight: Direct sunlight
Morning Glory (Ipomoea)
Usually grown on fences and walls, morning glory vines are pretty easy to maintain, even in dryer conditions. These bright blue flowers grow on top of the vines, attracting hummingbirds with their tubular shape.
Hardiness Zone: 2-11
Sunlight: Direct sunlight
Orange Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias Tuberosa)
Once established, orange butterfly milkweed is a pretty low maintenance (and vibrant!) addition to an outdoor space. Their bright orange color stands out amongst other plants. Plus, there are plenty of flowers for hummingbirds to feed from since they grow in clusters.
Hardiness Zone: 3-9
Sunlight: Direct sunlight
Laura Millar (she/her) is a freelance lifestyle journalist for Good Housekeeping. She holds a degree in Film, TV & Media from the University of Michigan, and was previously the assistant lifestyle editor for GH, where she covered home design. Her byline has appeared in NBC's TODAY.com, PEOPLE, Real Simple, and Business Insider.
Monique Valeris is the home design director for Good Housekeeping, where she oversees the brand's home decorating coverage across print and digital. Prior to joining GH in 2020, she was the digital editor at Elle Decor. In her current role, she explores everything from design trends and home tours to lifestyle product recommendations, including writing her monthly column, "What's in My Cart."
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