17 Showy Hummingbird Flowers That Will Bring the Tiny Winged Creatures to Your Yard
Plant these beauties in your garden or hanging basket, and let the bird-watching begin.
There's nothing more enchanting than seeing a hummingbird flitting about your garden? How do their wings move so fast?! These majestic little creatures are not only beautiful; they're essential pollinators. By planting nectar-rich hummingbird flowers in your garden, you can enjoy visits from these flying beauties more often and help your local ecosystem too. Pollinators like hummingbirds, are essential to overall health of the earth and survival of humankind, and they also pollinate other plants that include fruit trees and vegetables. They're also part of the planet's natural pest control and consume common insects like fruit flies, ants, gnats, beetles, mites, mosquitoes, and invasive aphids.
Hummingbirds’ favorite flowers tend to be tubular, which are suited to their long, thin beaks. That includes blooms you might not think of, like sunflowers, whose centers are formed by tiny, closely packed tubular flowers. Hummingbirds also favor red flowers (and red hummingbird feeders, but skip the red dye). According to BirdNote Podcast, their eyes have adapted to spot reds and yellows, but these tiny birds are also quite intelligent and will change their color preferences to favor the most nectar-rich source.
Where you plant hummingbird flowers will depend on each plant’s sun and soil requirements, but make sure your garden design includes some safe places to perch, according the U.S. Forest Service. See our favorite trees for small gardens for ideas (and be sure to check for hummingbird nests during spring pruning). For a safe, elevated feeding area—and a showy garden ornament—incorporate some cascading, tubular flowers in hanging baskets, like petunias or fuchsia.
Cluster each type of hummingbird flower in your garden for an ample nectar supply, and include a variety with staggered bloom times to provide a steady food source spring through fall. (But don’t be afraid to start small, even with just one plant, we’ve had success bringing our neighborhood hummers over for visits!) Also, avoid insecticides and pesticides for the hummingbirds' safety.
If you’re looking to offer a welcoming home for all pollinators, good news! Many of these flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies and bees! See our lists of flowers that attract butterflies and flowers that attract bees for more ideas.
Take a look at a few more helpful links to manage bugs and get your garden tools, potted plants, garden beds, and vegetable options organized for the next planting season!
• 7 Best Bug Zappers That'll Bring All the Bugs to Your Yard...And Then Kill Them
• Editors' Picks: Our Backyard and Garden Must-Haves
• 20 Favorite Container Plants and Ideas for Your Potted Garden Oasis
• 15 Best Raised Garden Beds of 2023 for Any Outdoor Space
• 11 Things Beginners Should Know Before Starting a Vegetable Garden
Katie Bowlby is Digital Director at Country Living, where she covers gift guides, product reviews, crafts, and TV shows like Yellowstone. She’s currently stitching up a cross-stitch pattern for the magazine’s next issue
Terri Robertson is the Senior Editor, Digital, at Country Living, where she shares her lifelong love of homes, gardens, down-home cooking, and antiques.
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