Discover which plants attract Hummingbirds
Bring More Color, Movement & Life to Your Garden
There’s nothing quite like watching a hummingbird dart from flower to flower. These tiny aerial acrobats are not only entertaining—they’re also important pollinators that help keep gardens thriving.
The secret to attracting them is simple: plant nectar-rich flowers in the colors and shapes hummingbirds naturally seek out. Blooms in shades of red, coral, orange, hot pink, and purple can create an inviting destination they’ll return to throughout the season.
Whether you’re planting a landscape, refreshing containers, or adding just a few new favorites, these hummingbird magnets are some of our top recommendations.
What Hummingbirds Look For
While hummingbirds may visit many types of flowers, they are especially attracted to plants that offer:
- Bright colors such as red, coral, orange, hot pink, and purple
- Tubular or trumpet-shaped flowers suited to their long beaks
- Nectar-rich blooms that flower over a long season
- Clusters of flowers that allow them to feed efficiently
A mix of early-, mid-, and late-season bloomers can help keep hummingbirds visiting from spring through fall.
Six Plants Hummingbirds Can’t Resist
Cuphea
Best Colors: Red, orange, coral, and hot pink
Often called cigar plant or firecracker plant, Cuphea is one of the longest-blooming nectar plants you can grow. Its small, tubular flowers provide a dependable food source from late spring into fall, making it a favorite stop for hummingbirds.
Agastache
Best Colors: Red, coral, orange, magenta, and purple
Commonly called Hummingbird Mint, Agastache produces tall flower spikes that bloom for months. It attracts hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees and is drought tolerant once established, making it a strong choice for waterwise gardens.
Penstemon
Best Colors: Red, coral, pink, magenta, and purple
Penstemon produces elegant tubular flowers that seem perfectly designed for hummingbirds. Many varieties are California or western natives, making them beautiful additions to pollinator gardens and natural landscapes.
Salvia
Best Colors: Scarlet, red, coral, purple, and blue
Salvias are among the most dependable hummingbird plants. Their spikes of nectar-rich blooms provide long-lasting color, and with so many varieties available, there is a salvia for nearly every garden style.
California Fuchsia
Best Color: Brilliant orange-red
California Fuchsia blooms in late summer and fall, when many other plants begin winding down. Its vivid tubular flowers provide an important late-season nectar source for hummingbirds.
Abutilon
Best Colors: Red, orange, and coral
Also known as Flowering Maple, Abutilon produces graceful, lantern-shaped flowers over a long bloom season. It performs well in bright shade or morning sun and adds a tropical feel to patios and garden beds.
Need Garden Inspiration?
Looking for ideas on how to combine hummingbird-friendly plants in your garden? These complimentary landscape plans from our friends at Monrovia offer inspiration for landscapes, containers, and pollinator gardens.
Monrovia Landcape Designs
Looking to transform your outdoor space into a hummingbird paradise? Below you’ll find a collection of beautiful, easy-to-follow garden designs — perfect for attracting and supporting these amazing pollinators. Whether you’re working with a full garden or just a small container, there’s something here for you.
Bonus: Each design is available as a downloadable PDF, so you can save or print them for your weekend project. Look for the download link at the bottom of each section!
Monrovia® Hummingbird Weekend Project
- Flower groupings: Plant several of the same tall, spiky bloom together to create a vivid, nectar-rich feeding zone for hummingbirds.
- Eye-catching container: Place a striking planter near your seating area to draw hummingbirds up close. Opt for a drought-tolerant succulent for less frequent watering and easy care.
- Trumpet-shaped blooms: Tuck in clusters of tubular flowers along the border — they act like natural mini-feeders, perfectly designed for slender hummingbird beaks.
- Bright shrubs: Anchor the ends of your border with colorful flowering shrubs to provide structure and extra bursts of color.
To download this design: Hummingbird Weekend Project
Monrovia® Hummingbird Container
You can welcome hummingbirds to any outdoor space — even if all you have room for is a single planter. This setup combines three beloved flowering plants with a lush, low-maintenance filler to create a vibrant, hummingbird-friendly display.
- Bold, vibrant blooms: Large flowers in eye-catching reds, yellows, and oranges signal hummingbirds to pause and refuel.
- Delicate greenery: Soften the look with fine-textured foliage that gently spills over the container’s edges, complementing the bold blooms.
- Trumpet-shaped blossoms: These tubular flowers act as natural hummingbird feeders, perfectly suited for their long, slender beaks.
- Nectar-rich clusters: Plants with small flower clusters create a high-reward feeding spot while adding an unexpected pop to your container design.
To download this design: Hummingbird Container
Monrovia® Hummingbird Haven
Invite a lively crowd of hummingbirds by planting varieties that offer both nourishment and shelter. Choose colors you love — after all, this garden should delight you as much as it supports them. Aim for blooms across all seasons while hummingbirds are present in your area, so your garden stays open as a welcoming feeding stop as long as possible.
Habitat Plants
- Soft surroundings: Large but airy plants, like ornamental grasses, create a sense of safety, and their thin stems are perfect for hummingbirds’ tiny feet to perch on. Plant these along the garden’s edges to gently define the space.
- Vertical vines: Elevate your hummingbird garden by adding a flowering vine, introducing height and an overhead layer that makes the space feel even more dynamic.
- Wispy weave-ins: Use delicate, smaller foliage plants to soften walkway edges and weave a graceful ribbon of green throughout the garden.
Food Sources
Points 4, 5, 6, and 8 on the diagram
Hummingbirds love nectar-filled flowers in bright reds, yellows, and oranges. Choosing plants that also support beneficial insects and other pollinators helps create a diverse, healthy ecosystem right in your backyard. These insects provide essential protein for baby birds and offer natural pest control, making them a key part of a thriving garden.
7. A Purple Surprise
Surprised to see purple here? Many purple-flowering plants — including sage (salvia), penstemon, and hosta — are top hummingbird favorites and add beautiful variety and contrast to your planting palette.
To download this design: Hummingbird Haven
Even More Hummingbird Plants...
Below is an extensive list of the more popular plants that attract hummingbirds in the Bay Area: Please Note: Not all plants are available at all times of the year. Selection may vary by location. For availability, please contact the SummerWinds locations nearest you.
Full Sun
- California Fuchsia (Epilobium canum)
- All Salvia (Salvia divinorum)
- Salvia Gregii
- Salvia Leucantha
- Manzanita (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)
- Citrus – Orange and Lemon
- Beardtongue (Penstemon)
- Mock Orange (Philadelphus ‘Belle Etoile’)
- Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)
- Licorice Mint Hyssop (agastache rupestris)
- Desert Willow (Chilopsis linearis)
- Bottlebrush (Callistemon)
- Bee Balm (Monarda)
- Hummingbird Sage (Salvia spathacea)
- Butterfly Bush (Buddleia)
- Catmint (Nepeta x faassenii)
- Blue Sage (Salvia clevelandii)
- Larkspur – Delphinium
- Foxgloves (Digitalis)
- Lilies (Lilium)
- Pentas
- Red Hot Poker (Kniphofia)
- Scarlet Sage (Salvia cocinea)
- Tobacco Plant (Nicotiana tabacum)
- Summer Phlox (Phlox paniculata)
- Weigela
- Rocktrumpet (Mandevilla)
Part Sun To Shade
- Island Snapdragon (Galvezia speciosa)
- Fuchsia-Flowering Gooseberry (Ribes speciosum)
- California Huckleberry (Vaccinium ovatum)
- Western Columbine (Aquilegia Formosa)
- Sasanqua Camellia (Camellia Sasanqua)
- Pink Honeysuckle (Lonicera hispidula)
- Fuchsia (Fuchsia hybrida)
California's Hummingbirds
For a list of hummingbirds in the Bay area, visit our friends at Audubon California, http://ca.audubon.org/
At SummerWinds Nursery, our Trusted Garden Advisors can help you select the best plants to make the most of your hummingbird habitat. We pride ourselves on exceptional customer service, our knowledgeable staff and the highest quality plants. With the right guide, you will have a thriving hummingbird garden in no time at all!
Visit your local SummerWinds, where We Guarantee Success!
