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18 Plants That Will Attract Hummingbirds to Your Home Garden

These pollinator-friendly flowers check all the boxes.

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hummingbird feeding on a flower
Chelsea Sampson//Getty Images

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Bird watchers can all agree — hummingbirds are some of the most beautiful, energetic and vibrant creatures you can admire from the comfort of your own yard. Their tiny size and playful nature make them pretty darn cute, too. Luckily, there are many plants that will help you attract hummingbirds to your home garden.

So what are the key qualities hummingbirds look for? Tubular flowers, bright colors (specifically red) and nectar production are particularly important. Nail all three, and these lively birds will be flocking to your flower sanctuary.

Here, we've listed flowers that check off all the hummingbird's boxes. Keep in mind that you'll want to plant a variety of these species so that nectar production is consistent throughout the season.

1

Fuchsia (Fuchsia Magellanica)

hummingbird fuchsia or hardy fuchsia (fuchsia magellanica) flowering in the small town of birr, central ireland.
Federica Grassi//Getty Images

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: Zones 6-9

Sunlight: Morning sun, afternoon shade

SHOP FUCHSIA

2

Cardinal Flower (Lobelia Cardinalis)

cardinal flower is loaded with intense red flowers along tall stems reaching 4 inches tall
laroy lindsey//Getty Images

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: Zones 3-9

Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade

SHOP CARDINAL FLOWER

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3

Foxglove (Digitalis)

purple foxglove flower field
Kilito Chan//Getty Images

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: Zones 4-9

Sunlight: Direct sunlight

SHOP FOXGLOVE

4

Columbine (Aquilegia)

marvelous blooms of aquilegia aka columbine dressed in pink and white.
Katrin Ray Shumakov

Certain varieties of columbines bloom in multiple colors. Their contrasting shades are attractive, especially to pollinators like hummingbirds.

Hardiness Zone: Zones 3-9

Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade

SHOP COLUMBINE

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5

Trumpet Vine (Campsis Radicans)

trumpet vine in full bloom.
Little Hand Images//Getty Images

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: Zones 4-9

Sunlight: Direct sunlight

SHOP TRUMPET VINE

6

Pink Azalea (Rhododendron Periclymenoides)

pink azaleas
ooyoo//Getty Images

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: Zones 5-9

Sunlight: Morning sun, afternoon shade

SHOP AZALEAS

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7

Impatiens

close up of spring flowers.
strathroy//Getty Images

Although not tubular, impatiens still provide hummingbirds with a reliable source of nectar. Their bright color definitely doesn't hurt, either.

Hardiness Zone: Zones 10-11

Sunlight: Partial shade, indirect sunlight

SHOP IMPATIENS

8

Red Begonia (Begonia Interspecific)

vibrant red floral cluster surrounded by green leaves
by IAISI//Getty Images

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: Zones 9-11

Sunlight: Partial shade

SHOP BEGONIAS

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9

Hibiscus

hibiscus flowers
Douglas Peebles//Getty Images

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: Zones 10-12

Sunlight: Direct sunlight

SHOP HIBISCUS

10

Zinnia

zinnias
Steve Terrill//Getty Images

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: Zones 2-11

Sunlight: Direct sunlight

SHOP ZINNIAS

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11

Purple Lupine (Lupinus Polyphyllus)

macro shot of blooming purple lupine flowers on natural blurred background
TorriPhoto//Getty Images

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: Zones 4-9

Sunlight: Direct sunlight

SHOP PURPLE LUPINE

12

Morning Glory (Ipomoea)

morning glory plant
frederic gombert / 500px//Getty Images

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: Zones 2-11

Sunlight: Direct sunlight

SHOP MORNING GLORY

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13

Orange Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias Tuberosa)

clusters of orange butterfly weed flowers amongst its green leaves.
John_Brueske//Getty Images

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: Zones 3-9

Sunlight: Direct sunlight

SHOP ORANGE BUTTERFLY MILKWEED

14

Lantana

cluster of small multi colored flowers in bloom.
Moelyn Photos//Getty Images

Known for their versatility, lantana flowers bloom from spring all the way to fall, making them a consistent source of nectar for hummingbirds.

Hardiness Zone: Zones 9-11

Sunlight: Direct sunlight

SHOP LANTANA

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15

Coral Honeysuckle (Lonicera Sempervirens)

major wheeler honeysuckle vine is a major attraction for hummingbirds.
Sharon Talson//Getty Images

Coral honeysuckles bloom in clusters of trumpet-shaped flowers, making them a unique, charming addition to a colorful spring garden. Hummingbirds love to squeeze their long, thin beaks into these skinny openings for easy nectar access.

Hardiness Zone: Zones 4-9

Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade

SHOP CORAL HONEYSUCKLE

16

Petunia

colourful petunia flowers hanging in garden
kynny//Getty Images

Often seen in hanging flower baskets, petunias are popular for their long-lasting, colorful blooms. Available in all sorts of vibrant shades — pink, purple, red, blue, white and yellow — petunias are eye candy for humans and hummingbirds alike.

Hardiness Zone: Zones 9-11

Sunlight: Direct sunlight

SHOP PETUNIA

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17

Hollyhocks (Alcea)

hollyhock
Jacky Parker Photography//Getty Images

Looking for a taller plant to balance out your garden? Hollyhocks grow up to 6-8 feet, adding vertical height to any outdoor space. These pollinator-friendly flowers bloom in pink, red, yellow, purple, blue, white and black.

Hardiness Zone: Zones 3-9

Sunlight: Direct sunlight

SHOP HOLLYHOCKS

18

Russian Sage (Salvia Yangii)

a woody perennial plant with silvery stems and blue flowers
Photos by R A Kearton//Getty Images

Add some texture to your garden with Russian sage, a drought-tolerant plant that provides a lively lavender border for your yard. Plus, the abundant flowers all over the plant provide a reliable nectar source for hummingbirds from mid-summer all the way to fall.

Hardiness Zone: Zones 4-9

Sunlight: Direct sunlight

SHOP RUSSIAN SAGE

Headshot of Laura Millar
Laura Millar
Assistant Lifestyle Editor

Laura Millar (she/her) is the assistant lifestyle editor for Good Housekeeping, where she covers home design. Prior to joining Good Housekeeping in 2024, she wrote for NBC's TODAY.com, where she covered everything from entertainment news to pop culture updates. 

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