Bring the Buzz: 6 Flowers Hummingbirds Can’t Resist

The post Bring the Buzz: 6 Flowers Hummingbirds Can’t Resist appeared first on A-Z Animals.

Who doesn’t love hummingbirds? Having the tiny birds grace your yard is always a treat. You can find a variety of hummingbird feeders at most nurseries and outdoor stores, all designed to entice the birds to visit you. Most of the feeders require upkeep, with fresh sugar water added regularly. Additionally, if you live in bear country, you need to remember to bring the feeders indoors at night. Otherwise, you may attract unwanted visitors.

While all that effort is worth it, so you can catch a glimpse of the beautiful birds, there is an even better way to attract your flitting friends. Adding hummingbird-friendly plants to your yard will bring them in droves and ensure they get high-quality nectar. And even better, the plants will attract other pollinators, which will help improve the biodiversity of your garden or yard. Plus, they come with the added bonus of blossoms of richly colored flowers in the spring or summer. Below you can explore six plants that attract hummingbirds and decide if one (or more) is suitable for your space.

This post was updated on September 5, 2025 to clarify nectar heavy flowers, hummingbird anatomy, and zone range of Penstemon.

1. Petunia (Petunia)

Ruby-throated Hummingbird — A ruby-throated hummingbird flying into a petunia flower.

©MattCuda/iStock via Getty Images

This familiar flower has an intoxicating fragrance. If you add it to your garden or yard, both you and the hummingbirds will win. Petunias are relatively wide due to their multi-branching nature. The leaves are sticky and hairy. Petunia blossoms come in nearly any color and typically bloom from spring under the first frost. Its lovely flowers are wide and trumpet-shaped.

Depending on the species, petunias will either stand erect or sprawl out. They can grow up to 18 inches tall. And they have a spread of up to 4 feet when left to their own devices.

These stunning flowers grow equally well in a garden bed and containers if you are short on space. With over thirty varieties available, you can find one perfectly suited to your area. They require full sun to thrive but can survive with as little as five hours of sunlight each day.

It is a resilient species and can survive in less-than-ideal soil conditions. The only thing it needs is a well-draining soil. Additionally, petunias are heat tolerant and do not require a lot of water.

Why They Attract Hummingbirds:

Petunias come in vibrant colors to attract the tiny birds.

USDA Hardiness Zones:

Perennial to Zones 9-11 but will grow as annuals in all other zones.

Bonus:

According to mythology, petunias have the ability to ward off negativity, monsters, and spirits.

2. Scarlet Bee Balm (Monarda didyma)

Hummingbird visits scarlet bee balm — Hummingbirds love bright, vibrant scarlet bee balm flowers.

©Chris Alcock/Shutterstock.com

You have likely seen bee balm seeds at your nursery while browsing the new seed packet arrivals each spring. However, scarlet bee balm is a step up thanks to its stunning red flowers. Monarda didyma is an aromatic perennial and a member of the Lamiaceae (mint) family. Its solitary, bright scarlet flowers bloom from June through September. It can grow between 2-5 feet tall and has hairy, branched stems.

Scarlet Bee balm prefers well-draining, moist conditions. A location with full sun is ideal. However, it can adapt to a partially shaded environment over time. You can broadcast seeds in the spring or start trays of seedlings indoors for later transplant.

Why They Attract Hummingbirds:

Hummingbirds love their long, narrow, and tubular flowers. The nectar is located lower down in the flower. Hummingbirds use their long, extendable tongues to reach the sweet stuff.

USDA Hardiness Zones:

This beautiful plant is a perennial in Zones 4-9.

Bonus:

Not only does Monarda didyma offer you beautiful flowers and attract a ton of pollinators, but it also has many medicinal uses.

3. Bluestem Penstemon (Penstemon cyanocaulis Payson)

Cluster of bluestem penstemon — Hummingbirds love the long, tubular shape of bluestem penstemon flowers.

©meunierd/Shutterstock.com

This gorgeous plant is also known as dusty beardtongue or bluestem beardtongue. It is perfect in xeriscape environments or during restoration efforts after a fire. Penstemon cyanocaulis has a woody base, from which one to multiple stems protrude. It grows between 8 inches and 1.5 feet high. The flower clusters at the end are a stunning blue.

Bluestem penstemon is drought tolerant and relatively versatile. It makes the ideal addition to drier areas along the edge of landscaped areas, as it can tolerate either partial shade or full sun.

Direct seeding is the best propagation method for bluestem penstemons. However, they will survive as transplanted seedlings if you need to start them indoors.

Why They Attract Hummingbirds:

With a long, tubular shape, the bluestem penstemon flowers offer the perfect feeding ground for hummingbirds.

USDA Hardiness Zones:

You can successfully grow this plant in Zones 4-8.

Bonus:

While the plants attract pollinators, like hummingbirds, they also provide the perfect hiding spot for small birds.

4. Red Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)

Cluster of red columbine flowers — Red columbine flowers are one of the most important food sources for hummingbirds.

©akslocum/Shutterstock.com

Columbines are delicate flowers that grace even the toughest of landscapes and natural areas. Choose the red to bring in your favorite winged friends.

This perennial grows between 12 and 30 inches tall. It has compound leaves and a downward-facing flower. The red columbine flower showcases a beautiful light red and yellow color combination that blooms between March and July.

Once planted, this hardy flower will live between three to five years and is easily re-seeded. The above-ground plant dies back in the fall but regrows in the spring. It thrives in slightly drier conditions. So the red columbine will happily take up space in your yard or garden that other plants do not love. It prefers well-draining and slightly acidic soil.

Indoor seed starts or direct sowing are the best way to propagate red Columbine. Never fear if the gorgeous flowers don’t show up right away. They will not bloom until the plant’s second year.

Why They Attract Hummingbirds:

The red columbine is one of the most important nectar sources for migrating hummingbirds in eastern North America. When you plant it, you will not only attract beautiful birds to your yard, but you will also provide them with a valuable food source. Hummingbirds thrive on tasty nectar located inside the tubular flowers.

USDA Hardiness Zones:

You can grow red columbine in Zones 3-8.

Bonus:

The roots and seeds have medicinal value.

5. Orange Honeysuckle (Lonicera ciliosa)

Orange honeysuckle flowers in front of green leaves — Orange honeysuckle flowers have trumpet-shaped flowers that hummingbirds adore.

©Amovitania/Shutterstock.com

The vines of the orange honeysuckle can spread along the ground or can be grown as a climber. They are known to reach up to 20 feet high. The orange honeysuckle is a vining perennial. There are two leaves fused together that have a rounded appearance. Its stunning flowers come in an orange hue and grow in densely packed clusters at the end of a leaf pair.

This plant is not picky at all. It will grow well in environments ranging from shade to full sun exposure. You can propagate from cuttings, seeds, or starter plants.

Why They Attract Hummingbirds:

Their trumpet-shaped flowers provide just the right home for the nectar that hummingbirds love.

USDA Hardiness Zones:

These stunning vines can adorn yards in Zones 5-9.

Bonus:

Orange Honeysuckles also offer extensive benefits to bee populations.

6. Trumpet Creeper (Campsis radicans)

Trumpet creepers covering a wall — Trumpet creepers have long, tubular flowers that hummingbirds love to visit.

©SUDARSHAN BHATLA/Shutterstock.com

The beautiful trumpet creeper comes with a slight warning. Mammals react upon rubbing up against this stunning vine. If you accidentally come in contact with it, expect skin redness and swelling. It is also slightly toxic, so avoid adding this to your edible flower garden!

A creeping vine, this plant has long and slender stems, which makes it ideal as a groundcover or to cover trellises and fences. The tubular flowers come in colors ranging from red to yellow-orange. They grow up to 3 inches long and 1.5 inches wide and in clusters between 4 and 12 flowers. Flowers bloom in the height of summer, from July through August.

Plant trumpet creepers in areas that receive full sun for the best blossoms. The plants will survive in a wide variety of conditions. They like wet to dry soil and can grow in sandy, loamy, or clay conditions. It is worth noting that this plant is highly aggressive and invasive outside its native range (eastern/southeastern U.S.). In the wrong spot it can damage siding, fences, or overwhelm native plants.