The Best Flowers for a Hummingbird Garden: Tips and Suggestions

Imagine a garden alive with the delicate fluttering of vibrant hummingbirds, their iridescent feathers reflecting in the sunlight as they gracefully hover from flower to flower. Creating a hummingbird garden is a delightful way to attract these tiny, enchanting creatures to your outdoor space while adding a splash of color and beauty to your surroundings. To create a truly inviting haven for hummingbirds, selecting the right flowers is key.

Hummingbirds are renowned for their love of nectar-rich blooms, drawn to vibrant colors and tubular-shaped flowers that provide them with the nourishment they need. By incorporating a variety of these flowers into your garden, you can create a haven that offers sustenance and shelter for these delightful creatures.

Cardinal Flower

Cardinal flowers have so much to offer hummingbirds. The bright red colors attract the birds and the tubular petals set them up to easily feast on the sweet nectar deeper in the flower’s center. All while sprinkling pollen on the hummingbird’s head to spread once it takes flight. 

Fuchsia  

Fuchsia is known for its deep, vibrant pink and white color. The colorful and droopy flower works wonders for attracting hummingbirds. The positioning of the flowers invites hummingbirds in for a taste of the nectar inside. They use their lengthy beaks and tongues to fish out the nutritious food that other pollinators often have trouble reaching. 

Lupine

The spiky and intensely pink and purple petals of the lupine flower have no problems attracting hummingbirds and other pollinators. The lupine flowers are strewn throughout a branch-like stem, making it extremely easy for the speedy little birds to fly up to and feast on the nectar and pollen-filled flowers. 

Trumpet Honeysuckle 

If any flower seems it was specifically made for the hummingbirds’ enjoyment, it would likely be the trumpet honeysuckle. The dangling trumpet-like shape of the flower lends itself extremely well to the hummingbird’s abilities. They’re able to fly up to the vine and reach areas other pollinators struggle to, enjoying a feast of goodies deep in the center bulb of the flower. 

Daylily 

Like many flowers on our list, daylilies possess attractive qualities that hummingbirds simply can’t resist. Flowers like daylilies have brightly colored tubular petals that tend to produce more nectar than flatter-faced flowers. Almost as if nature is calling out to pollinators to come feast. These kinds of flowers are perfectly accommodating to the hummingbirds’ long beaks and far-reaching tongues. 

Rose of Sharon

Unlike the typical tubular flowers that attract loveable hummingbirds, the rose of Sharon is a flat-faced flower that comes in beautifully colorful shades of pink, white, purple, and red. Not only do they produce copious amounts of nectar for the birds to feast on, but the flat head is also an easy landing spot for insects that serve as an extra snack for the hummingbirds. 

Zinnia

The height of the zinnia is largely what makes them so appealing to hummingbirds. Dwarf zinnias grow up to 12 inches tall and wide and other varieties can grow up to 4 feet tall and 2 feet wide. Like other hummingbird-friendly flowers, zinnias come in vibrant shades of pink, purple, yellow, red, and orange. They’re easy to grow and have a hefty bloom, making them stand out from the crowd so hummingbirds can seek them out without trouble. 

Petunia 

Petunias are relatively easy to care for and contain a lot of qualities hummingbirds look for in a sweet treat. They produce nectar, come in a wide range of colors, and grow at heights that are easier for hummingbirds to fly up to and grab a quick bite. Seeing as petunias are gorgeous and easy to grow, they make a great addition to your garden if you’re wanting to attract elegant hummingbirds and other pollinators.