17 Hummingbird Plants – 2023

Late July, August, and September is the fall migration time for hummingbirds as they travel back to Mexico and Central America. This is the perfect time to make sure that you have an abundance of hummingbird plants for the smallest of the bird species. These plants not only help the hummingbirds, but they also provide added benefits for birds, bees, butterflies, and other pollinating species.

Plants that Attract Hummingbirds

Hummingbirds are attracted to a wide range of plants. You can find most of these plants throughout America. Hummingbirds are drawn towards flowers that are the colors red, yellow, and orange. They also prefer flowers that are tubular in shape. Most hummingbirds will choose flowers that are from native wildflowers and shrubs. Hummingbirds are territorial and will make sure that they defend their favorite flowers. You will usually hear them chirping and humming before you see them.

Here is an extensive list of hummingbird plants that are Native to America:

1. Beebalm- Monarda spp.

• Beebalm– Monarda spp.– Monarda is a member of the mint family and native to North America. It is an herbaceous perennial. It grows 2-4 feet tall and 2-4 feet wide depending on the species. Monarda flowers throughout summer months with white, pink, purple, and red flowers. The foliage is fragrant also, making it a wonderful addition to any area you are looking to liven up. Monarda likes full sun to part shade. Provide moist but not overly wet soils. It is best to dead head the flowers to promote another flush of flower growth. Beebalm is vital to bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.

2. Salvia- Salvia spp.

• Salvia spp.- Salvia comes in a variety of plants from Tropical Sage, Autumn Sage, Cedar Sage, Mountain Sage, Big Red Sage, Salvia microphylla, MealyCup Sage, Pineapple Sage, and other salvias. The species that you can grow depends on the area you live in, but adding any salvias will help hummingbirds for the use of extra nectar. Not to mention that they are really easy to grow and flower prolifically during spring, summer, and fall. Salvias come in a variety of colors and heights. These plants need full sun to light shade in order for them to flower. They do not like to dry out-in fact, they are one of the first plants that lets me know that I need to water. Salvias are perennials in the warmer climates but in the northern areas they are considered annuals.

3. Penstemon- Penstemon spp.

• Penstemon spp.- Penstemon comes in a variety of species that are perfect for hummingbirds. A few are Cup-leaf Penstemon, Havards’ Penstemon, Three-flower Penstemon, Wright’s Penstemon, Palmer’s Penstemon. There are several hundred different Penstemon species that are native to North America- something for everyone. Penstemons like soil that is not super fertile and it can even be planted in soil that is well draining with lots of sand and gravel. This plant is very forgiving in where you choose to plant it. Penstemon can be grown easily from seed or from transplants. Seeds of penstemon need a cold stratification, meaning the seeds need a period of cold weather before they will germinate. Most seeds that are bought from a seed company will already have gone through the stratification. Penstemons are perennials and will bloom during their second year of growth if planted from seed.

4. Porterweed spp.

• Porterweed is one of the easiest plants to grow. I usually plant it in the ground and can simply enjoy the hummingbirds coming to it daily. Porterweed is a small perennial shrub, although my porterweed gets 5 feet in one year. The flowers of porterweed grow on long spikes in red, coral, white, purple, or blue. The foliage is a darker green color. Porterweed likes full sun to part shade. It would be good to give it some afternoon shade from the summer heat. Porterweed likes well drained soil and does not like to have soggy soil. If the plant becomes leggy it is good to give it a trim giving you the ability to shape it to the size you desire. Porterweed is virtually pest free. The plant does freeze and will come back from the roots unless there is a hard freeze. This is one of my favorite hummingbird plants to add for both hummingbirds and butterflies.
• Here is a link to my previous post about: How to Grow Porterweed

5. Hamelia patens– Hummingbird bush, Firebush, Scarlet Bush

• Hamelia patens is native to Mexico and grows very well in the southern portion of the United States. It will freeze to the ground during a winter freeze but it will come back from the roots every year. In severe winters it may act as an annual as the winter freezes will kill the root stock. This perennial shrub will grow to about 4-5 feet. Hamelia patens has tubular bright reddish orange flowers from late spring to late fall. Small berries will form after the flowers fade providing food for birds. The berries are edible to humans and have been known to provide medicinal properties. One of the best qualities of this plant is that once it is established it is drought tolerant. I rarely need to water this plant unless we have not received rain in several weeks. Hamelia patens prefers full sun but it can tolerate some shade. If it is too shady it will not bloom as much and the growth can become leggy. Lastly, it can be planted in larger containers for splashes of color on porches, near pools, and decks.

6. Flame Acanthus- Anisacanthus wrightii

• Flame Acanthus has bright red tubular blooms from mid summer to fall. Hummingbirds flock to this plant. One of the best qualities of Flame Acanthus is that it loves the heat and can tolerate the hottest days. It is also drought tolerant and can grow in soils that are somewhat heavy. Giving the plant a good drink of water in a dry period will help promote flowers. Flame Acanthus grows in the southern portion of the United States down into Mexico. Its growth habit is a small perennial shrub growing from 3-5 feet in height and almost the same in width. In addition, the stems have a unique quality of becoming flaky giving it an interesting characteristic during the winter.

7. Cuphea spp.– Cigar plant/Cigar flower/Firecracker

• This hummingbird plant is native to Mexico and can be found in Florida, Texas, and California. It grows as a small perennial shrub to around 2 feet tall and will spread to around 3 feet wide. This plant can be grown in cooler areas as an annual but will freeze. I have had this come back from the roots in a light freeze but I have lost some when we had temperatures get down to 21 degrees. Cupheas grow in several colors with the one pictured above as Cuphea ignea with yellow, orange, and red flowers that bloom nonstop during the warm seasons. Cupheas need full sun to bloom. They prefer well drained soil and moderate amount of water. Cupheas grow well in containers.

8. Coral Honeysuckle

• Coral honeysuckle is one of my favorite hummingbird plants. This is a vine that is not an aggressive climber like the Japanese Honeysuckle, a serious weed in some locations. I have had the coral honeysuckle for almost 4 years climbing on an arbor in my backyard. It is one of the first plants that my hummingbirds will go to and will squabble over. The coral honeysuckle is a semi-evergreen vine that requires full sun to bloom. The flowers are a coral-red bloom that flowers all summer long. I rarely need to water it but give it a drink when the temperatures start to rise and rain becomes scarce. When growing this vine you will need to help give it support as it begins to grow. Also, the variety Lonicera sermpervirens ‘Sulphurea’ is a stunning yellow-flowering variety which is native to Texas and the eastern United States.

9. Ipomoea spp.- Morning Glory & Cypress Vine

• Morning glory is a fast growing annual and perennial vine. There are over 1,000 different kinds of morning glories- that is a lot to choose from. Morning glories grow in almost any type of soil making it very versatile. They have very low maintenance requirements. The bloom time for morning glories is mainly during the summer months and will continue to bloom until the first frost. Morning glories need full sun to part shade. The vining morning glories can spread to 10 feet in one growing season. You can help train the vine to grow in the direction of your choosing. Bush morning glories can get 4 feet in height. A word of caution– the seeds of morning glory are poisonous to dogs and people. You can trim them off as they begin to form.

10. Agastache– Anise Hyssop / Hummingbird Mint

• I love the way this hummingbird plant smells. The plant is so fragrant that it attracts not only hummingbirds, but also bees and butterflies. Agastache is an easy to grow herbaceous perennial that will die back in the winter and come back every spring when the weather begins to warm up. It will grow in moist soils and does considerably well when a flowerbed or container is well prepared and well drained. The flowers of the hummingbird mint are purple, rose, or mauve spikes that bloom during the summer months. The flowers can be picked and dried for later or used fresh in salads. The leaves are very fragrant and can be used for teas. Agastache grows best with morning sun and afternoon shade.

11. Turk’s Cap- Malvaviscus arboreus

• Turk’s cap, also called Wax Mallow, is another one of my favorite hummingbird plants. Turk’s cap is a perennial shrub that can get quite large. My Turk’s cap plants spread to 3-4 feet wide and get 4-5 feet high every year. I have heard that it can grow to 10 feet tall. The plant will freeze in the winter but comes back from the roots in early spring. Turk’s caps bloom from May to November. That is a lot of time for whenever hummingbirds come through their migration path in your area. Turk’s cap flowers are mainly red, however, there are pink and white cultivars available. Turk’s cap like sun to part shade. They can benefit having shade from the hot afternoon summer sun. In its native habitat Turk’s caps are found near the edges of streams and wooded areas.

12. Heart Leaf Hibiscus- Hibiscus martianus previously called Hibiscus cardiophyllus

• Heart Leaf Hibiscus is a native to Texas and Mexico. Both butterflies and hummingbirds love this plant. The Heart Leaf Hibiscus loves the heat and can tolerate the extreme heat we are having now- 103 degrees every day this week. The flowers of the Heart Leaf Hibiscus are 1-3 inch red/crimson blooms. They have a very long bloom season from spring to the first frost. If it is protected from frost it can continue to bloom. The plant grows 1-3 feet tall depending on the surrounding conditions. It needs well drained soil to keep it from rotting. One of the best features of this plant is that it is drought tolerant making it ideal for these hot summers. The Heart Leaf Hibiscus needs at least 2-6 hours of direct sunlight a day but would love to get some of the late afternoon shade to protect it from the extreme sunlight during summer months. The Heart Leaf Hibiscus is a major food source for the Yohoa-Scrub Hairstreak, the Gray Hairstreak, and the Mallow-Scrub Hairstreak caterpillars.

13. Coral Bean, Cherokee Bean, Red Cardinal Flower/ Erythrina herbacea

• Coral Bean is a medium to large shrub with showy dark red flowers on the flower spikes. After the flowers fade there is a bright red bean pod left on the plant. The beans of the coral are known to be poisonous to people so please be cautious around children with this plant. The leaves are a unique arrowhead shape that can have a small prickly surface on the underside of the leaves. This plant is susceptible to cold snaps as low as 28 degrees. It will freeze to the ground but can come back in the spring. Give this plant sturdy support in windy areas. Coral Bean is drought tolerant. It likes to be planted in full sun. Coral bean can grow 6 feet tall in one growing season and will grow even taller in areas that do not freeze. Bloom times are from March to June.

14. Royal Catchfly- Silene spp.

• Royal Catchfly is a wonderful hummingbird plant that is native to the American Midwest. In fact, it is considered endangered and may possibly be lost to land conversion into homes, agriculture, and businesses. Royal Catchfly occurs naturally in prairies, savannas, and open woodland areas. Royal Catchfly gets 24-36 inches tall and can spread to 12-18 inches wide. It likes to be planted in full sun. This plant does get a little picky about where it is planted. Royal Catchfly’s roots like to be in very well drained soil and can even tolerate sandy or gravelly soil. The blooms on the Royal Catchfly plants are red 2 inch blooms that are shaped perfect for hummingbirds to pollinate. This also happens to be one of the few natural prairie plants that bloom a brilliant red color.

15. Esperanza/Yellow Trumpets/Yellow Bells- Tecoma stans

• This plant has multiple names including: Yellow trumpets, yellow bells, Esperanza, trumpet bush, and trumpet flowers. This plant is a deciduous shrub that when flowering has a cluster of yellow flowers, hence the name -Yellow Bells. In the southern U.S. Esperanza will grow as a perennial. However, in the mid to upper part of the U.S. where it is cooler during the winter months it will grow as an annual. Esperanza commonly grows from 3-5 feet and can grow up to 9 feet tall. There is a long bloom season for Esperanza from April to November giving your hummingbirds plenty of time to enjoy this hummingbird plant. It enjoys being in full sun and requires low amounts of watering. It is best to obtain an Esperanza that is grown natively in your area. Esperanza that is a tropical origin do have a difficult time surviving an area they are not locally obtained from.

16. Mexican Buckeye- Ungnadia speciosa

• The Mexican Buckeye is native to North America and can be a great addition to any garden or landscape for the pollinators, such as, hummingbirds, butterflies, bees, and the birds in the area. Mexican Buckeye is a small deciduous tree that grow mainly 8-15 feet tall and can grow as big as 30 feet tall in the right conditions. The hummingbirds are attracted to the bright pink fragrant flowers that bloom from March through June. Mexican Buckeye likes to grow in rocky areas making it a perfect drought tolerant small tree. It gives great fall color with its leaves turning yellow giving rise as a nice specimen plant. After blooming the seeds are a wonderful food source for birds, however, the seeds are mildly poisonous to humans.

17. Lead Plant- Amorpha canescens

• The Lead Plant is native throughout North America. This hummingbird plant has so many great qualities that I couldn’t resist putting it on my list for hummingbird must have plants. The Lead Plant grows as a 1-3 foot deciduous shrub. It is slow growing and may not mature for roughly 3-4 years. With the slow growth of the Lead Plant it may take 3 years before it will flower from seed. The leaves of the Lead Plant have small white hairs on them which gives them a fuzzy soft appearance. The flowers on the Lead Plant grow in long blue to light purple spikes that can sprawl toward the ground. Lead Plant blooms during the summer months. This plant likes sun and will tolerate part shade, but it may bloom less in part shade. The Lead Plant likes a dry soil moisture making it another great addition for this extreme summer heat we are having. One of the best qualities that I find fascinating is that the Lead Plant can handle fires. Yes, the leaves may die back if there is a fire, however, the roots of the Lead Plant can go 15 feet down into the soil protecting the root systems from extreme fires.

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Learn more about how to create a birdbath for hummingbirds

Hummingbirds are one of the most fascinating birds to watch. It is very easy to help them survive by providing the right food sources and water for them. They will thrive if they have the right conditions and will come back year after year to your yard or landscape if you continue to help them by planting some of these plants and provide a water source for them.

Check out my list of birdbaths that you can create that hummingbirds would love to use. Adding a mister or bubbler to your birdbath gets those hummers really excited: Creative Birdbaths

Don’t know what kind of hummingbirds are in your area? Here is a wonderful list of some of the different kinds of hummingbird species found in North America: Hummingbird Central