Hummingbird favorites

As gardeners, we have a unique connection to nature. Often our efforts growing and nurturing plants are rewarded by the arrival of one of nature’s most beautiful — hummingbirds.

Not only are they a wonder to watch, they pollinate your flowers as they collect nectar and even eat small insects in your garden. Increase your chances of encountering these winged visitors with the five nectar-rich blooms ahead!

Batface plant
Cuphea llavea

In containers, batface plant does best with even moisture and some shade during the hottest part of the day.

Type Tender perennial

Blooms Red from late spring to frost

Light Full sun to part shade

Soil Moist, well-drained

Size 18 to 24 in. tall, 24 to 36 in. wide

Cold-hardy USDA zones 9 to 11

Heat-tolerant AHS zones 12 to 1

Petunia
Petunia hybrids

Of all the petunia flower types, single-flowered ones are the easiest for hummingbirds to feed from because of their funnel shape.

Type Annual

Blooms Many colors, summer to frost

Light Full sun

Soil Moist, well-drained

Size 4 to 12 in. tall, 8 to 48 in. wide

Heat-tolerant AHS zones 12 to 1

Cardinal flower
Lobelia cardinalis

For cardinal flower, moist soil is a must-have. Partly shaded woodland gardens or areas where the soil tends to stay wet are great spots, but it’ll tolerate full sun in cooler zones.

Type Perennial

Blooms Scarlet red from midsummer into fall

Light Full sun to part shade

Soil Moist to wet, humus-rich

Size 2 to 4 ft. tall, 1 to 2 ft. wide

Cold-hardy USDA zones 3 to 9

Heat-tolerant AHS zones 9 to 1

Rose of Sharon
Hibiscus syriacus

Hummingbirds normally seek out tubular flowers for food, but the large cup-shaped single or semi-double blooms of rose of Sharon are an exception to that rule. Most have flowers with deep-colored centers, perfect “bull’s eyes” for where the nectar pools.

Type Shrub

Blooms Pink, white, red, lavender or purple in midsummer to early fall

Light Full sun to part shade

Soil Moist, well-drained

Size 5 to 12 ft. tall, 4 to 7 ft. wide

Cold-hardy USDA zones 5 to 8

Heat-tolerant AHS zones 8 to 1

Snapdragon Antirrhinum spp. and hybrids

Snapdragon flowers come in white, yellow, orange, pink, red and everything in between — even bicolors. You’ll get the most blooms when you use a water-soluble fertilizer, such as 10-10-10, biweekly.

Type Tender perennial

Blooms Many colors from spring through fall

Light Full sun to part shade

Soil Moist, well-drained

Size 5 to 48 in. tall, 12 to 18 in. wide

Cold-hardy USDA zones 7 to 10

Heat-tolerant AHS zones 12 to 1