Hummingbirds like nectar-rich flowers with elongated tubular shapes, adapted to their long beak and tongue. Hummingbirds prefer flowers in shades of red, but will visit every color flower. They are inquisitive and brave in their endless search for food, and once they have found your hummingbird garden, they will return, following a regular feeding route, called ‘traplines.’
Plant with attention to early nectar sources to welcome the hummingbirds’ return to the Seacoast area in late April. They have flown from South America and they’re hungry! Include a few hanging baskets or window boxes of bright annuals, twiggy shrubs for resting spots, a bird bath or saucer with crossed sticks for perching. These will give you a fascinating close-up view of these astonishing birds.
You can also put out Hummingbird feeders with specially made food, or make your own with 1 part sugar dissolved in four parts water. Do NOT add red food coloring.
Want to get started? Visit our Garden Store for all kinds of Birding supplies and see below for some plants that attract hummingbirds. Click here for a printable PDF version of the list. Please note that plant inventory is subject to seasonality and availability.
PERENNIAL HUMMINGBIRD PLANTS
Alcea Hollyhock 6’; various colors; July-Aug; tall cottage garden biennial
Agastache Anise Hyssop 3’; blue; July; hardy herb; bees love it too; sun
Aquilegia Columbine 1’; red, yellow, blue, pink, white; May; woodland native; self-seeds; shade
Delphinium 3’; pink, purple, blue, white; June; gorgeous flower spikes; sun
Digitalis Foxglove 4’; pink, yellow; June – July; Victorian favorite; sun
Hemerocallis Daylily 2’; various colors; June – Sept; many varieties; handsome foliage; sun
Heuchera Coral Bells 1’; red; June; good hosta companion; shade
Lobelia Cardinal Flower 4’; red; June – July; striking native for damp soil; shade
Lupine 3’; various colors; June; will self seed; native beauty; sun
Monarda Beebalm 2 – 4’; red, pink, purple; June – Sept; cut back for rebloom; spreads; sun
Penstemon Beardtongue 2’; red, pink, blue; July; free flowering & upright; sun
Phlox Garden Phlox 2 – 3’; various colors; June -Aug; hardy old-fashioned perennial; sun
Salvia 2’; white, purple-blue; June – Sept; drought tolerant; deadhead to rebloom; sun
ANNUAL HUMMINGBIRD PLANTS
Callebrachoa Million Bells 6”; various colors; May – Oct; delightful mini-petunia for pots, window boxes; sun
Canna Lily 6’; red, orange; July – Sept; tropical-looking annual for beds & pots; sun
Firecracker Plant, Bright Red
Fuschia 6”-1’; red, pink, white; May – Sept; excellent in hanging baskets; shade
Gladiolas 4’; various colors; Aug; plant bulbs in spring, dig up in fall, hang in onion bags in cellar for winter; sun
Impatiens 6”; various colors; May-Sept.; everyone’s favorite for beds & borders; sun & shade
Lantana 1’; orange, pink; May – Sept; bright, wonderful in hanging baskets & containers; sun
Salvia: Long tubular flowers on large wands. Long last through summer
Nicotiana Flowering Tobacco 2’; red, pink; June – Sept; fragrant; drought tolerant; sun or shade
Penstemon Beardtongue 2’; purple, pink, red; June – Sept; annual variety blooms longer: sun
Petunia 6’ – 4’; various colors; June – Oct; many varieties; sun
HERBS
Nasturtium 6”; red, orange; June – Sept; climbing variety is ideal on trellises; sun
Salvia Pineapple Sage 3’; red; June – Sept; dry soil adaptable; deadhead for repeat bloom; sun
TREES AND SHRUBS
Althea Rose of Sharon 10’; pink, purple, blue, white; Aug – Sept; shrub or tree form; drought tolerant; sun
Azalea 1- 8’; red, pink,white; May or July; evergreen azaleas need winter protection; deciduous natives taller & hardier; shade
Buddlea Butterfly Bush 6’; pinks, purples, white; July – Oct; cut back in spring; sun
Syringa Lilac 3 -12’; pinks, purples, whites, variegated; April -June; early nectar source; hardy & fragrant; sun
Weigela 5’; pinks; June; colorful foliage; drought tolerant; sun
VINES
Campsis Trumpet Creeper 20’; yellow, orange; July – Aug; hardy twining vine; blooms at 3 – 5 yrs; sun
Ipomea Morning Glory 10’; purple, blue; May – Oct; old fashioned annual vine; sun
Ipomea Cardinal Climber 10’; red; June – Sept; delicate lacy foliage; bright flowers; sun
Lonicera Honeysuckle 20’; yellow, pink; June – Sept; hardy; fragrant native vine; sun
Phaseolus Scarlet Runner Bean 10’; red; June – Aug; plant this annual vine from seed; sun