Which Flowers Do Hummingbirds Like Best?

Hummingbirds are fun to watch and easy to attract. Though their diet typically includes more insects than nectar, they spend a lot of time visiting flowers. Planting the types flowers they prefer, is the best way to encourage frequent visits.

Hummingbirds have a poor sense of smell, but excellent vision. Their sight is particularly acute in the red end of the spectrum, which suggests why they are attracted to red flowers such as bee balm, cardinal flower, geraniums, honeysuckle, Canadian columbine and trumpet vine.

Tubular flowers are also appealing to hummingbirds. Their long bills and even longer tongues make it easy for them to access nectar that other pollinators can’t reach. Plants with tube-like flowers include agastache, salvia, ajuga, heuchera, foxgloves, hosta and sage.

On the list below you’ll find dozens of hummingbird favorites. Offering a wide variety of flowers will ensure your yard is always a top 10 destination.

To learn more about attracting and protecting hummingbirds, read this article from the National Audubon Society.

Favorite Hummingbird Flowers

Trees and Shrubs

Azaleas, Butterfly Bush, Crape Myrtle, Glossy Abelia, Mimosa, Weigela

Vines

Coral Honeysuckle, Cypress Vine, Scarlet Runner Bean, Trumpet Vine

Annuals and Perennials

Agastache, Ajuga, Bee Balm (Monarda), Begonia, Blazing Star (Liatris), Bleeding Heart (Dicentra), Butterfly Weed (Ascelpias), Canna, Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis), Columbine, Coral Bells (Heuchera), Cleome, Dahlia, Dame’s rocket, Delphinium, Fire pink (Silene virginica), Four o’ Clocks, Foxglove, Fuchsia, Geranium, Gladiolus, Hollyhocks, Hosta, Impatiens, Indian Paintbrush, Iris, Lantana, Lavender, Lily, Nasturtium, Nicotiana, Penstemon, Petunia, Phlox, Sage, Salvia, Scabiosa, Scarlet Sage, Sweet William, Verbena, Yucca, Zinnia.