11 Perennial Plants That Will Fill Your Yard With Hummingbirds

Hummingbirds amaze both casual viewers and serious birders as they cruise around yards looking for energy-supplying nectar. They're so well-liked with their fanbase that they've taken on a nickname: hummers. It's not uncommon for homeowners to put up feeders for these little birds, but many gardeners like to plant flowers to attract them to their outdoor spaces. Whether they're in containers or beds, many types of flowers will indeed fill your yard with hummingbirds.

What types do they like? Since their little beaks are long and their tongues are just as lengthy, they often like flowers that are tubular,such as the firecracker plant and lion's ear. Since other nectar gleaners like bumble bees can't always fit down inside those types of flowers, hummingbirds often find a good bit of sugar water waiting inside just for them. And since they tend to need lots of nectar to sustain their high metabolism, plants with lots of blooms let them hop from one to another quite easily. Some brightly colored flowers are more attractive to hummingbirds than others, and we've got 11 of them for you to consider as potential magnets to draw more of these feathered friends than ever to your patio or garden.

This spiky flowered plant is one of many sun-tolerant perennials that will attract hummingbirds to your yard. Veronica's alternate name is speedwell, and it comes in a number of colorful varieties. One of the good things about growing this plant for ground cover is that it's generally regarded as easy to maintain and grow in USDA zones 3 through 11. Some of these plants have a more limited growing range than others, though, so be sure to check the care instructions before planting one if you want a true perennial you can count on to flower year after year.

This popular flowering plant takes root as a hardy perennial in zones 3 through 7. They prefer damp soil and weather on the cool side. Blue is the most frequently seen color, but you can seek out violet, pink, red, white, and purple, too. The more colorful the blooms are, the more likely they'll attract hummingbirds. Gardeners should take note that they're highly poisonous if they have small children or pets that tend to munch on their plants. Another downside is that they only live two to three years and must be cut back in order to bloom all summer long.

You might know these brightly hued plants as heucheras, which are hardy in zones 4 to 9. They grow best in spots with four to six hours of sun on the mild side each day. They have the added benefit of being less attractive to animals with the munchies, so deer and rabbits won't bother them. Some gardeners like them as an alternative for temperamental hostas for that reason. These are best known for their multicolored leaves but do grow tall stalks of flowers that will attract the hummingbirds you enjoy seeing in your garden from about May through July.

This profusely blooming perennial offers tube-shaped flowers that hummingbirds love. Red is a common color, also making it a hummingbird magnet, but they come in yellow and salmon hues as well. Since these plants are small with thin leaves, they can offer a nice contrast to plants with more ample foliage. Keep in mind that this is a warm-weather plant that best grown in zones 9 to 11, so you'll have to grow it as an annual in colder zones. 

While lion's ear, a plant native to southern regions of Africa related to mint, isn't as well-known as some other perennials, it is one that hummingbirds will certainly frequent. The shape of these orange flowers is perfect for reserving nectar within the reach of their long beaks and tongues. They bloom in full sun or partial shade in zones 8 to 11 from late summer through early fall but will still bloom in the winter in areas that don't typically have freezing temps like southern Florida and California making them perfect for regions that have hummingbirds all year long.

This plant native to Asia offers a pretty row of exotic-looking blooms to hummingbirds in the late spring. It is hardy in zones 2 through 8, and typically grows into a clumping bushy plant about 3 feet tall. Planting them in an area with afternoon shade is perfect, but make sure they have soil that drains well to avoid root rot. Cutting them back after they bloom can encourage another round of flowering. In addition to attracting hummingbirds, these make good companion plants to ferns and hostas in a shady garden spot.

When grown as perennials, pentas thrive in zones 10 and 11 and will bloom on new growth all year long. Outside those areas they can be grown as annuals. Pentas, also called Egyptian star flowers, offer a good choice for flower beds and will tolerate drought-prone areas. They'll put on more clusters of blooms in full sun, but can be grown in partial shade as well. Pentas come in several different varieties and their colors range from pink to white and purple to red. Hummingbirds are particularly attracted to the red ones in a garden setting.

Another flowering plant with fiery red blooms hummingbirds love to visit is the tropical firebush. This plant is so attractive to hummers, in fact, it's sometimes called hummingbird bush. It's a hot-weather perennial that does well in zones 9 to 11 and can even tolerate salty conditions in coastal areas. It can be grown in full sun and does its best blooming when it gets six or more hours of direct light. In addition to attracting hummingbirds, you can also expect to see butterflies flittering around if you plant a firebush in your garden.

This plant native to the eastern part of North America grows best in zones 3 to 9. There are several alternate names for blue false indigo including blue wild indigo, rattleweed, and horse fly weed. One drawback to growing it as a hummingbird attractor is that it only blooms for a few weeks each spring. Another thing to consider is that this pretty perennial is toxic to humans, but it's not extremely poisonous and certainly not deadly. Most animals avoid it since it doesn't taste very good to them, which can be a positive attribute for many gardeners.

Mandevilla has large trumpet-shaped flowers hummers are fond of frequenting, and comes in both vining varieties and those that form mounds of tropical-looking foliage and flowers. It can be planted as a perennial in zones 9 to 11; in other areas it can be grown as a houseplant and placed outdoors to attract hummingbirds in the summer. They like shade in the afternoon when the sun gets intense and need lots of water as the weather heats up. All in all, though, they're viewed as showy plants that are easy to take care of with minimal maintenance.

Alternately named wild bergamot, bee balm produces an abundance of flowers that hummingbirds can't seem to resist. These blooms appear from May to September depending on the area where they're growing in zones 3 to 9. They have long, tube-like flowers attached to heads that can get as big as 3 inches wide. Bee balm colors include purple, pink, and white, but hummers are often most attracted to red ones. And if you want the most blooms from these flowering plants, placing them where they'll get at least six hours of sun each day is preferable.