14 Spring Bloomers To Plant In Preparation Of Hummingbird Season

Every year, hummingbird species travel back and forth from north to south. In the fall, they head for warmer weather in the southern U.S., Mexico, and South America. But each spring, you can look forward to seeing various hummingbirds back in the northern U.S. between late April and early May. The biggest exception to this migrating routine is Anna's hummingbird, which remains on the Pacific Coast year-round. If you want to prepare your yard for the spring hummingbird season, it's vital that you include a variety of spring blooming flowers and shrubs to greet these tiny birds as they make their way north.

There are many types of beautiful hummingbirds you might find in your backyard, and providing them food is an easy way to ensure they'll keep returning. Whether you can't wait to see the tiny ruby-throated hummingbird again or would love to give the rufous hummingbird a rest after its long journey, plant flowers that will begin blooming in April and May for the best results. Red flowers like the red buckeye, Eastern red columbine, and red yucca are always great choices. But also consider vining plants like the crossvine, or shrubs like bearberry, for more variety.

The red buckeye (Aesculus pavia), also known as the firecracker plant, blooms in early spring. It gets its name from the dark brown seeds with a pale dot similar to a deer's eye. With its red, tubular flowers, the red buckeye is a known favorite for ruby-throated hummingbirds journeying to the north after a long winter. This shrub can grow tall, between 15 to 25 feet, and prefers partial shade. Red buckeye is native to the U.S. and does well in hardiness zones 4 to 8. However, exercise caution, as this plant is very toxic if ingested.

Red-flowering currant (Ribes sanguineum), also known as blood currant, provides nectar in early spring for hummingbirds returning from the south. A member of the gooseberry family, this plant develops dark purple berries in the summer perfect for jam. However, the draw for hummingbirds lies in its pale pink flowers that form in clusters of five petals and bloom throughout spring. A native to the Pacific Northwest, red-flowering currant is not considered invasive in the U.S. However, its range sticks mainly to western states, growing well in hardiness zones 6 through 8. Besides hummingbirds, red-flowering currant provides nourishment for songbirds and small mammals.

Lungwort (Pulmonaria longifolia) is native to Europe, where it was believed to treat illnesses of the lungs. Although it is not native to the U.S. and grows via rhizomes, its slow growth rate and other considerations mean that it is not invasive. The lovely, funnel-shaped flowers of this plant come in red, violet, blue, white, and pink, sometimes changing with time. Lungwort enjoys growing in the shade and begins blooming between April and May. The flowers persist for a while in spring, attracting various hummingbirds, and then you are left with a pretty plant with unique speckled leaves.

Eastern red columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) is a native perennial that is a member of the buttercup family. It thrives in open woodlands throughout the U.S., primarily in the east. Its early-blooming, bell-shaded, red and yellow flowers are a good option for a hummingbird garden. The drooping flowers contain tasty nectar that attract both hummingbirds and other pollinators. It even begins blooming early in February in time to greet the first hummingbirds to make it back to the northern U.S. Eastern red columbine is best grown in moist soils with lots of nutrients in hardiness zones 3 through 8.

Clove currant (Ribes odoratum), is a shrub native to the U.S. that can grow upwards of 6 to 8 feet high. A member of the gooseberry family, it produces edible purple-black berries in early summer and bright yellow flowers for two to three weeks in mid spring. Its spring blooms smell similar to cloves, and their trumpet-shape appeals to hungry hummingbirds. Clove currant is considered hardy in zones 4 through 8, but some states place restrictions on plants in this genus. Clove currants and other currants have been recognized as a host for white pine blister rust, a plant disease.

The papery flowers of woodland phlox (Phlox divaricata) bloom in late spring, from around April to June. Growing woodland phlox is best done in shaded areas with moist soil. Also known as wild sweet William, this perennial has showy flowers of violet blue or occasionally white. Native to the U.S. and Canada, woodland phlox is most widely seen in the midwest, and is hardy in zones 3 to 8. Besides hummingbirds, various pollinators, including tiger swallowtails, bumblebees, and sphinx moths, enjoy woodland phlox. It is not invasive, because new seedlings of this self-sowing plant can be easily managed.

Crossvine (Bignonia capreolata) is a woody vine native to the southeast U.S. that grows stunning, trumpet-shaped flowers about 2 inches long. This perennial vine, hardy in zones 6 to 9, favors environments with moisture. However, it can be grown as far north as southern Illinois. The benefit of the crossvine, with its appealing orange-red flowers, is its status as an early spring bloomer. From March through May, you can use this flowering vine to keep hummingbirds coming back to your yard for its generous nectar reserves. Another benefit of crossvine is its green foliage that it retains in warmer areas year-round.

Also known as Egyptian starcluster, pentas (Pentas lanceolata) is originally native to the Arabian peninsula. Despite not being native to the U.S., pentas is not considered invasive, except for in the restricted ecosystem of the Hawaiian Islands. In hardiness zones 10 and 11, pentas is grown as a perennial, but can be sowed as an annual in cooler climates. A great option for a hummingbird garden, pentas grow flowers all year. The best flowers appear when grown in full sun and continue to bloom until the first frost in temperate areas. Seek out a red pentas variety to attract hummingbirds.

Virginia bluebell (Mertensia virginica) is a native perennial wildflower that grows well in nutrient-filled soil where it often self-seeds. With its bell-shaped, fragrant flowers with long white stamens, it's no surprise that Virginia bluebell serves as an attractive plant for returning hummingbirds. It can bloom fairly early in the spring, sometime between March and May, and the blue flowers last about three weeks from start to finish. Timing often depends on location and climate. Found naturally in rich floodplains and woodlands in eastern North America, Virginia bluebells are hardy in zones 3 to 9.

Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) is a type of milkweed, although it typically does not have the milky sap in its stems. This wildflower, native to the U.S., is an ideal late spring bloomer that provides nectar all the way through hummingbird season. Butterfly weed has flower clusters that bloom in spring, from around May to August. Plus, its yellow-orange flowers makes it a plant that will attract both hummingbirds and butterflies to your yard, including monarch butterflies. A heat-tolerant perennial, it is found naturally in meadows, open woods, and prairies. It grows across the U.S., specificially in hardiness zones 3 to 9. 

Coral honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) is a fast-growing vine native to the southeast. It is grown as an evergreen in warmer climates in the South and is hardy in zones 6 to 9. It will easily climb on trellises and fences, reaching 10 to 20 feet, but is not considered invasive. Coral honeysuckle has bold, trumpet-shaped flowers in yellow, orange, or red that bloom from spring into summer. A slender vine, it typically blooms in mid-spring and continues throughout the rest of the spring and summer. Besides hummingbirds, coral honeysuckle will attract goldfinches, purple finches, hermit thrushes, and more with its berries.

Lemon bergamot (Monarda citriodora), also known as lemon beebalm and purple horsemint, is an annual flower native to the southern U.S. and northern Mexico. It grows well as a hardy annual in zones 4 through 10, especially in full sun. Its unusual flowers have clusters of whorled petals, with its flowers and leaves putting off a lemony smell. It is a favorite of hummingbirds and attracts them when it blooms in spring. The blooms last a long time, until at least mid-summer, but often until the first frost. Lemon bergamot is related to perennial bee balm plants and is considered easy to grow.

A native evergreen, bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) is a shrub that can also work as groundcover in a garden. With a long bloom time, bearberry, also known as bear's grape and hog craneberry, provides consistent nourishment for hummingbirds in the spring. This North American native is low maintenance and is hardy enough to survive in freezing temperatures — it's a hardy perennial in zones 2 to 7. The urn-shaped flowers of the bearberry are attractive to hummingbirds and butterflies as well. The tiny pink and white flowers bloom in spring and it develops red drupes (not berries) in late summer, which serve as food for bears.

Red yucca (Hesperaloe parviflora) , despite its name, is not a true yucca. Instead, it is a succulent and known as false yucca. This low-maintenance option for your hummingbird garden has lovely foliage that can grow 3 to 5 feet tall and even wider. Its bell-shaped flowers bloom year-round in warm climates in the U.S., making you always ready for hummingbirds to arrive. Originally native to deserts in Texas and northeastern Mexico, it can tolerate cooler weather well, even sub-zero winter temperatures. Hardy in zones 5 through 11, it enjoys full fun, slightly acidic soil, and is resistant to drought conditions.