10 Best Flowers for Hummingbirds: A Guide to Attracting These Beautiful Birds to Your Garden

Hummingbirds are some of the most beautiful birds in the world, and many gardeners love to attract them to their yards. One of the best ways to do this is by planting flowers that hummingbirds love. In this guide, we'll take a look at the ten best flowers for hummingbirds, as well as some tips on how to create a hummingbird-friendly garden.

The Top 10 Flowers for Hummingbirds:

1. Bee Balm

Bee balm is a beautiful flower that comes in a variety of colors, including red, pink, and purple. It's also easy to grow and attracts not only hummingbirds but also bees and butterflies. This flower blooms from mid-summer to early fall and grows best in full sun or partial shade.

How to Grow Bee Balm:

To grow bee balm, plant it in well-draining soil and water it regularly. You can also feed it with a balanced fertilizer once a month. Deadhead the spent blooms to encourage more growth.

2. Cardinal Flower

The cardinal flower is a stunning red flower that is sure to catch the eye of any hummingbird. It blooms from late summer to early fall and prefers moist soil and partial shade.

How to Grow Cardinal Flower:

To grow cardinal flower, plant it in a location that gets morning sun and afternoon shade. Keep the soil consistently moist and fertilize with a balanced fertilizer every two weeks.

3. Salvia

Salvia is a beautiful flower that comes in a variety of colors, including red, pink, purple, and blue. It blooms from mid-summer to early fall and prefers full sun or partial shade.

How to Grow Salvia:

To grow salvia, plant it in well-draining soil and water it regularly. You can also feed it with a balanced fertilizer once a month. Deadhead the spent blooms to encourage more growth.

4. Trumpet Vine

Trumpet vine is a fast-growing vine that produces beautiful orange-red flowers. It blooms from mid-summer to early fall and grows best in full sun.

How to Grow Trumpet Vine:

To grow trumpet vine, plant it in well-draining soil and water it regularly. It's a fast-growing vine, so you'll need to train it to climb up a trellis or other support structure.

5. Fuchsia

Fuchsia is a stunning flower that comes in a variety of colors, including pink, purple, and red. It blooms from mid-summer to early fall and prefers partial shade.

How to Grow Fuchsia:

To grow fuchsia, plant it in well-draining soil and keep the soil consistently moist. Fertilize with a balanced fertilizer every two weeks and deadhead the spent blooms to encourage more growth.

6. Butterfly Bush

Butterfly bush is a beautiful shrub that produces long spikes of flowers in a variety of colors, including pink, purple, and white. It blooms from mid-summer to early fall and prefers full sun.

How to Grow Butterfly Bush:

To grow butterfly bush, plant it in well-draining soil and water it regularly. You can also feed it with a balanced fertilizer once a month. Prune the shrub in late winter or early spring to encourage more growth.

7. Penstemon

Penstemon is a stunning flower that comes in a variety of colors, including pink, purple, and red. It blooms from mid-summer to early fall and prefers full sun or partial shade.

How to Grow Penstemon:

To grow penstemon, plant it in well-draining soil and water it regularly. Deadhead the spent blooms to encourage more growth.

8. Columbine

Columbine is a beautiful flower that comes in a variety of colors, including pink, purple, red, and white. It blooms from mid-spring to early summer and prefers partial shade.

How to Grow Columbine:

To grow columbine, plant it in well-draining soil and keep the soil consistently moist. Fertilize with a balanced fertilizer every two weeks and deadhead the spent blooms to encourage more growth.

9. Zinnia

Zinnia is a beautiful flower that comes in a variety of colors, including pink, purple, red, and orange. It blooms from mid-summer to early fall and prefers full sun.

How to Grow Zinnia:

To grow zinnia, plant it in well-draining soil and water it regularly. Deadhead the spent blooms to encourage more growth.

10. Bleeding Heart

Bleeding heart is a beautiful flower that produces heart-shaped pink or white flowers. It blooms from mid-spring to early summer and prefers partial shade.

How to Grow Bleeding Heart:

To grow bleeding heart, plant it in well-draining soil and keep the soil consistently moist. Fertilize with a balanced fertilizer every two weeks and deadhead the spent blooms to encourage more growth.

Creating a Hummingbird-Friendly Garden:

If you want to attract hummingbirds to your garden, there are a few things you can do:

1. Plant Flowers that Hummingbirds Love

As we've already discussed, planting flowers that hummingbirds love is the best way to attract them to your garden.

2. Provide Water

Hummingbirds need water to drink and bathe in, so providing a source of water is important. You can put out a shallow dish of water or install a small fountain or birdbath.

3. Provide Shelter

Hummingbirds also need shelter from predators and weather. You can provide shelter by planting shrubs and trees or by installing birdhouses.

4. Avoid Pesticides

Pesticides can be harmful to hummingbirds, so avoid using them in your garden.

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. How do I attract hummingbirds to my garden?

Planting flowers that hummingbirds love is the best way to attract them to your garden. You can also provide water and shelter.

2. What kind of flowers do hummingbirds like?

Hummingbirds like flowers that are tubular, brightly colored, and have a lot of nectar, such as bee balm, cardinal flower, and salvia.

3. Can I feed hummingbirds sugar water?

Yes, you can make your own sugar water by mixing one part white granulated sugar with four parts water. Boil the mixture for a few minutes, let it cool, and then put it in a hummingbird feeder.

4. How often should I change the sugar water in my hummingbird feeder?

You should change the sugar water in your hummingbird feeder every two to three days, or more often during hot weather.

5. What kind of feeder is best for hummingbirds?

Hummingbirds prefer feeders that are red and have multiple feeding ports. They also like feeders that have perches so they can rest while they feed.

Attracting hummingbirds to your garden can be a rewarding experience. By planting the right flowers and providing water and shelter, you can create a hummingbird-friendly environment that will attract these beautiful birds to your yard. And with a little patience and persistence, you'll be able to enjoy watching them flutter around and feed on the nectar-rich flowers.