Hummingbird Garden: Top 10 Flower Choices

When we added a garden pond to our backyard, we set up a hummingbird feeder about the same time. It’s such a joy to relax by the pond and watch these tiny creatures flit around like little garden fairies. To create your own magical hummingbird garden, be sure to include some of these popular flowers.

 

Before I share my list of flowers to create a hummingbird garden, let me first say that it’s Cozy Living Saturday. The first Saturday of the month, a few of my friends and I share what makes us feel cozy good this time of year. For me, March means planning my gardens. You can find everyone else’s inspiration at the end of this post.

And now, on to the list of beautiful flowers for attracting hummingbirds to your yard!

1. COLUMBINE FLOWERS (perennial) remind me of my  mother. She had several in her garden and I’ve always thought they  look so dainty and feminine. I have a few in my garden too, but could use a few more (because you can always use more flowers). 

You’ll enjoy their sweet blooms, available in a variety of colors, from spring to early summer. In hotter climates, they prefer partial shade. Hummingbirds love their nectar. 

2. FOXGLOVE (biennial) are quite mesmerizing and enchanting, especially when planted together in a group. They make quite the statement in the garden and prefer full sun to part shade. Foxglove bloom during the early summer months and grow anywhere from two to five-feet tall. You’ll typically find foxglove in cottage gardens.

3. BEE BALM (perennial) is fairly easy to grow and I have some of this in my cutting garden. Yes, the bees love it, but hummingbirds like this flower, too. Plant this beauty in full sun and pinch back new growth in the spring if you want a bushier plant.

4. TRUMPET VINE (perennial) is super easy to grow and some gardeners regard it as being invasive – so be forewarned. It’s an excellent addition to a hummingbird garden since the tiny birds tend to prefer flowers with a bell or tubular shape. Not to mention, hummingbirds are attracted to the color red.

5. ROSE OF SHARON (shrub) is a beautiful bush to add to your landscape! You’ll enjoy its beautiful and plentiful blooms. Rose of Sharon is a bit of a late starter in the season so you might think your bush is dead, but it probably just needs a little more time.

I have a Rose of Sharon in both the front and backyard and I always see hummingbirds taking a drink from the one in back where we spend the most time.

6. CARDINAL FLOWER (perennial) was named after the red cardinal that most of us enjoy seeing against the snow during the winter months. If you want to attract hummingbirds, this is a must-have perennial in the garden. Lucky for me, cardinal flower thrives next to a pond. They prefer morning sun and afternoon shade, so keep that in mind when adding these red beauties to your garden.

7. HOLLYHOCK (biennial) is an old-fashioned flower that is popular in cottage style gardens. Some will reach heights of nine feet and make a great backdrop flower. Hollyhocks do best in full sun and unfortunately, only last for two to three years. Pinch back dead flowers to help increase their lifespan.

8. RED HOT POKER (perennial) is a striking beauty that attracts hummingbirds, butterflies, and other birds and makes quite the visual statement. Place them in full sun and allow space for their size – they grow about five-feet tall. Red hot poker flowers don’t like wet feet so make sure you choose a garden spot with good drainage. I’m adding a few of these to my yard this year.

9. PHLOX (perennial) is a phenomenal addition if you want a spectacular show of blooms in your garden year after year, look no further than beautiful phlox. I have these in a sunny location and love their beautiful flowers that attract butterflies and hummingbirds alike. Phlox love full sun and are easy to grow.

10. LUPINE FLOWERS (perennial) are gorgeous beauties that grow wild in some parts of the country. Pollinators frequent lupine flowers and are a great addition to a hummingbird garden or a cutting garden. To encourage blooms, use a fertilizer that’s high in phosphorous and deadhead spent blooms.

Lupines remind me of the child’s storybook, Miss Rumphius – also known as the lupine lady. Have you heard of it? I’ve been fascinated with this flower ever since reading the book to 3-year olds when I taught pre-school.

 

I hope this list of top 10 flowers for a hummingbird garden has inspired you to start thinking of your outdoor spaces!

 

Before you go – be sure to visit my cozy living friends below to see what they’ve got going on this month!

Vinyet Etc. / Finding Silver Pennies / Duke Manor Farm

 

Creative Cain Cabin / Making It in the Mountains / Town and Country Living