With more than 350 species of hummingbirds on the planet, you ought to be able to attract at least some of them to your backyard, right? Hummingbirds need to eat a lot of sugar to be able to keep up their incredible 80 flaps per second, and plants are a main source of that sugar.
Swipe through to learn what plants will attract hummingbirds to your yard.
Cardinal flower is a perennial with long, tubular flowers. It can grow to be 6 feet tall, and does well in part shade or full sun. Though it can withstand both cold and heat, it’s not drought-tolerant and it prefers moist soil.
Delphinium’s blue flowers are a treat for hummers. This 2- to 8-foot-tall, short-lived perennial does not tolerate heat and humidity, and it prefers rich, moist soil. It needs full sun and protection from strong winds.
Grown as an annual in most of the United States, the ever popular petunia is a hummingbird favorite. Plant these easy-to-grow flowers in a hanging basket on your porch and enjoy watching the birds flying up for a treat. Water your petunias a couple times a week.
Columbine is a shade-loving flower that attracts hummingbirds and other pollinators. You’ll find this pretty plant in numerous colors, including yellow, red, blue, lavender, white and pink. It’s drought-resistant, but can’t tolerate extreme heat.
Many pollinators, including hummingbirds, are attracted to the sweet nectar of bee balm, also known as wild bergamot. This perennial produces slender, tubular flowers in a number of colors, but the red ones are hummers’ favorite. Bee balm likes full sun and moist soil.
Plant a few varieties of versatile salvia—red, pink, purple, lavender—and the hummingbirds will flock. Choose types that do well in your area, and you’ll be rewarded with gorgeous flowers and numerous visits from your feathered friends all summer long.
Fuchsias are hummingbird magnets, and there’s even a variety called “hummingbird fuchsia.” These beauties feature a lantern-like flower—in a variety of colors—and are especially nice in hanging baskets. Fuchsias like dappled shade and moist soil.