Native Plants for Hummingbirds

Why Hummingbirds Need Native Plants

Hummingbirds are among the most energy-demanding birds on earth, with heart rates exceeding 1,200 beats per minute during flight. They must consume roughly half their body weight in nectar every day, visiting hundreds of flowers from dawn to dusk. While sugar-water feeders can supplement their diet, native plants provide nectar with a more complex nutritional profile including amino acids, vitamins, and trace minerals that feeders cannot replicate. Native tubular flowers have also co-evolved with hummingbird bill shapes, ensuring efficient nectar extraction. Perhaps most importantly, native plants support the tiny insects and spiders that make up 60 to 80 percent of a hummingbird's protein intake. A garden rich in native plants feeds hummingbirds both directly through nectar and indirectly through the insect communities it supports.

Characteristics of Hummingbird-Friendly Native Flowers

Hummingbirds are strongly attracted to tubular flowers in warm colors, especially red, orange, and coral. This preference is not just visual; red tubular flowers often produce more nectar than other flower shapes and their form excludes many insect competitors, reserving the nectar for long-billed birds. However, hummingbirds readily visit flowers of any color with the right shape and nectar production. Look for native plants with these traits: tubular or trumpet-shaped corollas, abundant nectar production, sturdy flower stems that support hovering visits, and extended bloom periods. Unlike bees, hummingbirds have no sense of smell, so fragrance is irrelevant for hummingbird attraction. The best hummingbird gardens provide overlapping bloom periods from the earliest spring arrivals through fall migration.

Top Native Plants for Hummingbirds by Region

Regional plant selection is essential because different hummingbird species occupy different ranges and have evolved with local flora. The Ruby-throated Hummingbird dominates the eastern United States, while the West Coast hosts Anna's, Allen's, Rufous, and other species year-round or during migration.

• •Eastern US: Lobelia cardinalis (Cardinal Flower), Aquilegia canadensis (Wild Columbine), Silene virginica (Fire Pink), Campsis radicans (Trumpet Creeper)
• •Western US: Epilobium canum (California Fuchsia), Penstemon eatonii (Firecracker Penstemon), Ipomopsis aggregata (Scarlet Gilia), Ribes speciosum (Fuchsia-flowered Gooseberry)
• •Southeast: Salvia coccinea (Scarlet Sage), Spigelia marilandica (Indian Pink), Bignonia capreolata (Crossvine), Rhododendron canescens (Piedmont Azalea)
• •Southwest/Texas: Anisacanthus quadrifidus var. wrightii (Flame Acanthus), Salvia greggii (Autumn Sage), Hesperaloe parviflora (Red Yucca), Chilopsis linearis (Desert Willow)
• •Pacific Northwest: Aquilegia formosa (Western Columbine), Lonicera ciliosa (Orange Honeysuckle), Castilleja species (Indian Paintbrush), Ribes sanguineum (Red-flowering Currant)

Designing a Hummingbird Garden

A well-designed hummingbird garden provides continuous bloom from early spring when migrants arrive through late fall when they depart. In warmer regions like California and Florida, you can provide year-round bloom for resident species. Plant in layers: place tall species like Lobelia cardinalis along back borders, mid-height plants like Penstemon and Salvia in the middle, and low-growing species like Wild Columbine along edges. Include native vines such as Campsis radicans (Trumpet Creeper) or Lonicera sempervirens (Coral Honeysuckle) on trellises or fences for vertical nectar sources. Place your hummingbird garden near windows for easy viewing, and include perching spots like small dead branches where territorial males can rest and guard their feeding territory. Avoid using pesticides, as hummingbirds ingest insects from treated plants.

Beyond Nectar: Supporting Hummingbird Nesting

Hummingbirds build tiny nests from plant fibers, spider silk, and lichen, often saddled on small horizontal branches. You can support nesting by maintaining mature native trees and shrubs near your garden. Oaks, maples, and birches provide excellent nesting sites. The soft, downy seeds of native plants like Platanus occidentalis (American Sycamore), Typha latifolia (Common Cattail), and various willows provide nesting material. Spider webs are essential for nest construction, so avoid removing webs from your garden. Female hummingbirds also prefer nesting near reliable food sources, so a well-stocked native garden does double duty as both a feeding and nesting habitat. Maintaining a water feature with a fine mist or drip is particularly attractive to hummingbirds, which bathe by flying through mist rather than sitting in water like most birds.