The One Flower That Practically Guarantees Hummingbird Visits

With their tiny bodies, uniquely long beaks, and high-speed movements, hummingbirds are one of the most magical creatures you can usher into your yard. Sightings quickly put a smile on anyone’s face, but how do you entice them to come on over in the first place? Turns out, hummingbirds look for very specific qualities in flowers, and there are one or two types that guarantee they’ll make an appearance.

“Most hummingbirds are attracted to flowers that are vibrant or brightly colored, and either tubular-shaped due to their long beak structure, or found in large clusters,” explains gardener Faith Callan, gardening expert and landscape manager at Goodstone Inn & Restaurant. “This is because they do not have a keen sense of smell and are led mainly by their vision. They are also looking for flowers that can be reached easily and have the highest nectar content.”

We asked Callan and two other gardeners about the best flowers to attract hummingbirds into your yard, and they agreed on some clear winners. 

The Best Flower to Attract Hummingbirds

One of the very best flowers to attract hummingbirds is the coral honeysuckle (Lonicera Sempervirens), which is a twining vine covered in tubular red flowers, says Andrew Bunting, vice president of horticulture at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. Its bright reddish-orange color is a beacon, and the tubular shape allows the hummingbird to reach the sweet nectar. 

Mary Phillips, head of native plant habitat at the National Wildlife Federation, agrees. She adds that “the dense foliage can provide hummingbirds with a place to perch, rest, and hide from predators or harsh weather conditions.” (Psst! You’ll notice that hummingbird feeders often replicate this flower shape and color.) 

Other Flowers That Attract Hummingbirds

Cigar Plant (Cuphea ignea)

The first thing you’ll notice about the cigar plant is that it looks very similar to coral honeysuckle in both color and shape. It’s a dwarf shrub with deep tubular blossoms, which make it an ideal candidate for the long beaks of hummingbirds, and the shower orange hue helps attract them in the first place. 

“These flowers are such a gem for any garden, whether it be a container pot, a border bed, or an ornamental garden bed,” Callan says. “Furthermore, it tends to be both deer and pest resistant for the most part, and is drought resistant as well once fully established.” 

Trumpet Vine (Campsis radicans)

The trumpet vine has a very similar bloom shape and color to cigar plants and, as a bonus, is hardy through several of the cooler zones (4-9) as a perennial. “Campsis is an incredibly prolific bloomer that will nourish hummingbirds for years once established,” Callan says. 

Note that this is a climbing plant that really takes off, scrambling over whatever is in its path, so you’ll need to prune it routinely to help guide and control its growth. If you prefer a less aggressive grower with a vining habit and similar shape, Bunting suggests the Crossvine (Bignonia capreolata) instead.

Eastern Columbine 

This native columbine is one of the first flowers to bloom in the spring, providing a crucial early-season nectar source for migrating hummingbirds. “Its bicolored blooms and rich nectar are highly attractive to hummingbirds, especially the ruby-throated hummingbird,” Phillips says.  Its bell-shaped flowers feature striking red spurs and yellow centers, creating a vivid show that entices hummingbirds even from a distance.  

Lantana (Lantana camara)

Another hummingbird attractor, and a favorite flower among gardeners, is lantana. “Not only do these annuals provide a delightful fragrance, but they also create unique bursts of vibrant colors that complete your garden and lure hummingbirds in continually, with heterochromatic hues of sunset orange, subtle pink, and fiery red,” Callan says. If you are looking for a drought-tolerant, long-lasting bloom, then this is the winner. Plus, it’s a very low-maintenance plant.