42 Hummingbird Plants Mississippi

There are so many flowers that attract hummingbirds, but you need to find plants that will survive and thrive in your weather conditions. If it’s too hot or too cold, then they will die or not grow enough to produce the flowers that hummingbirds need to collect nectar from.

The USDA plant hardiness zone map splits the United States into 13 zones based on the average minimum temperature, and within a state, there will also be different zones. Plants thrive in different zones and can tolerate minimum temperatures but not survive if too cold.

Mississippi has mild winters and hot summers, with the south being hotter than the north. Most of Mississippi sits in plant hardiness zone 8, except the north which is in zone 7 and a small area of the south is in zone 9.

Plant zone map — ^{Credit: U.S. Department of Agriculture}

It can also be too hot for some plants so the American Horticultural Society created the plant heat-zone map that shows the average number of days an area has temperatures over 86 degrees F.

Mississippi is in plant heat zone 6 to 9 so some plants may not survive the heat. All the plants listed have been checked and those that cannot take the heat have been removed.

All of these plants for hummingbirds have been checked against cold zones and heat zones in Mississippi to ensure these plants not only have gorgeous nectar-rich flowers that hummingbirds love, but they will also thrive in the weather conditions in Mississippi.

So plant as many of these flowers as you can to attract hummingbirds in Mississippi.

Hummingbird Plants Mississippi Hardiness Zones 7 – 9 and Plant Heat Zone 9

1. Nasturtiums

Nasturtiums are trailing edible flowers that are perfect for creating hanging baskets for hummingbirds due to their rich nectar and specially designed deep flowers.

Usually grown as annuals, they come in trailing or bush types. Plant the seeds just after the last frosts outdoors, and they need watering in the growing season and deadheading.

Common Name: Nasturtiums
Scientific Name: Tropaeolum
Growing Zones: 2 – 11
Sun: Full
Soil: Well-drained
Colors: Red, orange, yellow, pink.
Height: 1 – 10 feet
Spread: 1 – 3 feet
Plant Type: Annual

2. Zinnia

Zinnias are flowering shrubs native to the scrub and dry grasslands of North America. They belong to the genus Heliantheae or the sunflower tribe and to the much larger daisy family, Asteraceae.

There are three main types of zinnias based on the kind of petals that they have. Single-flowered zinnias have a single row of petals with a visible center. Double-flowered zinnias have numerous rows of petals with no visible center. Semi-double-flowered zinnias have numerous rows and visible centers.

The Zinnia elegans, with its tall stems and bright colors, is considered a classic and is most popular for backyards and gardens. It reaches 4 feet tall, has many brilliantly-colored flowers, has a long blooming period from early summer to frost, and attracts pollinators like butterflies and hummingbirds.

Growing zinnias is easy, but you have to plant them directly where you want them because they don’t like being transplanted. But once they become established under full sun and well-draining soil, you will be able to enjoy their bright blooms for a long time.

Common Name: Zinnea, Zinnia
Scientific Name: Zinnia elegans
Growing Zones: Annuals in 2-8, Perennials in 9-11
Sun: Full sun
Soil: neutral to slightly alkaline, well-draining
Colors: white, yellow, orange, pink, red, purple
Height: 1 – 4 feet tall
Spread:12 – 18 feet wide
Plant Type: Annual, Perennial Shrubs

3. Agastache

Agastache, pronounced as (“ah-GAH-stuh-kee”), are aromatic herbaceous perennials with as many as 22 species, most of which are native to North America. They are commonly referred to as “hummingbird mints” and “Giant hyssops”. Aside from being a hummingbird magnet, they can also be made into herbal tea.

Agastache flowers are attractive to hummingbirds because they literally stand out from among the leaves. They are about 3 to 4 inches long and appear fuzzy because they’re made of many tiny flowers growing in clusters. Their striking purple and red colors are a hummingbird’s favorite colors, and they will be unable to resist flocking to Agastache flowers, especially when they’re in full bloom in the summer.

The best way to grow Agastache flowers is to start them as indoor plants in May and then transplant them into flower beds in the summer. They require full sun and regular watering when they’re still trying to establish themselves. However, once they’re done, they are drought-tolerant and can easily be left to their own devices.

Agastache are desert plants, hence they can tolerate even the hottest days. That is also the reason why it’s not necessary to keep watering them once they’re established. Too much water will rot the roots, so make sure to just give them a good splash and then leave them alone to dry.

Common Name: Agastache, Hummingbird Mint, and Hyssop
Scientific Name: Agastache
Growing Zones: 3 – 10
Sun: Full Sun
Soil: Lean soil, well-drained
Colors: Blue, purple, red, orange, pink, and white
Height: 3 to 5 feet tall
Spread:
Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial

4. Morning Glory

The term “Morning Glory” is the catchphrase for over 1,000 species of flowering plants from the Convolvulaceae. They are referred to as Morning Glory because the flowers open up early in the morning and close up in the heat of the day. However, there are some species that belong to the Morning Glory family that bloom at night instead of the day, like Ipomoea alba.

Morning glory flowers are characterized by bright and colorful blooms, fast-growing vines, bright green foliage, and tolerance for poor and dry soils. They are often twined around arbors or allowed to crawl along the house’s exterior walls with a trellis.

One of the popular Morning Glory species that is known to attract hummingbirds is Ipomoea purpurea. It has bright purple, trumpet-shaped flowers and heart-shaped leaves that open in the morning and close in the afternoon. They bloom from early summer to early fall.

Morning glory is an annual vine but may be considered a perennial in milder climates. It is important to expose Morning Glories to full sun, at most 8 hours of sunlight daily, to get them to fully bloom.

Morning glories may end up being an invasive species if you don’t take care of the fast-growing vines. Its seeds are also toxic if eaten, so children and pets shouldn’t be allowed to get near the plant.

Common Name: Morning Glory, common morning glory
Scientific Name: Convolvulaceae family
Growing Zones: 2 – 11
Sun: Full sun
Soil: Moist, well-draining
Colors: white, pink, purple, blue
Height: 6 – 10 feet tall
Spread: 3 – 6 feet wide
Plant Type: Annual

5. Impatiens

Bright and colorful annuals such as Impatiens are great at brightening up dark and shady areas, and these also attract hummingbirds.

They like moist and well-draining soil and deep shade, so hanging them on your porch will also work well.

Usually grown from plants bought in trays at nurseries and planted close together to create a dense mat of flowers and leaves.

Seeds can be collected from the plants and sown indoors 10 weeks before the last frost as they take a long time to flower. Cuttings can also be taken in the fall and grown indoors until the frost has passed.

Common Name: impatiens, jewelweed, touch-me-not, snapweed, and patience
Scientific Name: impatiens
Growing Zones: 2 – 11
Sun: Shade or partial shade
Soil: Rich, well-draining
Colors: Red, pink, purple, yellow, coral.
Height: 6 – 36 inches
Spread: 1 – 3 feet
Plant Type: Annual

6. Columbine

Columbines are one of the best plants to attract hummingbirds because their flowers come in a range of vibrant colors, and they grow well in partial shade.

Columbine is an elegant perennial plant with spiky, bell-shaped blooms that measure anywhere from 3 to 6 inches long. They are also known as Aquilegia.

There are many different varieties of columbine, but most grow in the sun to full shade and flower as early as spring, so they are a great option to start with if you’re trying to attract hummingbirds.

This hard-working flower is not only shade-tolerant, but they are also drought tolerant and deer resistant.

Sow the Columbine seeds directly in the ground in spring, and then they will self-seed if left at the end of the flowering season. If you want to get ahead, then sow the seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last frosts. Flowers will not appear on seed-grown plants until their second year.

Common Name: Columbine, Aquilegia
Scientific Name: Aquilegia
Growing Zones: 3-9
Sun: Full sun to partial shade
Soil: Neutral PH, moist but not wet soil
Colors: Red, Pink, Blue, Orange, White, and Yellow
Height: 1 – 3 feet
Spread: 1 foot
Plant Type: Perennial

7. Coneflower

Coneflower is the common name for Echinacea, a genus of flowering plants that belong to the daisy family, Asteraceae. Their scientific name, Echinacea, stands for “sea urchin” in Greek because of their shiny central disk.

There are ten species of coneflowers, named so because their petals tend to point downwards once the central flower head opens, thus forming the shape of a cone. The most common backyard ornamental coneflower is Echinacea purpurea, or the purple coneflower, which is a native of eastern North America.

Coneflowers are large, about 6 inches across, and their stalks reach about 5 feet high. There are other colors available, like pink, red, orange, yellow, and white, depending on the variety. They love being in full sun, like 6 hours daily, and prefer to have well-drained soil. When these conditions are met, you’ll enjoy the flowers from summer to fall.

The brightly colored flowers, particularly the reds and purples, attract hummingbirds and other pollinators like bees and butterflies repeatedly. Their central cone is nectar-rich, and that draws them for a feast.

Common Name: coneflower
Scientific Name: Echinacea
Growing Zones: 3 – 9
Sun: Full Sun
Soil: varies
Colors: white, yellow, orange, pink, red, purple, green
Height: 2 to 5 feet tall
Spread: 1 ½ – 2 feet wide
Plant Type: Perennial

8. Penstemon

Penstemon is a genus belonging to the plantain family (Plantaginaceae), with over 250 different ornamental flowering plants, like snapdragons and foxgloves. It is also called Beardtongue because the pollen-free stamen that protrudes from the flowers has a tuft of small hairs.

With a wide number of species, there are many varieties of Penstemon to choose from to suit your backyard. They may have different sizes and different colors, but they all share these things- they’re all drought-tolerant, they attract hummingbirds and bees, they’re easy to take care of, and their lovely blooms brighten up any backyard.

Flowers of the Penstemon genus bloom in early summer. They become a focal point in a garden setting because of their spires and a colorful cluster of tubular flowers. There are many colors to display depending on the variety you’ve chosen. There are blue, purple, red, orange, white, pink, and yellow.

Hummingbirds always flock to Penstemon because they’re bright and colorful, and they’re nectar-rich.

The best place to plant penstemons is where they can get full sunlight. Flowers will bloom profusely, and stems will remain upright instead of drooping because of shade. They prefer nutrient-poor soil with moist conditions. They can tolerate drought, but it’s also good to give them a good watering every once in a while. It’s better to choose a variety suited to your soil condition and climate to make them last longer.

Common Name: penstemon, foxglove beard-tongue, foxglove beardtongue, talus slope penstemon, and white beardtongue
Scientific Name: penstemon
Growing Zones: 3 – 9
Sun: Full sun
Soil: lean, fast-draining soil
Colors: Blue, Purple, Red, Orange, White, Pink, Yellow
Height: 6 to 12 inches, 1 to 3 feet, 3 to 8 feet
Spread: 8 to 20 inches
Plant Type: Perennial

9. Summersweet

Summersweet is a flowering shrub that looks great and attracts hummingbirds to your backyard.

Clethra alnifolia is the scientific name of the coastal sweet pepperbush or Summersweet. It is a flowering plant from the Clethraceae family that is native to eastern North America. It thrives in most climates but primarily in wetlands and edges of ponds and streams.

Summersweet is characterized by vertical spikes of spicy-smelling white flowers against dark green foliage. Their green leaves turn yellow or gold in autumn. Their name “pepper” comes from the brown seed capsules that look like peppercorns that are dropped after the flowers bloom.

Summersweet flowers bloom between July and August. They are 2 to 6 inches long and are colored white or pink. They give off a hint of fragrant scent that is extremely attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds. Also, the pepper-like seeds attract birds during autumn.

Since they’re coastal flowers originally, these flowers grow best in moist to wet soil and in the shade. In fact, flowers bloom larger when they’re in the shade than when exposed to too much sunlight. When the weather gets too dry, it’s best to keep them well-hydrated. They can even tolerate salty air as they are originally from that region.

The best care you can give Summersweet is to give them room when you plant them, as they can spread pretty wide. Maintain the wetness of the soil and prune old branches during spring to encourage new growth and redefine the shape of your Summersweet shrub.

Common Name: Summersweet, coastal sweet pepperbush
Scientific Name: Clethra alnifolia
Growing Zones: 3 – 9
Sun: full sun or partial shade
Soil: moist to wet soil, slightly acidic
Colors: white, pink, or rose-colored
Height: 4 – 8 feet tall
Spread: 4 – 6 feet wide
Plant Type: Perennial, Deciduous shrub

10. Yarrow

Yarrow, or Achillea millefolium, has a lot of folklore attached to its name. “Achillea” stands for the mythical Greek hero Achilles, who supposedly used yarrow to treat his soldier’s wounds.

It was also known as “Nosebleed” for its use in either starting or stopping nosebleeds. “Millefolium” translated means “thousand leaves,” referring to its feather-like leaves, which appear divided into a thousand leaves.

The Common Yarrow is grown in many backyards because of its attractive clusters of tiny flowers that may be white, yellow, pink, or red, depending on their variant. Flowers on a cluster can range from 15 to 40, growing tightly from their stems.

Their feathery leaves are beautiful to look at as well. They’re evenly distributed along the stem and can be 2 to 8 inches long. The leaves that are near the bottom and the middle are those that grow larger. They are aromatic and have a soft, fern-like appearance.

These lovely yarrow flowers are a major attractor of pollinators like hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies. Cultivating them in your garden is easy if you expose them to full sunlight and give them enough water to keep them hydrated.

Not only will you get beautiful, aromatic flowers, but you can also use the Common Yarrow for a variety of ailments, like wounds and burns, colds, fever, and headaches.

Common Name: Common Yarrow, Milfoil, Nosebleed, Thousand-leaf
Scientific Name: Achillea millefolium
Growing Zones: 3 – 9
Sun: Full sun
Soil: sandy, loamy, clay, well-draining
Colors: white, yellow, pink, red
Height: 2 to 3 feet tall
Spread: 2 to 3 feet wide
Plant Type: Perennial

11. Butterfly Weed

Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) Milkweed Wildflower

Butterfly weed, Asclepias tuberosa, is a bushy, showy plant that is also known as Pleurisy Root because its tough root was chewed by Indians as medicine for pleurisy and other pulmonary diseases. It is also called Orange Milkweed, as its flowers are orange and it belongs to the Milkweed family, but it doesn’t have a milky sap.

If you want to attract butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds to your garden, you need to plant Butterfly Weed. The orange to yellow, nectar-rich flowers grow in clusters atop thick, hairy stems amid a bright green, lush foliage.

Enjoy the blooms from late spring to summer but be careful to remove their seed pods if you don’t want them to self-seed, as they can be invasive.

Butterfly weed plants are easy to grow, but they take a long time, as long as three years, before you can see them flower. It’s also best to plant them in a permanent place because their roots are tuberous, and they don’t like to be moved. But they thrive in full sunlight and will rarely require regular watering once they’re established.

Planting Butterfly Weed does not only beautify your garden and provides nectar to hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies. It also prevents the extinction of monarch butterflies that rely on the milkweed leaves as food for monarch caterpillars.

Common Name: Butterfly Flower, Butterfly Weed, Orange Milkweed, Pleurisy Root
Scientific Name: Asclepias tuberosa
Growing Zones: 3 – 9
Sun: Full sun
Soil: poor, dry, well-drained soil
Colors: orange, yellow or red
Height: 1 to 2 feet tall
Spread: 12 to 18 inches wide
Plant Type: Perennial

12. Hydrangea

Hydrangeas’ huge flower heads are a wonderful addition to a shady area of your yard. These showy plants do not like it too hot, so shade is the preferred growing condition, especially in the afternoon.

They also like moist soil, so a large water once a week, especially in dry conditions, is needed. Pruning can be done once the flowers have died back in the winter.

Hydrangea flowers keep giving their exuberant display from spring until well into fall before the bloom fades but add interest in winter.

Common Name: Hydrangea
Scientific Name: Hydrangea
Growing Zones: 3 – 9
Sun: Full sun to shade
Soil: Fertile, well-draining
Colors: Pink, Red, White, Blue, Green
Height: 3 – 15ft
Spread: 2 – 12 feet
Plant Type: Perennial

13. Daylily

Daylilies are perennial plants from the family Asphodelaceae, popular among gardeners because of their attractive flowers. As many as 35,000 cultivars have been developed in order to create more variants with varying colors, plant hardiness, plant disease resistance, and plant sturdiness.

Daylilies are not true lilies, despite their name. They grow from fleshy roots, not from onion-like bulbs. Their flowers also form on “scapes” or leafless stems that can have as many as 12-15 buds on them. Each mature daylily plant can have 4 to 6 scapes, so you can have plenty of blooms for many seasons.

But, true to their name, daylily flowers only last a day. The good news is that a new flower grows after so that each plant, with its many scapes, can have a lot of blooming flowers from mid-spring to fall.

In order to keep the Daylily plant blooming its brilliantly-colored flowers, they have to be placed in an area that will receive at least six hours of sunlight. While they are drought-tolerant, it’s important to keep them hydrated with water, especially when the scapes and buds are still forming.

Hummingbirds are easily attracted to daylilies because of their bright colors, particularly the reds and purples. They are drawn to the tubular varieties, too because those are the flowers that hold the most nectar.

Common Name: Daylily
Scientific Name: genus Hemerocallis
Growing Zones: 4 – 9
Sun: Full sun
Soil: Slightly acidic to neutral
Colors: white, yellow, orange, pink, red, purple
Height: 3 to 4 feet tall
Spread: 2 to 4 feet wide
Plant Type: Perennial

14. Tulip Tree

Flowering tulip tree (Liriodendron Tulipifera, Tulip Tree,

The Tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) is the North American counterpart of the Chinese genus, Liriodendron chinense. The yellow-poplar, as it is commonly called, is fast-growing, strong, and known to be the tallest eastern hardwood tree.

Its bright yellow flowers, rich with nectar, are a feast for hummingbirds.

In the spring, the tulip tree showcases 2 inch long and 2-inch wide tulip-shaped flowers with six greenish-yellow petals and an orange band near the bottom part of the flower. This orange band, when seen from the top, appears to highlight the stamens in the middle, which probably makes it attractive to hummingbirds and other pollinators.

The leaves of the Tulip tree are also quite pretty. They’re star-shaped, smooth, and shiny, about 3 to 6 inches long. Though they’re bright green like most trees, they turn gold or vibrant yellow in the fall. Their stems have a certain fragrance, too.

Not many people often see these beauties because they’re usually high up, at around 50 feet or even higher. It may be daunting to plant a tree that grows as high as 90 feet, but it can be maintained to stay small by pruning. The Tulip tree prefers moist, well-drained soil and doesn’t do well with drought. But it does need a maximum of 6 hours of sunlight to grow fast.

Common Name: Tulip Tree
Scientific Name: Liriodendron tulipifera
Growing Zones: 4 – 9
Sun: Full sun
Soil: moist, well-drained soil
Colors: green-yellow, orange
Height:70 to 90 feet
Spread: 40 feet
Plant Type: Perennial, Deciduous tree

15. Bee Balm

Bee Balm comes from the Monarda mint family, Lamiaceae. It is called “Bee Balm” because Native Americans used it as an antiseptic salve for treating bee stings. Its “Oswego Tea” name is also a result of the Oswego Native Americans brewing its leaves for tea.

Monarda plants are not just popular for their minty aromatic leaves but also for their brightly colored, exotic-looking flowers that are a guaranteed magnet for hummingbirds. Monarda didyma flowers are the scarlet-red variants that are most preferred by hummingbirds. They are bright-red, tubular, and bloom from mid-summer to early fall.

Bee Balm thrives in full sun but will tolerate partial shade when the weather becomes too hot. It prefers moist but well-draining soil, so you may have to water regularly depending on your climate.

Planting Bee Balm in your backyard yields plenty of advantages. You get fragrant, aromatic leaves that you can use for salads or tea. You also get brilliant, colorful, long-blooming flowers that look great in your backyard. Plus, they also attract hummingbirds and other pollinators. You may also use its leaves to create your own essential oils for medicinal purposes.

Common Name: bergamot, bee balm, horsemint, oswego tea
Scientific Name: Monarda from the mint family, Lamiaceae
Growing Zones: 4 – 9
Sun: Full sun, partial shade
Soil: Rich, moist, well-draining
Colors: white, pink, red, purple
Height: 2 – 4 feet tall
Spread: 2 – 3 feet wide
Plant Type: Perennial

16. Trumpet Honeysuckle

The Trumpet Honeysuckle, Latin name Lonicera sempervirens, is a fast-growing, twining vine from the Caprifoliaceae family, perfect for fences, arbors, or trellises. It may also be left to crawl on the ground, perfect for sprawling on concrete.

Be careful as some honeysuckle is invasive, especially the Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica), so stick to Trumpet Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) and check for your area what is invasive.

The Trumpet Honeysuckle is a favorite vine for attracting hummingbirds because of its bright orange-red flowers. When these flowers open, they reveal bright yellow stamens. They grow at the end of the stems in clusters of 10-20 flowers, and they flower from spring to fall. They look especially stunning amid the dark green, oblong leaves.

Aside from its long flowering season, the Trumpet Honeysuckle appreciates being in full sunlight to show off its beautiful flowers. It may still grow in partial shade, but the flowers won’t be as plentiful as when they’re given a full dose of sunlight.

Common Name: Trumpet Honeysuckle
Scientific Name: Lonicera sempervirens
Growing Zones: 4 – 9
Sun: Full sun, partial shade
Soil: Medium moisture, organically-rich, well-drained soil
Colors: orange-red
Height: 8 – 15 feet
Spread:3 – 6 feet
Plant Type: Semi-evergreen, Deciduous, Evergreen Vine, perennial

17. Eastern Redbud

The Eastern Redbud, Cercis Canadensis, is a large deciduous shrub or small tree native to eastern North America. It is grown as an ornamental specimen plant for its twisted trunk, zigzag branches, beautiful flowers, and large, heart-shaped leaves. It is also just the right size for a small to medium backyard.

What makes the Eastern Redbud interesting is that its flowers appear before the leaves when they bloom in early spring. So, they’re really the focal point of the tree once they start flowering. The half-inch wide flowers grow in clusters on the branches, each with 4-8 flowers. Only hummingbirds and long-tongued bees, like blueberry bees and carpenter bees, can reach the nectaries.

Eastern Redbud flower colors range from light pink to deep magenta, and some even have a purplish tinge. With their bright colors against the dark branches and trunk, the flowers appear to be just floating in the air in the right kind of light. You can enjoy this display for 2 to 3 weeks before the fruits appear.

Once the flowers disappear in mid-summer, their fruits or legumes appear. They look like bean pods that start out green when they first come out but will, later on, turn brown as winter approaches.

Leaves then appear as winter buds, initially bright green with a tinge of red, and when they unfurl and expand, they are heart-shaped. They are bright green, glossy, and have prominent veins.

Eastern redbuds can be grown in full sun and partial shade, but if you want them to bloom profusely, it’s better to give them 6 hours of sunlight. While they may tolerate drought, it’s still better to keep them watered regularly. You may also prune them while young to give them shape and structure.

Common Name: Eastern Redbud
Scientific Name: Cercis Canadensis
Growing Zones: 4 – 9
Sun: Full sun, partial shade
Soil: moist, well-drained soil
Colors: pink, reddish, purple
Height: 20 to 30 feet tall
Spread: 25 to 35 feet wide
Plant Type: Perennial, Deciduous tree

18. Hyacinth Bean

The Hyacinth Bean, or Lablab Purpureus, is a bean vine from the Fabaceae family. It is also known as Indian Bean, Egyptian bean, bataw, and Australian pea because although it is native to Africa, it is cultivated and used for food in Asia.

In the United States, it is commonly used as an ornamental plant because of its pinkish-lavender blossoms and equally captivating purple seed pods. It is also called the Jefferson Bean because Bernard McMahon, Thomas Jefferson’s nurseryman, apparently sold it to him in 1804.

To get the best quality flowers from the Hyacinth Bean, it is best to plant them as seeds in the backyard when the climate is warm in the spring. This will yield more flowers and grow more vines. Hyacinth bean vines can grow as tall as 25 feet when securely anchored to trellises and other types of support.

Flowers begin to bloom in summer through fall. They form clusters along the stalks, and they’re colored white, pink, lavender, or purple. Once the flowers are gone, the seedpods take over, and they’re also as pretty as the flowers. They’re purple, elongated, and have 2 -3 seeds per pod, but these are poisonous and not to be ingested.

Hummingbirds love these purple flowers, and it’s surprisingly easy to take care of. All you need is to give it a full dose of sunlight, just the right type of support to guide the vine on its path, and to provide regular watering for young plants before they’re established.

They can be perennial if the weather is mild, but if not, better treat it as an annual and make sure to keep some of the seeds so you can plant them during the next season.

Common Name: Hyacinth Bean, Indian Bean, Egyptian bean, bataw, Australian pea
Scientific Name: Lablab Purpureus
Growing Zones: 4 – 9
Sun: Full sun (no partial shade)
Soil: Well-draining soil
Colors: white, pink, lavender, purple
Height: 10 – 25 feet
Spread: 3 – 6 feet
Plant Type: Annual

19. Trumpet vine

Trumpet vine, Latin name Campsis radicans, is from the family Bignoniaceae and a native of the eastern United States. It is a species of fast-growing and fast-spreading flowering vines, which can become invasive in western states if not controlled effectively through aggressive pruning. Look for hybrids if in western states.

Otherwise known as hummingbird vine, it lives up to its name because the flowers are too attractive for hummingbirds and make them come back repeatedly when they’re in bloom.

Some also call it the Trumpet Creeper because they can creep into crevices and shingles. Some find them valuable for covering rock piles and tree stumps. Their woody stems are strong enough to survive winter, but they’re also capable of destroying foundations, fences, and trees.

The Trumpet Vine is a plant that requires hardly anything to survive. It will thrive under full sunlight, with profuse flowers, when it gets at least 6 hours of direct light. It can also survive in partial shade but with fewer flowers. Regular watering is not necessary. Just keeping the soil moist is fine.

But regular pruning is necessary for the Trumpet Vine to keep it in check and prevent it from spreading too much. The best time is in late fall when you can cut it to nearly ground level. They will grow back sooner than you think, especially with full sunlight.

Common Name: Trumpet Vine, Trumpet Creeper, Cow Itch
Scientific Name: Campsis radicans
Growing Zones: 4 – 9
Sun: Full sun, partial shade
Soil: Average, moist but well-drained
Colors: orange, red, and yellow
Height: 25 – 40 feet long
Spread:5 – 10 feet wide
Plant Type: perennial, Deciduous woody vine

20. Salvia

With over 1000 species of these members of the mint family, salvias are a great perennial to choose for hummingbirds. They are also drought-resistant and easy to care for.

Salvias evolved alongside hummingbirds in the Americas, and they use the hummingbirds’ long bills to enter the flower and open a trapdoor that deposits pollen on their heads and rewards them with rich nectar.

They put on a rich display of flowers and tubular blossoms all summer that keep the hummingbirds coming back.

Many native species of salvia are drought tolerant and grow happily in the heat of the South. Although salvias are heat and drought tolerant, if it is very dry, then water thoroughly once a week.

Sometimes known as sage plants, they can be grown as annuals, but also perennial varieties are available. Deadhead them during the summer to encourage more flowers but leave flowers on at the end of the season, so they reseed.

Choose Salvias with red, pink, and orange-colored flowers. Native species are best, but Salvias from Europe are hardier and will grow further north, extending the range and nectar availability for hummingbirds.

Common Name: salvia
Scientific Name: salvia
Growing Zones: 4 – 10
Sun: Full sun, but some will tolerate partial shade
Soil: Well-drained
Colors: Red, pink, purple, blue, white, yellow.
Height: 1 – 6 feet
Spread: 1 – 6 feet
Plant Type: Annual, Perennial

21. Buddleia

Buddleia or Butterfly Bush, with its striking purple, red, pink, white, and yellow pointed flowers, is a favorite ornamental plant if you want to attract butterflies (of course!) and hummingbirds to your backyard. They also produce nectar-rich flowers that are a surefire way to get hummingbirds to visit your backyard every time.

Buddleia refers to a family of over 140 species of flowering plants. They are more commonly called “butterfly bushes” because butterflies flock to them because of their nectar and honey-scented flowers.

The most common Buddleia variant is the Buddleia davidii which originates from China. Unfortunately, this species has been declared an invasive species in most US regions because it spreads its seeds and can grow unrestrained in natural areas. They tend to overcrowd native plants and have been deemed as a noxious weed. Be careful not to buy the purple davidii variety.

Butterfly bushes are low-maintenance plants. They are a hardy breed requiring full sun, so you might say they are pretty much drought-tolerant. However, during the first year, they would require regular watering as they’re trying to establish their roots. But once they’re firmly established, you only need to water them when the soil has become dry, like 2 to 4 inches deep.

The good news is, there are some Butterfly Bush variants that are sterile, and some species are available to grow in your pot or backyard, like Dwarf varieties that only grow up to 8 or 10 feet.

Some sterile or native varieties that you can grow are Rio Grande Butterfly Bush (Buddleia sessiliflora), Wand Butterfly Bush (Buddleia racemosa), Escobilla Butterfly Bush (Buddleia scordioides), and Fountain Butterfly Bush (Buddleja alternifolia).

Common Name: buddleia, butterfly bush, and summer lilac
Scientific Name: Buddleja
Growing Zones: 5 – 10
Sun: Full Sun
Soil: Well-drained
Colors: Pink, Purple, Red, White, and Yellow
Height: 4 to 10 feet
Spread: up to 5 feet
Plant Type: Perennials, Evergreen

22. Crocosmia

Crocosmia, commonly known as montbretia or coppertips, are flowering plants from the Iris family, Iridaceae. They are native to southern and Eastern Africa but have found their home all over the world.

The flowers of Crocosmia are trumpet-shaped and brightly colored red, orange, and yellow. When planted in moist, well-draining soil and exposed to full sun, these flowers bloom season after season in zones 5 to 9. These are ideal traits for attracting hummingbirds and other pollinators and having them return to your backyard.

When the flowers are not in bloom, the striking foliage of Crocosmia also provides visual interest. They are sword-shaped, bright green, and grass-like which add vertical movement to your backyard.

Crocosmia plants grow from corms or underground stems stocked with food supply to help plants survive winter. You plant them in the spring when frost is no longer a threat to the plants. They develop cormlets, so it’s easy to propagate them simply by breaking them off and re-planting them.

Some of the interesting varieties of Crocosmia include Crocosmia Lucifer (red flowers), Crocosmia Emily McKenzie (downward-facing orange blooms), Crocosmia Prince of Orange (20 orange flowers on each stem).

Common Name: Montbretia, coppertips, falling stars
Scientific Name: Crocosmia
Growing Zones: 5-9
Sun: Full sun, partial shade
Soil: moist, well-draining
Colors: red, orange, yellow
Height: 1 ½ to 4 feet tall
Spread: 12 to 18 inches
Plant Type: Perennial

23. Passionflower

Passionflowers, or passion vines as they’re sometimes called, belong to the Passiflora genus with about 550 species of flowering plants. They’re characterized by having tendril vines and an exotic-looking floral structure that attracts pollinators like bees and hummingbirds. In fact, the Sword-billed Hummingbird evolved with the Passiflora mixta in order to extract nectar from its long corollas.

Passionflowers are unforgettable because they look exotic and alien. They are named passion flowers because their strange structure supposedly symbolizes the Passion of Christ.

Passionflowers are truly unusual creations that will look astounding in a pot or on trellises, walls, and fences. They have a variety of colors (white, pink, red, purple, blue) that thrive under full sunlight or at least 4 hours of it. Moist, well-drained organic soil also helps them grow fast and tall.

When a hummingbird successfully pollinates the flower, the fruit will start growing. The fruits are round or elongated, and depending on the variety of the passionflower they are edible. One passionflower, Passiflora incarnata, is commonly known as “Maypop” because it’s the sound of the fruit popping when crushed.

Common Name: passionflower maypop, true passionflower, wild apricot, wild passion vine, passion vine
Scientific Name: Passiflora
Growing Zones: 5 – 9
Sun: Full sun (at least 4 hours)
Soil: well-drained, organic soil
Colors: white, pink, red, purple, blue
Height: 6 – 30 feet tall
Spread:3 – 6 feet wide
Plant Type: Perennial vine

24. Fuchsia

Fuschias are bright hardy perennials that provide nectar for hummingbirds all through the summer. They look especially great in pots and containers, with their beautiful flowers abundantly drooping over the sides.

Fuschias come in hardy varieties and are easy to grow in most soils. They require very little maintenance and so are a great addition to your garden.

They prefer dappled shade and not too much heat and will brighten up a more shady area of your patio.

Pinch off growing tips after flowering and fertilize every two weeks in the growing season. In colder areas, they may need to be brought inside in the winter.

Common Name: Fuschia
Scientific Name: Fuschias
Growing Zones: 6 – 11
Sun: Partial sun to shade
Soil: well-drained moist soil
Colors: Pink, purple, white, orange, and blue
Height: 1 – 3 feet
Spread: 1 – 5 feet
Plant Type: Perennial

25. Cypress vine

Cypress Vine, Latin name Ipomoea quamoclit, is a member of the bindweed Convolvulaceae family whose origins include tropical South America. It has since been naturalized in other parts of the world, particularly in tropical areas.

The Cypress Vine is cultivated as an ornamental plant that can be a perennial in the tropics but is grown as an annual vine in wintery regions. It looks like a delicate plant with its dainty flowers and fragile-looking leaves, but it is considered an invasive species in some states because it grows fast and can overcrowd other plants and overwhelm nearby structures. Ensure you cut back the plant every year and stop the plant from seeding.

Despite that, it is still one of the best vines for attracting hummingbirds. The Cypress Vine is also called the “Star of Bethlehem” because its flowers are shaped like a star and are also referred to as “hummingbird vine” because their bright red, trumpet-like, nectar-rich flowers are a magnet for hummingbirds.

The red flowers shine beautifully against the Cypress Vine’s thin, thread-like leaves. They grow and spread by twining themselves around structures like arbors, pergolas, chain-link fences, and deck posts that face the sun.

You have to be mindful when growing Cypress Vines because they may overtake other plants when you’re not looking. Instead of moving up, they may grow out, particularly if they latch on to nearby plants.

The trick is to prune them or direct them where you want them to go by carefully wrapping the stems around the support. They do, however, break easily if they lose their support structure.

Another danger to look out for is that all parts of this plant, especially the seeds, are poisonous if eaten by people and pets.

Common Name: Cypress Vine
Scientific Name: Ipomoea quamoclit
Growing Zones: 6 – 11
Sun: Full sun
Soil: Fertile, well-drained, and kept evenly moist
Colors: white, pink, red
Height: 3 – 20 feet tall
Spread: climbs to 20 feet
Plant Type: Perennial vine in tropics, Annual vine in temperate regions

26. Abelia

Abelia is a group of 30 species and hybrids originally belonging to the honeysuckle family, Caprifoliaceae.

Abelia are shrubs that can grow up to 6 meters tall and about 3 to 6 meters wide. Abelia species from warm climates are evergreen, while those in the colder regions are deciduous, meaning they shed their leaves during winter.

You will recognize abelia shrubs when you see their delicate, trumpet-like flowers, mostly colored pink and white with hints of lavender. What’s also striking is their leaves, which can turn from greenish-yellow (spring) to gold (summer) and red (fall) as the seasons change.

It’s not hard to grow abelia plants since they need little maintenance. Place them in an area where they’ll get full sunlight, water them but only to keep the soil moist and leave the pruning for removing dead branches to encourage the growth of new shoots.

You can enjoy abelia foliage and flowers for a long time since they flower from spring to fall in warm climates. During this period, expect to see many hummingbirds and butterflies attracted to its bell-shaped flowers and their fragrant scent.

Common Name: Abelia
Scientific Name: Abelia
Growing Zones: 6 – 9
Sun: Full Sun
Soil: Well-drained
Colors: Pink and White
Height: 3 – 6 feet
Spread: 3 – 6 feet
Plant Type: Perennial, Evergreen, Deciduous Shrub

27. Mimosa

The Silk Tree (Albizia julibrissin), is a deciduous tree that is native to southwestern and eastern Asia. In these areas, it was called “sleeping tree” because its leaves droop and close off at night like they were sleeping. It was brought to the United States by botanist Andre Michaux in 1745 as an ornamental plant and has also been referred to as “Mimosa” since then.

The bright, colorful, and fragrant flowers of the Silk Tree are a sure magnet to hummingbirds. The flowers are pink, wispy, and kind of look like pom-poms. They aren’t petals but individual stamens, around 2-3 centimeters long, and look like silky threads, hence the name. The flowers bloom all summer long.

The leaves of the Silk Tree are also interesting. They’re actually a compound of leaves, with each compound having about 20 to 60 leaflets among them. They resemble ferns or feathers, with the leaflets alternating on a stem.

Silk trees germinate via seed pods. They’re not hard to spot since they’re green, long, flat, and hang from the branches. They begin to ripen by late summer to early fall.

While Silk Trees are a beautiful addition to your landscape, it is on the list of invasive species in the US. They have an extremely high survival rate – having seeds that grow fast and remain viable for 50 years, can re-sprout even after damage, and can grow in most soil conditions. Since it’s a very hardy tree, it can displace native trees and shrubs.

Grow in a container to limit their growth and ensure to clean up any seed pods.

Common Name: Mimosa, Silk Tree
Scientific Name: Albizia julibrissin
Growing Zones: 6 – 9
Sun: Full sun or partial shade
Soil: Moist but well-drained
Colors: pink
Height: 20 – 40 ft tall
Spread: 20 – 50 feet wide
Plant Type: Perennial, Deciduous tree

28. Crape Myrtle

Crape Myrtle, or crepe myrtle, with the Latin name Lagerstroemia, belongs to the Lythraceae family. They are deciduous and evergreen shrubs originally from India, Asia, and Australia. They are sometimes called crepe myrtle because their flower petals have a crepe-like texture.

These Crape Myrtle trees or shrubs are brilliant additions to backyards because of their bright, large flowers, peeling bark in winter, and foliage that changes color in the fall. There are many varieties to grow, from single to multi-stemmed trees, smaller shrubs, and even dwarf trees as small as 2 to 5 feet tall.

Like most deciduous trees and shrubs, it’s best to plant them during fall or early spring to get their roots adjusted before the cold of winter or the heat of summer hits. They need at least 6 hours of full sunlight to encourage large, full blooms. They flower in mid-May and early June.

To ensure that your Crape Myrtle tree flower profusely, it is essential that you prune old and dead branches carefully. Give the new plants room to grow, so remove crisscrossing branches, short twigs, and branches that grow toward the center. Shrubs hardly need pruning except maybe to remove old and dead branches.

With their bright-colored flowers and a varying range of height, it’s easy to see why hummingbirds and butterflies love hanging around Crape Myrtles.

Common Name: Crape Myrtle or crepe myrtle
Scientific Name: Lagerstroemia
Growing Zones: 7 – 10
Sun: Full sun
Soil: Moist soil
Colors: dark purple, dark red, bright pink, magenta, and white
Height: trees 15 – 20 feet, shrubs 5 – 7 feet
Spread:trees 15 – 20 feet, shrubs 5 – 7 feet
Plant Type: Perennial, Deciduous shrubs or trees

29. Azalea

North America has 16 native species of azaleas, and they’re all deciduous Deciduous azaleas that drop all of their leaves in the fall and they grow back in the spring. They mainly flower in colors that range from white to pink and from yellow to orange.

Azaleas are flowering plants that belong to the Rhododendron family. One way to distinguish them from rhododendrons is to check the number of stamens. Azaleas generally have five stamens, while rhododendrons have 10. Also, while azaleas have smaller and thinner leaves, rhododendrons have large, impressive evergreen foliage.

Asian azaleas are mostly evergreen. They have colors that range from white to purple to red, but no yellow azaleas. Though they are called evergreen, they still do drop some of their leaves in the fall because they grow two sets of leaves. Spring leaves are the ones that drop in the fall, and they’re mostly thinner and larger. Summer leaves are thicker and smaller, but they do not fall in the winter.

Azaleas have many varieties but generally, most flower in the spring, around April and May, and some around June through September. Azaleas thrive in loose, moist, or well-drained, acidic soil (4.5 – 6.0 ph). If azaleas show signs of drooping because of too much sun or exposure to winds, revive them with slow watering.

Azalea flowers carry a floral scent that attracts hummingbirds. Their nectar is the treat that will make hummingbirds return to your backyard.

Common Name: Azalea
Scientific Name: Rhododendron
Growing Zones: 7 – 9
Sun: Filtered sunlight, partial shade
Soil: Well-drained, acidic
Colors: Pink, Lavender, yellow-orange, and white
Height: as high as 10 feet
Spread:3 – 5 feet
Plant Type: Perennial, Evergreen, Deciduous shrubs

30. Clematis

Clematis belongs to a large group of about 300 species of flowering vines under the buttercup family, Ranunculaceae. Originally from Japan and China, Clematis are among the most popular ornamental plants because they come in a variety of colors, there are many varieties suitable for your type of climate, and they never fail to attract hummingbirds and other pollinators to your backyard.

If you’re thinking of filling your trellis, arbor, or fence with beautiful and colorful flowers, then clematis are your best vine choice. They are mostly star-shaped flowers that come in large and small sizes. They have a wide range of colors – white, yellow, pink, blue, purple, and some are dual-colored, that bloom in spring or late summer, depending on the variety.

Aside from color, clematis also feature different flower types. There are flowers in loose clusters, bell-shaped flowers, and flat or open flowers. The large flowers are about 6-10 inches across and, with their color, are bound to attract hummingbirds and butterflies alike. Smaller varieties often have fragrances.

Clematis generally thrive under full sun, at the latest 6 hours of direct sunlight. What makes them different is that while they need that much sunlight, their soil needs to be constantly moist and must never dry up if you want gorgeous and plentiful flowers.

Depending on how tall you want your clematis to grow, pick a suitable support system for it. Larger clematis will be more suited for arbors, while smaller varieties can be grown on poles, fences, and trellises.

Give them space for their sunlight and shade for their roots. When they’re in flower, you’ll have a feast for your eyes, not just with the flowers but with all the hummingbirds that will visit your garden.

Common Name: Clematis, woodbine, old man’s beard
Scientific Name: Clematis
Growing Zones: 4 – 8
Sun: Full sun
Soil: Moist, well-drained soil
Colors: white, yellow, pink, blue, purple
Height: 2 – 5 feet, 8 – 12 feet, 20 – 30 feet
Spread:2 – 6 feet wide
Plant Type: Perennial, Woody deciduous, herbaceous, and evergreen vines

31. Foxglove

Foxglove is a beautiful woodland flower that grows dramatically tall stems with many bell-shaped blossoms. Due to the fact they are often found in woodlands, they are great shade-tolerant plants that hummingbirds’ long bills and tongues can reach into.

These are biennial plants, which means you need to plant them two years in a row as in their first year, they do not produce flowers and then die off after their second year of flowering. However, they readily self-seed, so you will get their dramatic display for many years.

Foxgloves are easy to grow from seed outside in late spring or late summer when temperatures are cooler.

Common Name: Foxgloves
Scientific Name: Digitalis
Growing Zones: 4 – 8
Sun: Full sun to partial shade
Soil: Slightly acidic, well-drained but moist.
Colors: Purple, pink, white
Height: 5 foot
Plant Type: biennials

32. Lupin

Lupine, or its scientific name Lupinus, comes from the family Fabaceae and is cultivated as an ornamental plant and as a food source, despite having some toxicity that can induce allergic reactions in humans and animals.

It was originally named “lupinus” because it was thought to be “wolfing” the nutrients of the soil. But in truth, it is a nitrogen-fixer plant, meaning it naturally adds nitrogen to the soil. So, if you have any plants that need nitrogen as a fertilizer, Lupines will naturally provide it for you.

With over 199 species of flowering plants, Lupines have such a diverse array of flowers. The Texas bluebonnet (Lupinus texensis) is one popular variant in the United States because of its prolific blue flower spikes. It is also why lupine is known as bluebonnet, too.

Lupines are easily recognizable because of their tall, vertical spiky flowers. Wild ones are often blue and white, while garden-variety ones come in blue, yellow, pink, red, and purple. These colorful hybrids originated from Lupinus polyphyllus and crossed with other variants.

Lupines, with their bright, numerous flowers, are a magnet for hummingbirds. They bloom in early spring when most other flowers are still in the process of growing, and that quality attracts hummingbirds because they’re the only food source available.

Common Name: lupin, lupine, bluebonnet
Scientific Name: Lupinus
Growing Zones: 4 – 8
Sun: Full sun
Soil: Rich, moist, well-drained
Colors: white, pink, red, yellow, blue, purple, bicolor
Height: 3 – 4 feet tall
Spread: 1 – 1.5 feet wide
Plant Type: Annual, Perennial

33. Red Buckeye

Red Buckeye (Aesculus pavia) is a large shrub or a small tree that’s native to the Southeastern United States. Its other names include Scarlet Buckeye and Firecracker plant. They can be single-trunked trees or shrubs or multi-trunked trees, depending on how you prune them.

The attraction of the Red Buckeye are numerous red, tubular flowers that bloom in the spring. These red flowers belong to the typical Red Buckeye, but there are also yellow flowers that are the flavescens variety of the Aesculus pavia.

These red flowers are extremely attractive to hummingbirds and bees because they rise upright from the leaves.

The leaves of the Red Buckeye are a good contrast to the bright red flowers. They are composed of 5 leaflets connected to a central point. They’re shiny and glossy, dark green above and whitish on the underside.

Red Buckeyes are easy to grow and maintain because they can be grown in any soil texture, but they thrive when in moist and well-drained soil. You can grow them in the shade, but you may stunt their growth, and they will remain as small shrubs.

While the Red Buckeye looks brilliant when it is in full bloom, caution must be exercised as almost all their parts, bark, flowers, fruits, leaves, seeds, and stems, are poisonous and toxic to humans.

Common Name: Red Buckeye
Scientific Name: Aesculus pavia
Growing Zones: 4 – 8
Sun: Full sun or partial shade
Soil: all soil textures
Colors: red or yellow
Height: 15 – 20 feet tall
Spread: 15 – 25 feet wide
Plant Type: Perennial, Deciduous flowering tree

34. Cape fuchsia

Cape Fuchsia, Latin name Phygelius capensis, is a flowering plant from the family Scrophulariaceae. It is a semi-evergreen shrub that can grow from 3 to 5 feet and is native to South Africa, and its name comes from the Cape of Good Hope.

What makes Cape Fuchsia a good ornamental plant is its long flowering season. From May to November, you can enjoy its brilliant colors, depending on the variety that you have. There are yellow, peach, coral, magenta, and red variants that are 2 inches long, tubular, and hang upright or vertical on stems.

Cape Fuchsia is easy to take care of because it is not picky about the soil you place it in as long as it receives just the right amount of water and a full dose of sunlight. It grows and spreads fast too from its underground stems, so you just need to make sure to constrict it to its space so it won’t overwhelm other shorter plants.

It’s pretty drought-tolerant, but you have to keep the soil moist when the weather becomes too hot. Also, when it’s too hot, it wouldn’t hurt to bring it under partial shade. It flowers for a long time too, which is a really good treat for hummingbirds.

Common Name: Cape Fuchsia
Scientific Name: Phygelius capensis
Growing Zones: 5 – 7
Sun: Full sun
Soil: well-drained soil
Colors: yellow, peach, coral, magenta, red
Height: 3 – 5 feet
Spread: 3 – 5 feet
Plant Type: Perennial, annual

35. Lantana

Lantanas are a great way to add interest to pots and containers, and hummingbirds are attracted to their small clustered flowers.

Due to their vine-like growing nature, they look great spilling over pots and baskets.

They can be grown as an annual in colder regions and as an evergreen shrub in frost-free areas.

They are considered invasive in frost-free areas, so check if there are restrictions but growing them in pots will help to stop any spread.

Common Name: Lantana
Scientific Name: Lantana
Growing Zones: 8 – 11 or grow as annual
Sun: Full sun
Soil: Well-drained, slightly acid
Colors: Red, orange, yellow, blue, pink, and white
Height: 6 feet
Spread: 6 feet
Plant Type: Perennial

36. Bougainvillea

Bougainvillea is a genus of thorny, woody, ornamental vines that belong to the family Nyctaginaceae or the 4 o’clock family. They’re called the 4 o’clock family because they have a typical habit of their flowers opening at 4’oclock in the afternoon and closing them by morning.

Bougainvillea flowers are unique because what you see as “flowers” aren’t, in fact, the flowers themselves. The large, showy, colorful, paper-thin “flowers” are actually leaves or bracts. The flowers are the tiny, white ones in the middle of these leaves. The bracts act as protectors for the tiny flowers and help in attracting hummingbirds and other pollinators to the plant.

Hummingbirds truly appreciate bougainvillea flowers because they repeatedly bloom year-round, especially in zones 9-11. However, you need to bring them inside during winter because their roots may freeze if left outside. That’s why it’s better to grow them in containers when you live in regions with colder temperatures so you can quickly bring them inside.

Thorny bougainvillea flowers may be trained to cover fences and as security hedges. You may also let them crawl along the walls of houses, but caution must be taken when you have kids or pets that may accidentally graze themselves on the thorns.

Common Name: Bougainvillea, paper flower
Scientific Name: Bougainvillea glabra
Growing Zones: 9 – 11
Sun: Full sun
Soil: loamy, well-draining soil
Colors: yellow, orange, crimson, purple bracts, white flowers
Height: up to 40 feet tall
Spread: up to 40 feet wide
Plant Type: Perennial, Deciduous, or Evergreen Vine

37. Mandevilla

Mandevilla is a group of tropical and subtropical flowering vines from the family Apocynaceae. Mandevilla is also referred to as rocktrumpet, dogbane, or dipladenia, and these plants are native to South America, southwestern United States, and Mexico.

There are many species of Mandevilla, and most of them are climbers with large, showy, fragrant flowers that bloom between late spring to late summer, even up to fall if the weather is mild.

They may have white, pink, and red flowers that look great against fences, trellises, and arbors. The tube-shaped structure of the flowers, plus their bright colors, make them attractive to hummingbirds and other pollinators.

Mandevilla can be grown in pots on the ground or in hanging gardens. They may also be planted directly onto soil with a support structure for them to climb and twine around. They prefer full sunlight, moist soil unless the climate has turned colder, where you have to water them less to keep their roots from rotting.

Another thing to do with Mandevilla to keep them growing and flowering is to re-pot them every year. A good change of soil and pot to accommodate for new growth is essential to keeping Mandevilla healthy. Just be mindful during the process, as Mandevilla is considered toxic. Their milky sap can irritate the skin upon contact, and while they’re not totally poisonous, pets may have a reaction when they ingest any part of the plant.

Common Name: Mandevilla, rocktrumpet, dogbane or dipladenia
Scientific Name: Mandevilla
Growing Zones: 9 – 11
Sun: Full Sun, partial shade
Soil: Moist but well-drained
Colors: white, pink, red
Height: 3 – 10 feet tall
Spread: 3 – 4 feet wide
Plant Type: Perennial vine, an annual vine in colder climates

38. Petunias

These colorful and inexpensive annuals are easy to grow in a sunny location, and they work great in a container. They create abundant flowers that look great tumbling out of pots and containers.

They are often sold as young plants in flats at a nursery, but you can also grow them from seed. If growing from seed, grow them ten weeks before your last frost date and then plant out once this risk has passed.

Petunias are quite heat-tolerant, but they should get a good soaking about once a week. Prune them to about half the height to prevent them from getting thin and leggy.

Try planting the brighter colors in the reds and pinks for hummingbirds.

Common Name: Petunias
Scientific Name: Petunias
Growing Zones: 9 to 11
Sun: Full Sun
Soil: Well-drained moist soil
Colors: Red, pink, white, blue, purple
Height: 6 – 18 inches
Spread: 18 inches to 4 feet
Plant Type: Tender Perennial, Annual

39. Calibrachoa

Calibrachoa, more commonly known as million bells or trailing petunia, are small shrubs belonging to the Solanaceae family. They are a relatively new species of ornamental plants, having been introduced only in the 1990s. But they’ve grown popular because of their prolific, colorful blooms that look like small petunias, which is why they’re also called mini petunias.

Calibrachoa plants are well-suited for containers and hanging baskets since they grow so fast and have a tendency to cascade. They can only grow to as high as 12 inches, but they do give you so many flowers you’ll hardly see any foliage.

The flowers of the Calibrachoa plant are small, bell-shaped, and pretty colorful. They come in shades of coral, yellow, orange, red, pink, blue, purple, burgundy, lavender, and cream. There are even varieties that give you dual-colors and veined and segmented petals. Regardless of the diversity of the flowers, calibrachoa flowers attract pollinators like hummingbirds.

They are not hard to grow and maintain. Calibrachoa grows well in full sun and well-draining soil. Just pay attention to the weather because if it gets too hot, you may need to adjust the amount of water that you give them.

Common Name: Calibrachoa, million bells, trailing petunia, mini petunia
Scientific Name: Calibrachoa
Growing Zones: 9 – 11
Sun: Full Sun to Part Shade
Soil: Moist, rich, well-drained
Colors: coral, yellow, orange, red, pink, blue, purple, burgundy, lavender, cream
Height: 6 – 12 inches tall
Spread: 12 – 24 inches wide
Plant Type: Perennial

40. Canary Creeper

The Canary Creeper, Latin name Tropaeolum peregrinum, is a flowering vine native to Peru and Ecuador from the family of Nasturtiums. Hence it is also referred to as Canary nasturtium. It is grown as an annual ornamental plant because it is frost-tender, particularly in temperate regions.

While its name may indicate that it’s a slow-moving or slow-growing plant, it is the exact opposite. When given full sunlight, the Canary Creeper can grow up to 12 feet in length in just a year.

Another interesting thing about the Canary Creeper, which makes it one of the best vines for hummingbirds, is its flowers. They’re unique because they have two big, yellow, upper fringed petals that are like canary’s wings (hence the name) and three smaller, lower, spurred petals below. The base of the petals has reddish spots. Their leaves are also pretty – small, green, and 5-lobed like fingers on a hand.

These Canary Creeper flowers bloom in mid-summer and last until fall, as long as they’re getting their required full sunlight and adequate water. If you provide them with a trellis or arbor, they will easily climb it. They also grow well in hanging baskets. You may also plant them near other plants without the fear of killing them off, as with other climbing vines.

Common Name: Canary Creeper, Canarybird Flower, Canarybird Vine, or Canary Nasturtium
Scientific Name: Tropaeolum peregrinum
Growing Zones: 10 – 11
Sun: Full sun
Soil: Moist but well-drained
Colors: Yellow
Height: 10 – 12 feet tall
Spread:1 – 2 feet wide
Plant Type: tender perennial, annual

41. Cleome

Cleomes, commonly known as spider flowers or spider plants, are herbaceous annual or perennial plants, depending on the climate where they’re grown. They are called spider flowers because their blossoms have stamens that look like multiple “spidery legs”.

With many different varieties, you can find cleomes that are suited to your backyard. For instance, there are cleomes that have thorns, and some don’t. Some grow tall, as much as five feet, while some reach only 2 feet.

What they have in common is the pink, purple and white flowers, some with or without any scent, that are attractive to hummingbirds and bees.

It’s not hard to take care of cleomes. All you need is well-drained soil and to let them have full sunlight. Watering may be done sparingly, especially when the plants are already established.

Cleomes bloom from early summer until frost. Dead flowers will simply disappear to make way for the thin green seedpods. When they ripen, they turn brown and disperse the seeds. You can leave them to self-seed if you want, or you can keep the seeds and use them to plant Cleomes in other parts of your backyard.

Common Name: Cleomes, spider flower, Rocky Mountain bee plant, stinking clover
Scientific Name: Cleome, from the Cleomaceae family
Growing Zones: 10 – 11
Sun: Full sun, partial sun
Soil: Average, well-drained
Colors: white, pink, rose, lavender
Height: 1.5 – 5 feet tall
Spread: 1 to 2 feet wide
Plant Type: Annual

42. Flowering tobacco

Flowering tobacco plants belong to the family Nicotiana, a group of herbaceous tobacco plants. They are relatives of the true tobacco plants, are usually grown as ornamental plants, and come in different varieties.

If you want fragrant flowering tobacco plants in your garden, you may opt for Nicotania sylvestris or Nicotiana alata, two of the more common and popular varieties. They emit a jasmine fragrance every evening.

Nicotiana sylvestris have wide, oblong leaves and in the center of it rises a central flower spike that can grow several feet tall. There are many tubular, pendant, white, or cream flowers that bloom from June until the first frost. Nicotiana alata plants are also tubular, but they bloom from tall, graceful stems. Their flowers are white and star-shaped and emit sweet perfume at night.

These types of flowering tobacco are easy to plant and grow, requiring full sun or part shade and well-draining soil. What’s more, they’re a great attraction for hummingbirds with their tube-like flowers and fragrance.

However, they may be short-lived since they’re considered annual plants. But, they’re self-seeding, so you can continue to enjoy them for the following year. Just make sure to protect them from the cold and extreme heat.

Common Name: Flowering tobacco, Jasmine tobacco
Scientific Name: Nicotiana family
Growing Zones: 10 – 11
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Soil: organically-rich, moist, well-draining
Colors: white, yellow, pink, red, yellow-green, purple
Height: 6 to 12 inches, 1 to 3 feet, 3 to 8 feet, 8 to 20 feet tall
Spread:6 inches to 10 feet, depending on the variety
Plant Type: Annual