23 Hummingbird Plants That Thrive In South Carolina

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.

South Carolina has hot summers and mild winters, with most of the state in plant hardiness zone 8, but parts of the north in zone 7 and some of the south 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.

South Carolina is in zones 7 to 9 on the plant heat zone map so some plants that are not able to stand the heat have been excluded from the list below.

Heat zone map

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

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

Plant Zones 7 – 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

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. Morning Glory

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

4. 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

5. Agastache

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

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

Pink Echinacea flowers or cone flowers

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

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

summer sweet

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

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. 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

14. 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

15. Daylily

Day lily

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

16. Bee Balm

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

17. 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 

18. Eastern Redbud

Cercis Canadensis or 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

19. Hyacinth Bean

hyacinth bean tree

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

20. 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

21. Native Buddleia – Butterfly Bush

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. Passionflower

passion flower

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

23. Crocosmia

Crocosmia 'Lucifer'

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