Hummingbirds were made for tubular flowers with those long beaks and tongues and some flowers were made for hummingbirds and give them the nectar they need in return for the hummingbird pollinating the plant.
Not only that but tubular flowers look dramatic and and they come in many sizes and types, so I am sure there are plenty that would suit your style and conditions.
So check out all these amazing tubular flowers that hummingbirds love.
25 Tubular Flowers For Hummingbirds:
1. 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
2. Cardinal Flower
The long bright red tubular flowers of Cardinal flowers are designed for hummingbirds’ long bills.
These herbaceous perennials flower in late summer. The bright red flowers appear on terminal spikes.
Cardinal flowers are not drought tolerant and prefer moist soil that does not dry out.
When planting cardinal flowers in pots, ensure they are set in a tray of water that can be topped up easily.
- Common Name: Cardinal flower
- Scientific Name: Lobelia cardinalis
- Growing Zones: 3 – 9
- Sun: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil: Rich, moist
- Colors: Red, pink, white
- Height: 2 – 4 feet
- Spread: 1 – 2 feet
- Plant Type: Perennial
3. 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
4. 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
5. 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
6. Figwort
Figwort is the collection of about 200 species of herbaceous flowering plants belonging to the genus Scrophularia. There are 17 figwort species in the United States, and among them, Mimbres Figwort, or Scrophularia macrantha, is pollinated by hummingbirds.
It was originally known as Mimbes Figwort, but nursery growers didn’t think it aptly described the beauty of this plant. So, they named it “Red Birds in a Tree”, because that’s what the flowers resembled. They looked like tiny redbirds on a tree!
Though rare, flower enthusiasts became interested in growing Red Birds in a Tree because they were drought-tolerant, had a long flowering period, and attracted hummingbirds.
The red, two-lipped flowers that grow on the ends of the stems bloom from summer into fall. The tubular shape of the flower, plus its vivid red color, is a surefire way to attract hummingbirds. Since they’re rare, you may want to visit a nursery specializing in rare or unusual plants.
Since it’s native to high plains, it needs full sun to really thrive. It needs regular watering when it’s young, but once it’s established, you won’t need to water it as much. Just don’t overwater it, or the roots will rot.
When they grow, they tend to twine around neighboring plants, so it’s best to pair them with tall and strong plants or provide them with something to support them, like a trellis or an arbor.
- Common Name: Mimbres Figwort
- Scientific Name:
- Growing Zones: 5 – 10
- Sun: Full sun or Morning sun and afternoon shade
- Soil: Any soil type, except clay, with some compost if the soil is poor
- Colors: red
- Height: 3 to 4 feet tall
- Spread:18 inches wide
- Plant Type: Perennial Vine
7. 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
8. 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
9. 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
10. Native Buddleia – Butterfly Bush
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
11. 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
12. 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
13. 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
14. 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
15. 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
16. Weigela
Weigela are a favorite flower of hummingbirds and butterflies because of their pink and reddish colors, although there are varieties of Weigela that are yellow and lavender. The flowers are tubular-shaped, about 2 cm long, and form clusters. They flower from early spring to late summer.
Weigela are a group of 6 to 38 species of flowering deciduous shrubs from the family Caprifoliaceae. All of the flowers are natives of East Asia, the most popular variety is the Weigela florida. The “florida” does not represent the state of Florida but instead stands for “florid” or “covered with flowers”.
The leaves of Weigela are also as interesting as the flowers. They come in different shapes – some are long, some are oblong, and some have a serrated edge. Normal colors are green, but there are others that are variegated (dual-colored), gold, and burgundy.
These Weigela plants are perfect ornamental plants, whether you use them as specimen plants when they bloom or as hedge plants because of their dense foliage. The key is to put them in moderately acidic soil that is well-draining. They flower best when receiving full sunlight, but they can still grow in partial shade.
Weigelas are easy plants to take care of and have the advantage of being drought-tolerant too. They hardly need water unless the weather has been exceptionally hot, so they may need just enough to keep their soil moist.
- Common Name: Weigela
- Scientific Name: Weigela
- Growing Zones: 4 – 8
- Sun: Full sun, partial shade
- Soil: Well-drained, moderately acidic soil
- Colors: red, pink, white, yellow, and lavender
- Height: 3 – 10 feet tall
- Spread: up to 12 feet
- Plant Type: Perennial, Deciduous
17. 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
18. 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
19. 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
20. 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
21. 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
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. 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
24. Indian Pink
Indian Pink, or Spigelia marilandica, is a herbaceous perennial native to areas in the southeastern United States. It is an uncommon yet attractive plant that is considered threatened in some areas due to indiscriminate harvesting.
Pinkroots, as they are sometimes called, bloom strikingly beautiful flowers from late spring to summer. They are tubular, bright red or burgundy, flowering one at a time from the bottom up, on a single side of a stem. The tip of the flowers opens up to five red petals that curve downward.
When viewed from the top, these flowers resemble a five-pointed bright red star. Each flower is about 2 inches long, and there are about 6 to 12 flowers along the stem. These flowers are a definite magnet for hummingbirds because they’re bright red and they’re tubular.
Once established, you can collect ripe seed capsules in the summer. Indian Pink is easy to grow and is one of the few flowering plants that grow well even in partial shade. 2 to 6 hours of sunlight is enough for them to grow best.
They love good rich, moist soil and can even tolerate a few days of drought. But those that are exposed to more sunlight will do well with regular watering, just avoid too much watering to prevent root rot.
- Common Name: Indian Pink, Pinkroot, woodland pinkroot
- Scientific Name: Spigelia marilandica
- Growing Zones: 5 – 9
- Sun: Partial shade
- Soil: high organic, well-draining
- Colors: red, yellow
- Height: 1 – 2 feet tall
- Spread: 1 – 2 feet wide
- Plant Type: Perennial
25. Fire Pink
Fire Pink, Silene Virginica, is a wildflower from the pink family, Caryophyllaceae. One species, Silene virginica var. Robusta is endemic to West Virginia, while others are found in eastern North America. It is protected as endangered species in Wisconsin and Florida and as a threatened species in Michigan.
Fire Pink is also known as Scarlet Catchfly because its hairy and sticky stems catch flies and other insects. The sticky residue discourages these insects from eating the plant. They, as well as hummingbirds, are naturally attracted to these Fire Pink plants because of their bright-red, nectar-rich flowers.
There are about 3 to 10 scarlet flowers that grow loosely from the stems. Each flower is five-petaled and deeply notched on the tips. They flower from mid-spring to summer. One of its principal pollinators is the ruby-throated hummingbird (Archilochus colubris).
Fire Pink is best suited to growing in beds and borders. If you want them to self-seed, plant them in prairies and meadows. They thrive in part shade with dry to medium moisture and well-drained soils.
- Common Name: Cliff Pink, Fire Pink, Scarlet Catchfly
- Scientific Name: Silene Virginica
- Growing Zones: 4 – 8
- Sun: Partial Shade
- Soil: dry, moist
- Colors: Red
- Height: 6 inches – 2 feet tall
- Spread: 10 inches to 2 feet wide
- Plant Type: Perennial
