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Courtesy Lori Davidson
Hummingbird Mint
Agastache spp., Zones 5 to 9
Hummingbird mints are well-behaved full sun perennial plants in the mint family with aromatic foliage that deer detest. In the summer, they bloom spires of small tubular flowers available in purple, orange, rose, coral, or white colors. Heat and drought tolerant, many of these are native to North America.
Why we love it: In addition to attracting hummingbirds, these natural bird feeders are loved by songbirds who flock to the seeds in the fall.
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Courtesy Nancy MacDonald Uggla
Egyptian Star Flower
Pentas lanceolata, Zones 10 to 11 or annual
Often sold as flowering annuals, these small shrubs bloom clusters of five-petaled, star shaped flowers. Varieties are available in pink, yellow, purple, or white flower colors. About 2 feet high, pentas flowers can be used in containers, in the garden bed, or as small foundation or border type plants.
Why we love it: Unfazed by high heat and humidity, these tropical hummingbird favorite plants bloom all summer long in full sun. They also attract butterflies.
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Courtesy Liz Tabb Black & Blue salvia
Salvia
Salvia spp.
With such a wide variety of salvia plants, there is one for every garden. A well-behaved member of the mint family, salvias have tubular florets in almost every color. Salvias can be summer annuals or perennials, from short to tall, and all have that aromatic foliage that deer don’t like.
Why we love it: Salvias are plentiful and versatile. You can plant annuals in containers and perennials in the garden bed to ensure that hummingbirds find your garden.
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Courtesy Keith Clemens
Cuphea
Cuphea spp., Zones 9 to 10 or annual
Often purchased as summer annuals, cupheas are heat loving tropical plants with flower colors ranging from warm reds and oranges to cool pinks and purples. Some have tubular flowers while others have flatter faces. Fairly small, they do well in containers and do not have to be deadheaded.
Why we love it: Nothing bothers cupheas. They bloom non-stop from summer to fall, ensuring daily hummingbird visits.
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Courtesy Susan Grove
Spider Flower
Cleome spp., Zones 9 to 10 or annual
An old-fashioned cottage garden plant, cleome blooms large flower heads of pink, lavender, or white colors on 3 feet tall plants. Although cleome doesn’t need deadheading, gardeners can remove spent flower heads to minimize self-seeding. Drought and heat tolerant, cleomes are perfect for hot summers.
Why we love it: You can tone down the height and self-seeding by planting Senorita Rosalita, which does not produce seed and remains compact at 2 feet tall.
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Courtesy Marc Fahringer
Trumpet Honeysuckle
Lonicera sempervirens, Zones 4 to 9
A native, deciduous vine, trumpet honeysuckle blooms red and orange trumpet-shaped flowers from spring to summer which the hummingbirds love. Birds flock to the fall berries. In warm states, these vines for hummingbirds can remain evergreen.
Why we love it: This lightweight vine adds vertical interest as it climbs up trellises, fences, and arbors.
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Courtesy Terry Martin
Lily of the Nile
Agapanthus spp., Zones 7 to 11
Great for vertical accent, lily of the Nile blooms large flower heads comprised of tubular florets high above the strap-like foliage. Flowers can be white, purple, pink, blue, or bicolor. The plant can be a foot tall with flower scapes 3 feet tall but there are shorter cultivars suitable for containers.
Why we love it: The summer flowers can be cut for indoor arrangements or left to evolve into interesting seed heads for winter interest.
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Paul Starosta/Getty Images
Hummingbird Trumpet
Epilobium canum (formerly Zauschneria), Zones 8 to 10
Native to the western states, hummingbird trumpet is a drought tolerant perennial. Enjoy tubular orange flowers from summer to fall. About 2 feet high, this deer resistant plant has small gray/green foliage and thrives in hot arid climates. There are also varieties with white, peach, orange, red, and pink flowers for a wider color range.
Why we love it: Fairly versatile, the low maintenance, shrub-like full sun hummingbird plants can be used in rock gardens or as a groundcover for erosion control.
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Courtesy Mary Ahearn
Foxglove Beardtongue
Penstemon digitalis, Zones 3 to 8
Foxglove beardtongue is a native perennial with spikes of summer blooming, white tubular flowers. Plants are several feet tall, so a group of them can be quite showy. They tolerate clay soil and are deer and drought resistant.
Why we love it: Although their white flowers do light up a garden, they also can be used for a fresh flower arrangement.
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Courtesy Amy Phillips
Red Hot Poker
Kniphofia uvaria, Zones 5 to 9
These hardy South African natives last for many years in the garden. Red hot pokers produce grass-like foliage and 2 feet tall stalks of red, yellow, and orange bottlebrush-like flower heads. Although the flowers add vertical interest in the garden, they also can be cut for floral arrangements.
Why we love it: The unusual looking flowers thrive full sun and hummingbirds love them. They work well in tropical themed gardens as well as arid, rock gardens.
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