HummingBird's Favorite Flowers and Nectar Recipe

Keep something in bloom continuously during the time hummingbirds are expected in your area. Native plants are a good place to start but don't limit yourself. Much effort has gone into developing flowers that hummers love!

Hummingbird favorites usually (but not always) have long, tubular blossoms that are red, orange, yellow, or blue, especially blue Salvia species; the shape limits insect access to the nectar inside. Hummers like blossoms with lots of concentrated nectar, preferring sucrose.

Listed below are some of the best plant families for "natural nectar."

ABUTILON, Chinese Bell Flower, Chinese Lantern, Flowering Maple

Bell-shaped blooms with a good show of color. Under cooler conditions, colors intensify.

4.5” Annual (not winter hardy)

 

AGASTACHE, ‘BLUE FORTUNE’ HYSSOP

Blooms heavily in early summer. Aromatic foliage has a peppermint-lemon scent when brushed against or crushed.

Perennial (Comes back every year)

 

 

 

 

ALOE VERA

Topical remedy for burns and sunburns, cuts, & skin irritations!

Succulents (not winter hardy)

 

 

 

ANISACANTHUS, ‘FLAME ACANTHUS

Prolific, trumpet-like, orange to red, tubular flowers bloom all summer until frost.

Perennial (Comes back every year)

 

 

AQUILEGIA COLUMBINE, ’SONGBIRD CARDINAL’

Several varieties. Perennial plants that are found in meadows.

 

LONICERA, ‘HONEYSUCKLE GOLD FLAME' AND 'YELLOW CHARME’

Flowers bloom repeatedly from summer through fall. Excellent vine cover for fences, trellises, arbors.

Nursery Stock (winter hardy)

 

 

MONARDA, BALMY™ ROSE

Bee Balm. Boldly colored, shaggy rich magenta flower-heads bloom in abundance atop a compact plant with very dark green, fragrant minty, basil-scented foliage.

Perennial (Comes back every year)

 

 

 

KNIPHOFIA, ‘RED HOT POKER’ MIX

Spikes topped by narrow, tubular owers from pale yellow to orange-red.

Perennial (Comes back every year)

 

 

 

 

 

PENSTEMON, ROCK CANDY™ PURPLE PENSTEMON

Sweet as candy yet tough as nails, this compact perennial. Plump, deep purple flowers with white throats.

Perennial (Comes back every year)

 

  

 

 

FUCHSIA, BELLINTO™ RED & BLUE

Trailing Flowers that look like Dancing Ballerinas. Deep blue petals with red sepals.

Annual (Not winter hardy)

 

 

 

 

HAMELIA PATENS, ‘MEXICAN FIREBUSH’

Hummingbird Bush produces showy terminal clusters (cymes) of bright reddish-orange or scarlet tubular flowers.

Annual (not winter hardy)

 

 

 

LOBELIA, ‘RIVIERA MIX’ AND OTHERS

Extensive range of colors!

Annual 6-packs (Not winter hardy)

 

 

 

  

 

TECOMA STANS/ TECOMARIA ‘MAYAN GOLD’

Yellow Trumpetbush. Plants have an exotic appearance with large gold flowers and glossy green leaves.

Annual (Not winter hardy)

 

 

SALVIA, RED HOT SALLY II

"Scarlet Sage". It boasts a darker red flower color and beautiful contrasting dark green foliage.

Annual (Not winter hardy)

 

 

SALVIA, ‘VICTORIA BLUE’, ‘VISTA PURPLE’

Foliage is an attractive grayish-green. Flowering Sage blooms all summer long.

Annual (Not winter hardy)

 

 

 

Hummingbird Nectar Recipe

• 1 Part Sugar (1/2 cup Sugar)
• 4 Parts Water (2 cups Water)

In a medium-size saucepan mix and boil for 1-2 minutes.

Cool & Store In Refrigerator

Never use honey or artificial sweeteners! Honey ferments easily and can cause sores in a hummer's mouth. Artificial sweeteners have no food value.  Use food coloring in your solution only when it is from a natural source, as this could be harmful to your hummers.