Gardening Ideas Plants that Attract Hummingbirds By Southern Living Editors Southern Living Editors Since 1966, the editors of Southern Living have been carrying out the mission of the brand: to bring enjoyment, fulfillment, and inspiration to our readers by celebrating life in the South. We inspire creativity in their homes, their kitchens, their gardens, and their personal style. We are a friend they can trust, a guide to the seasons, a helping hand during the holidays, and a relentless champion of the Southern way of life. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on April 21, 2021 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Wondering which flower varieties to plant to get your garden humming? Here are our Grumpy's top picks.Hummingbirds are looking for something a little different in a flower. Their long, narrow beak is designed to reach deep into the necks of tubular flowers, such as Lydia™ and Bells of Fire™ Tecoma. But you may be surprised at the smaller flowers on which the birds feed. The necks of Saucy™ Wine and Saucy™ Red Salvias are not too tight for hummingbirds to penetrate, nor are those of Ever Sapphire™ Agapanthus. You will also find them hovering among the blossoms on your Shining Sensation™ Weigelas. 01 of 13 Lydia™ Tecoma Unlike traditional varieties, Lydia blooms from early spring until frost, grows more compactly, and has less seed pods. USDA Zones: 8, 9, 10, 11 Exposure: Full Sun Learn more about Lydia™ Tecoma. 02 of 13 Bells of Fire Tecoma™ An Evergreen mid-sized shrub with a subtropical to tropical appearance and bell-shaped flowers, this new variety is more compact and has more color range. USDA Zones: 8, 9, 10, 11 Exposure: Full Sun Learn more about Bells of Fire™ Tecoma. 03 of 13 Saucy™ Wine Salvia A stunning new Salvia variety, with a neat, but vigorous plant habit and lush green foliage that’s covered with burgundy-red flower, and spikes from April to November. Sterile and self-cleaning, no need to deadhead. Always looks full yet tidy. USDA Zones: 9, 10 Exposure: Full Sun to Part Shade Learn more about Saucy™ Wine Salvia. 04 of 13 Saucy™ Red Salvia A gorgeous Salvia variety, with a neat but vigorous plant habit, and lush green foliage that’s covered with sizzling scarlet-red flower that spikes from April to November. Sterile and self-cleaning, no need to deadhead. Always looks full yet tidy. USDA Zones: 9, 10 Exposure: Full Sun to Part Shade Learn more about Saucy™ Red Salvias. 05 of 13 Stars & Stripes™ Pentas Hummingbirds will be buzzing around these vivid red flowers with pink centers. Stars and Stripes™ pentas produce abundant clusters of blooms from spring to fall. USDA Zones: 9, 10, 11 Exposure: Full Sun Learn more about Stars & Stripes™ pentas. 06 of 13 Ultra Violet™ Buddleia Southern Living Plant Collection The lush purple flowers of buddleia (commonly referred to as butterfly bush) will also draw honeybees and butterflies to your yard. Plant this deciduous shrub in a border garden or a container, and watch it rebloom from spring to fall. USDA Zones: 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 Exposure: Full Sun Learn more about Ultra Violet™ Buddleia. 07 of 13 Ever Sapphire™ Agapanthus This drought-tolerant plant produces vibrant blue blooms on 20- to 24-inch stalks. It blooms in early spring and reblooms throughout summer. Cut showy stems for a seasonal arrangement. USDA Zones: 8, 9, 10, 11 Exposure: Part Sun Learn more about Ever Sapphire™ Agapanthus. 08 of 13 Solar Glow™ Sunbow® Azalea Series This brilliant spring-blooming deciduous azaleas has larger, colorful, and more showy blooms. It work great in light shade, and even sunnier locations. With the added attraction of honey-suckle fragrance, these are a great addition to your garden. USDA Zones: 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 Exposure: Full Sun to Part Shade Learn more about Solar Glow™ Sunbow® Azalea Series. 09 of 13 Crazy Pink™ Echinacea Large daisy-like flowers with drooping, pink petals surround a large orange button-shaped cone. Blooms appear earlier than other coneflowers. Brings power blooming to the border garden, capable of over 100 blooms on a mature plant. USDA Zones: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 Exposure: Full Sun or Part Shade Learn more about Crazy Pink™ Echinacea. 10 of 13 Love and Wishes™ Salvia Deep purple flowers cover these tough plants from early spring to frost. Like her cousin Wendy’s Wish Salvia, this salvia will form a ball of color in your yard, with no pruning or deadheading. A portion of plant proceeds go to Make-A-Wish® AU. USDA Zones: 9, 10, 11 Exposure: Full Sun to Part Shade Learn more about ‘Love and Wishes’ Salvia. 11 of 13 Miss Lemon™ Abelia Southern Living Plant Collection Deer-resistant abelia shows off variegated yellow-and-green leaves and produces light pink flowers from summer through fall. Plant this easy-to-care-for shrub along a border, in a raised bed, or in a container. USDA Zones: 6, 7, 8, 9 Exposure: Full Sun to Part Shade Learn more about Miss Lemon™ Abelia. 12 of 13 Cosmic Firestorm™ Lantanas Southern Living Plant Collection Cosmic Firestorm lantanas deliver year-round color to your yard. This long-blooming, drought-resistant plant attracts hummingbirds and butterflies with its fiery-colored flowers. USDA Zones: 8, 9, 10 Exposure: Full Sun Learn more about Cosmic Firestorm™ lantanas. 13 of 13 Light Show™ Red Bottlebrush Southern Living Plant Collection This tough, drought-tolerant dwarf shrub shows off dense emerald foliage and scarlet red flowers. Light Show™ Red Bottlebrush is a heat-tolerant plant that thrives in full sun from spring through summer. USDA Zones: 8, 9, 10 Exposure: Full Sun Learn more about Light Show™ Red Bottlebrush. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit