If you love hummingbirds and routinely attract them to your yard with hummingbird feeders, you may love putting in a hummingbird garden. Your hummingbird garden can be large or small and provide you with hours of time to observe these fascinating birds in your own backyard.
How to Create a Hummingbird Garden
Think of your backyard as a whole when trying to attract hummingbirds. You may have a small area of your backyard that you have set aside to turn into a hummingbird garden, but if at all possible, try to position it next to tall trees or shrubs, with a grassy lawn on the other side. Hummingbirds are creatures of habit and once they find your yard, they will likely return year after year. Make sure they have plenty of water, food, places to nest, bright flowers, and perches.
Photo by Bryan Hanson on Unsplash
Below are a few suggestions for plants that hummingbirds love. Make sure to plant three or more of each plant to provide enough nectar. Plant some nest building favorites like cinnamon fern and pussy willow, and also leave those dandelions growing because they love to build nests with them, as well. Remember to avoid insecticides to keep those adorable little birds safe!
Ever wondered about lavender flower meaning or dandelion symbolism?
Trumpet Vine
Trumpet Vine is often referred to as hummingbird vine. If you have a fence or trellis in your hummingbird garden this is a great option to grow. Each bloom has a deep trumpet perfect for hummingbirds to drink from and produces a large amount of nectar.
Red Cardinal Flower
Hummingbirds love the color red. Red Cardinal Flower is a great option for your hummingbird garden. The deep red and large supply of nectar will attract hummingbirds to your garden and provide them with plenty of food.
Bee Balm
Bee balm is a great herb for attracting all of your favorite pollinators from bees to butterflies and hummingbirds. Packed with plenty of sweet nectar, this herb can feed your hummingbird visitors and provide you with a great cup of tea.
Sage
Sage is another beautiful garden herb that attracts hummingbirds. If you are looking for a plant that can both provide food for these beautiful pollinators and provide food for your kitchen this is a great choice.
Trumpet Honeysuckle
Trumpet Honeysuckle is another sweet plant with a trumpet horn shape perfect for feeding hummingbirds. This delicate flower will look beautiful in your garden.
Columbine
Columbine is such a stunning blossom perfect for any garden. These flowers attract hummingbirds and provide plenty of nectar to feed them.
Lilies
Lilies are an easy to plant option for your hummingbird garden. These large trumpet-shaped flowers can draw the attention of passing hummingbirds from a distance. They are relatively low maintenance, popping back up in your garden year after year needing little to no regular care.
Red Buckeyes
Red Buckeyes are another great deep red option to help attract hummingbirds to your garden. These small flowers are a beautiful addition to your hummingbird garden.
Want to attract bees to your yard, too? Read my post on how to make your yard bee friendly!
first published: March 21, 2019 revised: February 21, 2023