The more nectar-rich flowers your yard has, the more hummingbirds you can attract with natural food and eye-catching color. The best perennials to attract hummingbirds will provide both, and the more of these beautiful blooms you plant, the more of these tiny birds you will entice to visit.

About Perennials

Perennials are flowers that rebloom year after year, growing larger and more beautiful in successive seasons. Because these flowers last, they can be a great investment for hummingbird-friendly landscaping, as there is no need to replace them each year. Perennials are not immortal, but they will last 3-5 years or longer. Some of these flowers will also reseed themselves to create new generations of plants, and they can eventually be divided and replanted in new areas or shared with other hummingbird lovers.

Many perennials may initially cost more than annual flowers, but because they will attract hummingbirds for several years, their cost is actually more affordable in the long run. Perennials can easily form a backbone of beautiful flowerbeds and landscaping that hummingbirds and other pollinators will love, creating a stunning landscape ideal for attracting these flying jewels.

The 20 Best Perennials for Hummingbirds

A wide variety of perennials will attract hummingbirds, but the very best blooms will be nectar-rich and offer multiple flowers for sweet sips. Tube-shaped flowers are ideal for hummingbirds, and blooms in brighter shades – especially reds or pinks – will catch hummingbirds’ eyes the most. The top perennials that are surefire hummingbird attractors include:

• Bee balm
• Blazing star
• Bleeding heart
• Blood sage
• Cardinal flower
• Catmint
• Columbine
• Daylily
• Fireweed
• Foxglove
• Hollyhock
• Lungwort
• Lupine
• Penstemon
• Phlox
• Purple coneflower
• Red salvia
• Red-hot poker
• Verbena
• Yarrow

These are only a few of the perennials hummingbirds will love, and adding any of them to the yard will be sure to catch hummingbirds’ interest.

Choosing Perennials for Hummingbirds

For the best results, perennials should be well-nourished so they can thrive in the landscape. A healthy, flourishing plant will produce brighter, larger blooms and greater amounts of nectar, making it a perfect feeding spot for hungry hummers.

To help hummingbird-friendly perennials reach their potential…

• Choose the proper plants for the gardening zone and local climate.
• Opt for different plants with different bloom times for a longer flowering season.
• Test the soil to ensure it is the best type for the chosen plants.
• Position perennials in the right area for the sunlight level they prefer.
• Plant perennials in layers or tiers to create more access to extra flowers.
• Water the flowers appropriately to keep them fresh and healthy.
• Prune or deadhead perennials as needed to encourage reblooming.
• perennial beds with easy annuals for even more color and nectar.
• Add a hummingbird feeder inside the flowerbed for even more fun!

Perennials are excellent flowers to attract hummingbirds, especially nectar-rich blooms that provide a nutritious, natural food source. Hummingbirds investigate a wide range of flowers throughout the day as they feed, and offering more flowers is a great way to encourage these birds to visit frequently.