Attract Hummingbirds to Your Garden
Want to Attract Hummingbirds to Your Garden?
You can create a hummingbird habitat in your desert garden landscape with plants that will not only grow well in the valley but that will also be appreciated by both you and our pollinating friends!
Since hummingbirds are attracted to colors (not smells), they most often prefer plants with reds, oranges and dark pinks. Many of these plants have tubular-shaped flowers designed specifically for their beaks.
27 Plants Hummingbirds Love
1. Baja Ruellia
(Ruellia peninsularis) - This evergreen shrub produces masses of dense, deep blue-purple petunia-like flowers. Enjoys partial to full sun and needs only occasional watering once established. (Photo courtesty of Monrovia.)
2. Elf Aloe
(Aloe 'Blue Elf') – This evergreen, heat-loving, easy-care succulent enjoys partial to full sun and is excellent in mass plantings, rock gardens and containers. Needs only occasional watering, once established; more in containers or extreme heat. (Photo by Doreen Wynja - courtesy of Monrovia.)
Bottlebrushes
3. Crimson/Lemon/Red/Scarlet Bottlebrush
(Callistemon citrinus) a – This easy-care evergreen shrub boasts masses of scarlet, bottle brush-shaped flowers. Provides year-round interest and prefers full sun. Is mildly drought tolerant and requires occasional watering, once established. Water more in extreme heat.
4. Little John Dwarf Bottlebrush
(Callistemon 'Little John') b – This dwarf evergreen shrub blooms with blood-red, bottlebrush-shaped flower spikes spring into summer and more frequently in temperate regions. Its blue-green leaves release a citrus scent when crushed. Prefers full sun. Once established, needs only occasional water; more often in extreme heat or containers. (Photo by Doreen Wynja - courtesy of Monrovia.)
Desert Willows
5. Desert Willow
(Chilopsis linearis) c – This shrubby, multi-trunked deciduous tree has narrow, long bright-green leaves and large, orchid-like flowers that range from white to dark pink in color. It produces long, woody seed pods after flowering. Enjoys full sun or part shade and well-drained soil. Average size: 25 feet tall and wide.
6. Burgundy Desert Willow
(Chilopsis linearis 'Burgundy') d – This small tree or large shrub has an open, airy structure, long, narrow leaves and fragrant, burgundy-pink trumpet-shaped flowers that hummingbirds love! Enjoys full sun and occasional watering (once established); more often in extreme heat or containers. Average size: 15 to 20 feet tall and wide. (Photo courtesy of Monrovia.)
7. Seedless Desert Willow
(Chilopsis linearis Art’s Seedless®) e – Produces large, showy pink-rose colored flowers from late spring until first frost—without the messy seed pods! Moderately to quickly, grows up to 25 ft. tall and wide. Enjoys full sun and low to moderate watering. (Photo courtesy of Mountain States Wholesale Nursery.)
8. Timeless Beauty® Desert Willow
(Chilopsis linearis 'Monhews') f – This beautiful deciduous to semi-evergreen desert tree boasts fragrant, burgundy and pale lavender tubular blooms that grow in clusters and do not set seed. Makes a great specimen or large patio container. Enjoys full sun and occasional watering (once established); more often in extreme heat or containers. Average size: moderately growing to 15 to 20 feet tall and wide. (Photo by Doreen Wynja - courtesy of Monrovia.)
9. Egyptian Star Cluster / Star Flower
(Pentas lanceolata) – This summer-blooming annual has medium to dark green leaves with clusters of small white, pink, lilac or red flowers and inconspicuous fruit. Enjoys full sun to part shade and well-drained, rich soil. Requires frequent, moderate watering in extreme heat. Average size: moderate growing to 2 feet.
Emu Bushes
10. Emu Bush
(Eremophila) g – This waterwise, desert-loving evergreen shrub enjoys full sun and colorful blooms in spring. Requires only occasional watering, once established.
11. Blue Bells™ Emu Bush
(Eremophila hygrophana Blue Bells™) h – This petite evergreen shrub has silvery foliage and attracts hummingbirds all year long with its stunning purple tubular flowers. Enjoys full sun and well-drained soil. Average size: 3 ft. tall by 5 feet wide. (Photo courtesy of Mountain States Wholesale Nursery.)
12. Easter Egg Emu Bush
(Eremophila racamosa) i – This evergreen shrub boasts long-lasting blooms spring thru summer that transform from yellow to orange buds that ultimately bloom from pink to pinkish-purple. Enjoys full sun, low to moderate water and grows well in containers. Average size: 4-5 feet tall by 3-4 feet wide. (Photo courtesy of Civano Nursery.)
13. Valentine® Red Emu Bush
(Eremophila maculate ‘Valentine’) j – A dense, evergreen shrub that has small, dark green leaves that get redder in the cold. Boasts masses of hot-pink to red tubular flowers in late winter. Enjoys full sun, reflected heat, well-drained soil and low to moderate water. Average size: 4 feet tall by 4-5 feet wide. (Photo courtesy of Mountain States Wholesale Nursery.)
14. Winter Blaze™ Emu Bush
(Eremophila glabra ssp. carnosa Winter Blaze™) k – This evergreen shrub has glossy green foliage and boasts red, tubular flowers most of the year. Prefers full sun (also grows well in partial shade), reflected heat and low to moderate water. Average size: 3-4 ft. tall and 4-5 ft. wide. (Photo courtesy of Mountain States Wholesale Nursery.)
15. Firebush / Hummingbird Bush / Texas Firecracker Bush
(Hamelia patens Sierra Red™) – Lush oval leaves are complimented by clusters of red-orange tubular flowers, followed by dark-purple fruit. Foliage turns copper-red in fall. Enjoys full sun to part shade and moderate watering. Average size: 3 ft. tall by 5 ft. wide. (Photo courtesy of Mountain States Wholesale Nursery.)
16. Firecracker Plant
(Russelia equisetiformis) – This semi-evergreen perennial has slender, rush-like stems that eventually fall over into showy cascades covered in clusters of small firecracker-like tubular scarlet flowers spring through fall. Prefers partial shade to full sun and regular watering; weekly or more often in extreme heat or containers. Average size: fast growing to 3-5 ft. tall and wide. (Photo by Doreen Wynja - courtesy of Monrovia.)
Lantana
17. Dallas Red Lantana
(Lantana x 'Dallas Red') l – This heat-tolerant boasts clusters of bright red, orange and yellow flowers and blooms spring through fall. Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds and is deer resistant and very heat tolerant, once established. Enjoys full sun and reflected heat. Prefers low to moderate water. Average size: 3-5 ft. tall and wide. (Photo courtesy of Civano Nursery.)
18. New Gold Lantana
(Lantana x 'New Gold') m – This heat-loving perennial boasts showy, trailing golden-yellow flower clusters from sprint through fall. Prefers full sun and occasional watering, once established; more often in extreme heat or containers. Average size: moderate growing to 1-1.5 ft. tall, spreading 2-4 ft. wide. (Photo by Doreen Wynja - courtesy of Monrovia.)
19. Trailing Purple Lantana
(Lantana montevidensis 'Purple') n – This heat and drought-tolerant groundcover boasts solid blankets of lavender flowers that grows quickly, stays low and spreads. Has true-green, strongly aromatic leaves with an aroma that offends rabbits and deer when disturbed. Prefers full sun to part shade and low to moderate water. Average size: 1-2 ft. tall and 3-6 ft. wide. (Photo courtesy of Civano Nursery.)
20. Mexican Honeysuckle
(Justicia spicigera ‘Mexican Honeysuckle’) – This lush evergreen shrub boasts bright orange tubular flowers that bloom in clusters. Prefers filtered sun, well-drained soil and moderate irrigation. Average size: 4 ft. tall by 4 ft. wide. (Photo courtesy of Mountain States Wholesale Nursery.)
21. Orange Cape Honeysuckle
(Tecomaria capensis) – A sprawling, woody, evergreen shrub that can be pruned as a hedge or lush accent shrub. Boasts small, bright red-orange, trumpet-shaped flowers that bloom in clusters. Prefers full sun, and occasional watering once established; more often in extreme heat or containers. Average size: 15-20 ft. tall and 6-8 ft. wide, with support. (Photo by Doreen Wynja - courtesy of Monrovia.)
22. Red Yucca varieties
(Hesperaloe parviflora) – Above, you'll enjoy colorful seasonal blooms on sturdy, upright flower spikes. Below, evergreen dense clumps of green to gray-green, sword-shaped foliage provides beautiful year-round interest and texture. Prefers full sun and needs only occasional watering once established; more often in extreme heat or containers. Size varies by variety. (Photo by Doreen Wynja - courtesy of Monrovia.)
23. Sage varieties
(Salvia) – These water-wise, drought tolerant plants enjoy full sun and bloom spring into summer. Needs only occassional watering once established. Size varies by variety.
24. Summer Snapdragon
(Angelonia) – Salvia-like flower spires are covered with snapdragon-like blooms in pink, purple or white and blooms spring through fall. Prefers partial sun (with afternoon shade), well-drained soil and regular watering (allow soil to dry out between waterings). Once established, is moderately drought-tolerant. Average size: grows to 1-2 ft. tall.
25. Tangerine Beauty Crossvine
(Bignonia capreolata 'Tangerine Beauty' ) – This easy to grow woody vine boasts tangerine-colored blooms throughout the season. This vigorous vine is highly adaptable, semi-evergreen and can tolerate heavy shade and poor soil. Prefers full sun and regular watering; weekly or more often in extreme heat. Average size: quickly reaches 30 ft. long. (Photo by Doreen Wynja - courtesy of Monrovia.)
26. Trumpet Vine
(Campsis radicans) – This vine enjoys partial shade to full sun and blooms in the summer. Grows best with the support of a trellis, fence or arbor. Excellent as an accent plant. Water regularly in extreme heat; once established, requires little water and care. Average size: can quickly reach 30 ft. or longer.
27. Yellow Bells
(Tecoma stans) – This semi-evergreen, fast-growing shrub or small tree boasts beautiful large clusters of golden-yellow, bell-shaped flowers. Very heat tolerant and grows best in full sun. Average size: can be pruned into a 25-ft. tall tree in frost-free areas.
For More on Hummingbirds...
In addition to flowering plants, hummingbirds appreciate shade trees from which they can rest and look for insects to feed on. This combination is sure to create an environment that hummingbirds will enjoy!
Want to learn more about Hummingbirds, as well as Hummingbird feeders? Click the button below.
Visit your local SummerWinds Nursery today and experience what our Trusted Garden Advisors can do for you!
