Attracting hummingbirds to your yard is easy!
Nectar sources are your biggest advantage.
Ruby-throated hummingbirds show up in Arkansas between mid-March and late April for the breeding season.
Hummers start migrating south in late July. Most are gone by mid-October.
Here's what to expect:
- 13 Flowers in Arkansas Hummingbirds Can’t Resist
- 5 Tips for Using Plants to Attract Hummingbirds
- Links to popular hummingbird articles
1. Bee Balm (Monarda)
- Perennial
Names: Bergamot, Horesemint, Oswego Tea
An herbaceous plant in the mint family and native to North America.
Choose Scarlet or “Fireball” Bee Balm (Monarda didyma) for hummingbirds.
Beebalm does best in full sun and needs good drainage.
It’s spreading behavior varies so keep an eye on it making sure it doesn’t take over your garden.
2. Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
- Perennial
Names: Scarlet Lobelia, Indian Pink
The Cardinal Flower depends on hummingbirds since many insects find the flowers difficult to navigate.
Every hummingbird garden must have Cardinal Flower since it’s practically a beacon for hummingbirds!
The flowers bloom from late summer through early fall, which is when young hummingbirds are feeding & adults are fueling up for migration.
3. Trumpet Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens)
- Perennial
Names: Coral honeysuckle, Scarlet honeysuckle
Named for its tubular, trumpet shaped flowers. These red flowers are ideal for hummingbirds in both shape and color.
Trumpet Honeysuckle is a great native plant for your garden especially in the eastern United States.
4. Foxglove (Digitalis)
- Perennial
Foxglove is known for its purple and pink spire-like flowers. They’re native to Europe but have adapted to the Americas.
Foxglove is great for partially shaded areas. It’s an ideal hummingbird flower for rural or suburban yards where deer may appear as it’s considered deer resistant.
Beware— Foxglove is toxic. All plant parts cause severe poisoning.
Avoid it if you have small children or pets.
5. Columbine (Aquilegia)
- Perennial
The red, yellow, and tube shape of Red Columbine found in Arkansas is a hummingbird favorite.
It blooms late March if there's a mild winter which is ideal for hummingbird migration in Arkansas.
The varieties differ a bit in appearance but have the same soft red and orange hues.
6. Cuphea
- Annual
Names: Red Cigar Flower, Firecracker Plant
Cupha is perfect for attracting hummingbirds to your yard. Its non-stop tube-shaped flowers bloom from spring to fall.
Choose varieties like Vermillionaire and Hummingbird's Lunch which are perfect for containers, hanging baskets, and mass plantings.
7. Lantana
- Annual
Names: shrub verbena, wild sage, red sage, or Spanish flag
The rich cluster of tubular flowers of the Lantana plant are a favorite for hummingbird gardens.
Go with varieties like Luscious Royale Red Zone or Bloomify Red that offer bright colors such as red, yellow, and orange.
Butterflies and bees love them, too, dubbing the plant a pollinator workhorse.
8. Fuchsia
- Annual
Fushia is known for its bell shaped upside down hanging flowers. They remind me of Bleeding Hearts
Try any of these four varieties for your hummingbirds: Gartenmeister Bonstedt (tubular orange), Jungle (red/orange), Christelchen (small red), or Garden News (magenta-rose).
Aim for partial shade and well draining soil.
9. Blazing Stars (Liatris)
- Annual
Names: Gayfeather
A tall cylindrical cluster of spikes for petals, Blazing Stars is one of the more fun flowers you can choose for hummingbirds.
It looks like a pink-purple bottlebrush.
10. Trumpet Vine (Campsis radicans)
- Perennial
Names: Yellow trumpet, trumpet creeper,
Trumpet vine is a gorgeous orange and peach colored flower.
If you’re looking to channel a warm sunrise vine in your garden, this is the flower to use.
This plant is a crawling and climbing vine ideal for fences and trellis. Be careful in smaller spaces as it can easily overtake your garden.
- Related: 5 Steps to Clean Hummingbird Feeders
11. Hibiscus
- Perennial
Names: Rose of Sharon
Hibiscus are hardy, full sun flowers that offer great options for cooler climates.
Sometimes hummingbirds make nests in or near the dense foliage of hibiscus shrubs.
Turk’s Cap is often cited as the best choice for attracting hummingbirds due to its consistent, bright red flowers. You can also try Tropical Hibiscus.
12. Red Buckeye (Aesculus pavia)
From Hill Craddock (link)
- Perennial
Hummingbirds love the clusters of red flowers in early spring.
Red Buckeye is the best flower for hummingbird migration in Arkansas since it blooms early to mid march.
This flowering tree makes for a great addition to any pollinator garden
13. Crossvine (Bignonia capreolata)
- Perennial
A vigorous climber that produces trumpet-shaped flowers (often orange with yellow throats).
This is another great flower for hummingbird migration in Arkansas since it blooms early to mid march.
The tube shape and bright colors are irresistible to Arkansas hummingbirds!
5 Key Tips for Using Plants to Attract Hummingbirds
1. Use Red Flowers
Hummingbirds are red sensitive.
They visit many colors but warm reds, yellows, and oranges increase the odds of them picking your flowers.
2. Avoid Invasive Plants
Butterfly Bush and Lantana camara are popular flowers for hummingbirds, but are invasive plants in Arkansas.
They can displace native vegetation.
If you want a native version, look specifically for "sterile" cultivars like Asian Moon that do not produce the berries birds eat and spread.
3. Group Plants Together
Grouping similar plants in clumps makes them easier for hummingbirds to spot.
Use companion planting to make sure your garden thrives!
4. Succession Planting
Choose a variety of plants that bloom at different times.
This gives hummingbirds a continuous nectar supply from early spring to late fall.
5. Avoid Pesticides
Insecticides protect plants from destructive insects.
Many store-bought pesticides can kill the insects hummingbirds eat and rely on for protien.
This throws off the delicate balance of the ecosystem.
Opt for these eco-friendly insecticide alternatives:
What flowers do your hummingbirds like?
Share them on the Sparkbird App! Where likeminded birders and nature enthusiasts go to share.
Available in the Apple App Store.
