Attracting hummingbirds to your yard is easy!
Make sure your flowers are ready for hummingbird migration
Colorado has 4 primary hummingbird species—Broad-tailed, Rufous, Black-chinned, and Calliope.
They migrate around mid-April and stay throughout the summer and leave by September.
Here's what to expect:
- 12 Flowers in Colorado Hummingbirds Love
- 5 Tips for Using Plants to Attract Hummingbirds
- Links to popular hummingbird articles
1. 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 and adults are fueling up for migration.
2. Hummingbird Mint (Agastache)
- Perennial
Names: Anise Hyssop
Hummingbird Mint has tubular, nectar rich flowers that are perfect for hummingbirds (hence its name).
A hardy drought resistant flower makes it a suitable plant for hummingbirds in Colorado gardens.
The fragrant lavender-blue flowers bloom from mid-summer to fall.
3. 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.
4. Columbine (Aquilegia)
- Perennial
The red, yellow, and tube shape of Red Columbine is a hummingbird favorite.
It blooms late March if there's a mild winter which is ideal for hummingbird migration in Colorado.
It's the perfect flower for hummingbirds in Colorado because it's drought resistance.
5. 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.
This drought resistant flower is a must for Colorado hummingbirds.
6. 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.
Butterflies and bees love them, too, dubbing the plant a pollinator workhorse.
This drought resistant flower is great for hummingbirds in Colorado.
7. Fireweed (Chamaenerion angustifolium)
- Perennial
A dominant, bright pink nectar source blooming in mid-to-late summer.
Hummingbirds can see this tall cone shaped flowering plant from a distance making it ideal for hummingbird food.
- Related: 5 Steps to Clean Hummingbird Feeders
8. Golden Currant (Ribes aureum)
- Perennial
These early blooming, yellow shrubs offer essential early nectar making it a premier native plant for hummingbirds.
It blooms April-May in Alaska and has yellow trumpet shaped flowers.
This drought tolerant plant for Colorado hummingbirds also doubles as a great nesting site for other birds.
9. Common Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)
- Perennial
A low-lying ground cover with small, nectar-rich flowers.
Common Bearberry has small red berries that, you guessed it, bears and birds eat.
The small pink and white flowers of this drought resistant plant are ideal nectar sources for Colorado hummingbirds.
10. Great Red Paintbrush (Castilleja miniata)
- Perennial
A vibrant red flowering plant with firework-like bracts that bloom from March to October.
Everything from the shape to the color makes it a hummer magnet!
It's a popular plant for pollinator gardens, too.
11. Harebell (Campanula rotundifolia)
- Perennial
This blooms early summer to fall which is ideal for succession gardening & just before hummingbirds start their southern migration out of Colorado.
This high-nectar flower is a must for any hummingbird garden.
12. Bee Balm (Monarda)
- Perennial
Names: Bergamot, Horesemint, Oswego Tea
An herbaceous plant in the mint family and native to North America.
The vibrant red is preferred by Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds and many butterflies.
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.
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
They can displace native vegetation.
- Butterfly Bush (Buddleja davidii): closely monitored & only a threat to riparian (riverside) areas. In Colorado, it can escape gardens and displace native plants like the Colorado Butterfly Plant.
- Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea): is a non-native species that has naturalized in some mountain regions of Colorado. While it isn't a top-tier noxious weed yet, it is noted for its ability to escape cultivation.
Check the Noxious Weed Species in Colorado list before planting.
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.
