Attracting hummingbirds to your yard is easy!
Here's what to expect:
- Hummingbird migration in Idaho
- 9 plants in Idaho that hummingbirds love
- 5 tips for using flowers to attract hummingbirds
Hummingbird Migration in Idaho
Hummingbirds migrate from the south up through Idaho in late April to early May. Their peak activity is in the summer.
Southbound hummingbird migration isn't always a thing.
Some hummingbirds stay in Idaho for the winter.
Make sure your flowers are ready for hummingbird migration
Use the tips below for succession planting.
You want some flowers that bloom in early April for hummingbird migration to Idaho, others to bloom in the summer when they settle and start breeding.
This ensures hummingbirds have a steady supply of nectar.
9 Flowering Plants that Attract Hummingbirds in Idaho
Make sure to follow our 5 Tips for Success for using plants to attract hummingbirds below.
1. 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 top hummingbird plants in Idaho gardens.
The fragrant lavender-blue flowers bloom from mid-summer to fall.
2. Foxglove (Digitalis)
- Perennial
Foxglove is known for its purple and pink spire-like flowers.
Foxglove is great for partially shaded areas. It’s an ideal hummingbird plant 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.
Keep Foxglove in planters. It can outcompete native plants.
3. Columbine (Aquilegia)
- Perennial
The red, yellow, and bell or tube shape of Red Columbine is a hummingbird favorite.
It blooms late spring if there's a mild winter which is an ideal for hummingbird plant in Idaho.
4. 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.
5. Red Elderberry (Sambucus racemosa)
- Perennial
Red Elderberry blooms in early to mid spring giving hummingbirds a reliable nectar source after migrating.
The elderberries are red, the flowers are white.
Elderberry shrubs are great nesting sites for other birds, too, making it the top hummingbird plant in Idaho.
6. 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 Idaho hummingbirds also doubles as a great nesting site for other birds.
7. 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 Idaho hummingbirds.
8. 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.
9. Harebell (Campanula rotundifolia)
- Perennial
Idaho hummingbirds love this nectar rich flower!
It blooms early summer to fall which is ideal for succession gardening.
This drought tolerant flower is an hummingbird plant in Idaho or any hummingbird 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) isn't prohibited in every Idaho county, but some nurseries have stopped selling it due to its invasive potential in riparian areas
- Foxglove tends to take over and choke out native plants in the Panhandle. Keep this in planters.
- Exotic Bush Honeysuckles are an invasive shrub version of Trumpet Honeysuckle
Check with the Idaho State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) 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. Use Hummingbird Feeders
When in doubt put up nectar feeders.
Hummingbirds will come for easy food. They'll notice your flowers & keep coming back for more.
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.
