Attracting hummingbirds to your yard is easy!
Here's what to expect:
- Hummingbird migration in Louisiana
- 16 Flowers in Louisiana Hummingbirds Love
- 5 Tips for Using Plants to Attract Hummingbirds
Hummingbird Migration in Louisiana
Hummingbirds migrate from the south up through Louisiana as early as January. Their migration peaks in April
Southbound hummingbird migration starts late July and ends in September.
Make sure your flowers are ready for hummingbird migration
Plant your perennials so they bloom at slightly different times.
You want some flowers to bloom in early April & others to bloom in the summer when they start breeding.
This ensures hummingbirds have a steady supply of nectar.
14 Flowers to Attract Hummingbirds in Louisiana
Make sure to follow our 5 Tips for Success using plants to attract hummingbirds.
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. 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 Louisiana.
It's the perfect flower for hummingbirds in Louisiana.
3. Cuphea
- Annual
Names: Red Cigar Flower, Firecracker Plant
Cuphea is perfect for attracting hummingbirds to your yard. Its non-stop tube shaped flowers bloom from spring to fall.
They're perfect for containers, hanging baskets, and mass plantings.
4. 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 Louisiana.
5. Fuchsia
- Annual
Fuchsia is known for its bell shaped upside down hanging flowers.
Try any of these varieties for your hummingbirds: Gartenmeister Bonstedt, Jungle (red/orange), or Garden News (magenta-rose).
Aim for partial shade and well draining soil.
6. Blazing Stars (Liatris)
- Annual
Names: Gayfeather
Blazing Stars looks is one of the more fun flowers you can choose for hummingbirds.
Great for for attracting hummingbirds & monarch butterflies!
7. Trumpet Vine (Campsis radicans)
- Perennial
Trumpet vine is a gorgeous orange and peach colored flower.
The tube shape and color make it good for attracting hummingbirds in Louisiana.
If you’re looking to channel a warm sunrise vine in your garden, this is the vine-flower to use.
WARNING: native but invasive.
The crawling vine can easily takeover your garden.
8. 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.
9. 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.
It’s spreading behavior varies so keep an eye on it making sure it doesn’t take over your garden.
10. 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.
11. Petunias
- Annual
Petunias are a popular and abundant flower. You can find them in every garden center this spring and probably in a number of grocery stores.
They can be an uncommon magnet for all pollinators.
12. Salvia
- Perennial
Names: California hummingbird sage, pitcher sage
The fruity rose, red, and purple hued flowers of hummingbird sage are a staple in any pollinator garden.
Surprisingly, Black & Blue Salvia is a popular choice by birders and gardeners alike.
13. Firebush (Hamelia patens)
- Perrenial
The ultimate hummingbird flower in Louisiana earning it number 1 for best flowers.
It produces orange-red tubular flowers nearly year-round and can grow as a large shrub.
Varieties like Lime Sizzler are popular for their variegated foliage.
14. Coral Bean (Erythrina herbacea)
- Perennial
Names: Cherokee bean
A striking native flower that sends up spikes of bright red, sword-like flowers in early spring.
It blooms exactly when Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are migrating through!
- Related: 9 Ways to Attract Hummingbird
15. Red Buckeye (Aesculus pavia)
- Perennial
Hummingbirds love the clusters of red flowers in early spring.
It's one of the first nectar sources available for northward-bound hummingbirds.
16. Crossvine (Bignonia capreolata)
- Perennial
A vigorous climber that produces trumpet-shaped flowers (often orange with yellow throats).
It's a great native alternative to Trumpet Vine.
The tube shape and bright colors are irresistible to Louisianan 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
They can displace native vegetation.
- Butterfly Bush crowds out the native plants that support Louisiana's local butterfly population
- Lantana forms dense allelopathic thickets (chemicals that prevent other plants from growing) and is toxic to livestock.
Check with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries 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.
