Attracting hummingbirds to your yard is easy!
Here's what to expect:
- Hummingbird migration in Massachusetts
- 10 Flowers in Massachusetts Hummingbirds Love
- 5 Tips for Attracting Hummingbirds
When do hummingbirds return to Massachusetts?
Hummingbirds migrate from the south up through Massachusetts in late April.
Southbound hummingbird migration wraps up 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.
11 Flowers to Attract Hummingbirds in Massachusetts
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-- perfect for fledglings and migration.
2. Cuphea
- Annual
Names: Red Cigar Flower, Firecracker Plant
Cupha is perfect for attracting hummingbirds to your yard. The flowers bloom from spring to fall.
It's works well in containers, hanging baskets, and yards.
3. Lantana
- Annual
Names: shrub verbena, wild sage, red sage, or Spanish flag
This drought resistant flower is great for hummingbirds in Massachusetts.
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.
4. Common Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)
- Perennial
A low-lying drought resistant plant with small, nectar-rich flowers.
Common Bearberry has small red berries that bears and birds eat.
The small pink and white flowers are popular and nectar rich for hummingbirds.
5. 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!
6. 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 Massachusetts.
The crawling vine can easily takeover your garden.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. Harebell (Campanula rotundifolia)
- Perennial
Blooms early summer to fall which is ideal for succession gardening.
The bloom time coincides with the peak presence of Rufous Hummingbirds.
This high-nectar flower is a must for any hummingbird garden in Massachusetts.
10. 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.
11. 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 Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts's local butterfly population
- Foxglove displaces native flower; not the same as Foxglove Beardtongue
Check with the Massachusetts Invasive Plant Advisory Group (MIPAG) 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 protein.
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.
