Attracting hummingbirds to your yard is easy!
Fresh nectar from flowers is your best bet.
Here's what to expect:
- Texas hummingbird season
- 15 Flowers in Texas Hummingbirds Love
- 5 Tips for Attracting Hummingbirds
Texas Hummingbird Season
Hummingbirds migrate from the south up through Texas in mid March.
Southbound hummingbird migration wraps up in October.
Hummingbird festivals like Xtreme Hummingbird Xtravaganza and Rockport-Fulton HummerBird Celebration happen during their fall migration.
Make sure your flowers are ready for hummingbird season
Plant your perennials so they bloom at slightly different times.
You want some flowers to bloom in early March, others in the summer when they start breeding.
This ensures hummingbirds have a steady supply of nectar!
15 Flowers to Attract Hummingbirds in Texas
Make sure to follow our 5 Tips for Attracting Hummingbirds.
1. Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
- Perennial
The Cardinal Flower depends on hummingbirds for pollination since many insects find the flowers difficult to navigate.
It's basically a beacon for hummingbirds!
The summer bloom is perfect for fledglings and migration.
2. Lantana
- Annual
This drought resistant flower makes it a great hummingbird plant in Texas.
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.
3. Bee Balm (Monarda)
- Perennial
An herbaceous plant in the mint family and native to South America.
The vibrant red is preferred by hummingbirds and many butterflies.
It’s spreading behavior varies so keep an eye on it making sure it doesn’t take over your garden.
4. Foxglove (Digitalis)
- Perennial
Foxglove is great for partially shaded areas.
It’s an ideal hummingbird flower for rural or suburban yards since it’s deer resistant.
Beware— Foxglove is toxic. All plant parts cause severe poisoning.
5. Columbine (Aquilegia)
- Perennial
This drought resistant flower is a hummingbird favorite!
It blooms late spring which is an ideal for hummingbird season in Texas .
6. Fireweed (Chamaenerion angustifolium)
- Perennial
A dominant, bright pink nectar source blooming in mid-to-late summer.
Hummingbirds can see this tall flower from a distance!
It's visibility makes it ideal for hummingbird food.
7. Cuphea
- Annual
Cuphea is perfect for attracting hummingbirds to your yard!
The tube-shaped flowers bloom from spring to fall.
It's perfect for containers, hanging baskets, and gardens.
8. Trumpet Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens)
- Perennial
Named for its tubular, trumpet shaped flowers.
These red and orange flowers are ideal for hummingbirds in Texas in both shape and color.
Trumpet Honeysuckle is a great plant for your pollinator garden.
9. Trumpet Vine (Campsis radicans)
- Perennial
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
10. Fuchsia
- Annual
Fuchsia is known for its bell shaped upside down hanging flowers.
Try any of these varieties for your hummingbirds: Gartenmeister Bonstedt, Jungle, Christelchen, or Garden News.
Aim for partial shade and well draining soil.
11. Petunias
- Annual
Petunias are a popular and nectar 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. Hibiscus
- Perennial
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.
13. Cherokee Bean (Erythrina herbacea)
- Perennial
A striking native shrub for Texas.
It blooms when hummingbirds are migrating through!
This drought tolerant perennial is ideal for attracting hummingbirds.
14. 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 Southward-bound hummingbirds.
15. Hummingbird Mint (Agastache)
- Perennial
Hummingbird Mint is the best Texas hummingbird plant on the list.
It's nectar rich and drought resistant.
The flowers bloom from mid-summer to fall— perfect for peak hummingbird activity.
5 Tips for Attracting 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 plants that support Texas's butterfly population
- Lantana camara because it displaces native flora
Check with the Texas Native Plant Society before planting.
3. Use Hummingbird Feeders
When in doubt put up nectar feeders.
Hummingbirds will come for your feeder but stay for the flowers!
4. Group Plants Together
Grouping similar plants in clumps makes them easier for hummingbirds to spot.
Use companion planting to make sure your garden thrives!
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 like minded birders and nature enthusiasts go to share.
Available in the Apple App Store.
