Attracting hummingbirds to your yard is easy!
Nectar sources are your biggest advantage.
Fresh nectar and native flowers are the best way to attract hummingbirds.
Here's what to expect:
- 9 Native Georgian Flowers Hummingbirds Can’t Resist
- 5 Tips for Using Plants to Attract Hummingbirds
1. Bee Balm (Monarda)
- Perennial
Names: Bergamot, Horesemint, Oswego Tea
An herbaceous plant in the mint family and native to Georgia.
Choose Scarlet or “Fireball” Bee Balm for hummingbirds. The vibrant red is preferred by Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds and many butterflies.
Beebalm does best in full sun and needs good drainage.
Natives species of Bee Balm in Georgia that hummingbirds love:
- Wild Bergamot
- White Bergamot
- Spotted Bergamot
2. 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.
3. 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.
An ideal strain of Trumpet honeysuckle for hummingbirds in Georgia is Major Wheeler.
4. Beardtongue (Penstemon)
- Perennial
A drought tolerant delicate flowering plant. The nectar rich tubes attract hummingbirds and other pollinators.
Beardtongue comes in a number of pinks and purples sure to please your hummingbirds.
Choose varieties like Foxglove Beardtongue, Small’s Beardtongue, and Southern Beardtongue for Georgia hummingbird gardens.
5. Eastern Red Columbine (Aquilegia)
- Perennial
The red, yellow, and tube shape of Eastern Red Columbine found in Georgia make it a hummingbird favorite.
Western Columbine flowers are great for hummingbirds, too.
The varieties differ a bit in appearance but have the same soft red and orange hues.
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.
Go with varieties like Miss Huff, Chapel Hill, and Sunset, which can withstand Georgia winters.
Butterflies and bees love them, too, dubbing the plant a pollinator workhorse.
7. Blazing Stars (Liatris)
- Perenial
Names: Gayfeather
A tall cylindrical cluster of spikes for petals, Blazing Stars is one of the more fun flowers you can choose for hummingbirds in Georgia.
It looks like a pink-purple bottlebrush.
Ideal Liatris strains for attracting hummingbirds in Georgia are Dense Blazing Star, Rough Blazing Star, and the native Georgia Blazing-star.
Bonus: Clearwing Hummingbird Moths love Liatris
8. Trumpet Vine (Campsis radicans)
- Perennial
Names: Yellow trumpet, trumpet creeper, Hellvine or Devil's Shoestring.
Trumpet vine is a gorgeous orange and peach colored flower native to Georgia.
If you’re looking to channel a warm sunrise vine in your hummingbird garden, this is the flower to use.
9. 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.
Hibiscus strains native to Georgia that attract hummingbirds are Scarlet Rose Mallow and Swamp Rose Mallow.
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.
Salvia is extremely popular in Georgia gardens and attract many hummingbirds, but they are not technically native to the state.
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
Butterfly Bush (Buddleja) and certain types of Lantana (Lantana camara) are considered invasive or category 2 exotic pests in Georgia.
They can displace native vegetation.
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 visit ?
Share it on the Sparkbird App! Available in the Apple App Store.
