Flowers That Attract Hummingbirds to Your Porch, Patio or Back Fence

Shaggy red blooms stacked on tall stems, and a hummingbird can spot them from across the yard. This clump sits right at the edge of a lawn, which is a smart spot. The birds have a clear flight path in and out.

• Plant it in sun, where the flowers can open fully
• Leave space between plants so air can move through the leaves
• Cut spent stems back after the first wave to bring on more blooms

Bee balm spreads into a thick patch over time, so give it room along a fence or a bed edge.

Cardinal flower is the one to grab if you have a soggy spot where other plants sulk. Its red, star shaped blooms climb a tall stem, one above the other, and hummingbirds work their way up the spike. In the photo, the green background makes the red look almost electric.

Here is a simple way to give it a good start:

1. Choose a spot that stays damp, like the low end of a bed or near a downspout.
2. Add a layer of mulch so the soil holds water.
3. Water during dry spells, especially in the first summer.

Not every hummingbird plant has to be red. Summersweet carries creamy white spikes in midsummer, and the sweet scent drifts across a patio. Hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies all stop by.

The plant in this photo is still in its nursery pot, which shows how full and rounded it grows even before it hits the ground. Plant it near a bench or a back gate so you catch the fragrance as you walk by.

It does best where the soil stays a little moist. A hot, dry corner is the quickest way to make it unhappy.

Hang one of these by the door and the hummingbirds will find your porch. The deep blue flowers sit on near black stems, so the color pops against a pale basket and green leaves.

In the ground, this kind of salvia gets big. A basket keeps it compact, and hanging it at eye level means you can watch the birds up close.

• Give it plenty of sun
• Check the soil often in hot weather, since baskets dry fast
• In cold winters, treat it as a summer plant or bring it indoors

A small stool or a hook near a chair makes a nice bird watching corner.

A plain fence panel is wasted space. Here, a honeysuckle has taken over the boards with clusters of pink and orange tubes, and the small evergreen below frames the whole scene.

The long, narrow flowers are shaped for a hummingbird’s bill. The vine does the work and you get a wall of color, with no extra beds to dig.

One warning. Some honeysuckles spread too hard and are a problem in many areas. Ask your local nursery for a native or well behaved type before you plant.

These flowers curl like little seashells, and that alone makes people stop at the porch. The blooms in this photo shift from cream to lilac to yellow and plum on the same vine.

Be honest about its role. Snail vine is loved by bees and butterflies, and hummingbirds may visit, but it is not the top pick on this list. Use it as a showpiece and plant a red tube flower close by to do the heavy lifting.

One red puff, hundreds of fine threads, and leaves like tiny green feathers. Fairy duster looks like nothing else on the patio, and the red color is a magnet for hummingbirds.

The nursery pots in this photo show how well it fits a container. Put it in a sunny corner, use a mix that drains fast, and let it dry a bit between drinks.

It likes warmth. In places with hard freezes, keep it in a pot so you can move it to shelter.

Small tree, big purple clusters, and a front yard that suddenly looks planned. Texas mountain laurel blooms early in spring with grape colored flowers that hang like wisteria.

Here is the honest part. It is better known as a bee plant than a hummingbird plant. Its job in this list is the backdrop. Plant red or orange perennials underneath, and the birds get a reason to stay long after the purple fades.

It wants sun and soil that drains well. One safety note: the seeds are poisonous, so think twice before planting it where small kids or pets play.

Look under the leaves. Pink bells with fine red stripes hang in a tight bunch, and a bumblebee is already working the cluster in this photo. Hanging, bell shaped blooms are easy for hovering birds to reach.

This shrub looks like a woodland plant that likes some shade and soil that is not too sweet. Put it where you can look up into the blooms, like beside a porch step or at the edge of a patio.

When the flowers hang low and the leaves cover the top, the plant stays tidy and the nectar stays easy to find.