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How To Attract Hummingbirds: Make Your Yard A Hummingbird Haven
Posted By High Country Gardens Content Team on Jan 15, 2002 · Revised on Oct 13, 2026
Posted By High Country Gardens Content Team on Jan 15, 2002 · Revised on Oct 13, 2026
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To attract hummingbirds, grow natural nectar. Long, tubular flowers in red, orange, pink and purple that bloom in sequence from early spring through fall will bring hummingbirds to your yard and keep them coming back. Add moving water, shrubs and trees for perching and nesting, and a chemical-free garden that supports the tiny insects they eat for protein, and you have a true hummingbird haven. These are the same four elements, food, water, shelter and eco-friendly care, that the International Hummingbird Society uses to certify a Certified Hummingbird Haven.
The Southwest is home to more hummingbird species than any other region of the United States. Some live year-round in the South and West, while about a dozen species migrate thousands of miles to and from Mexico and Central America each year. A natural nectar garden helps replace habitat lost to development and agriculture and fuels them along the way. Planting for hummingbirds is at the heart of what we do, and it's why Natural Nectar, Habitat Creation and Waterwise are our pillars of sustainable gardening. The reward is the company of these winged jewels, darting from flower to flower for their next sip of nectar.
Hummingbirds drink flower nectar for energy and eat small insects and spiders for protein. Natural nectar, the nectar that comes from flowers, is the best food you can offer them, and a garden of nectar plants also provides habitat for the insects they need.
"As a result of their unique but inefficient means of flight, they must consume enormous amounts of food each day, with nectar often amounting to 100-200% of their body weight."
Hummingbirds find flowers by sight, not scent, so they look for vivid red, orange, pink, yellow and blue to purple blooms. Their favorites have long, tubular flowers that fit a hummingbird's slender bill and hold nectar most insects can't reach. After more than 30 years of growing for Western gardens, the plants we rely on most are native and regionally adapted perennials such as Agastache, Penstemon, Salvia and Zauschneria, and many of them feed butterflies and native bees too. Browse all of our hummingbird plants and natural nectar plants, or start with our top plants for natural nectar pollinator gardens.
Hummingbirds feed nearly constantly during the day and need nectar from the moment they return in spring all the way through when they fuel up to migrate south in late summer and fall. In David's Santa Fe garden, hummingbird numbers peaked in early September as birds moved toward their wintering grounds. Plant for bloom succession so your garden hands off nectar from one season to the next. Here are the hummingbird plants we recommend, grouped by bloom season and drawn from David's own garden.
Early to mid-spring, for the first returning migrants:
Late spring:
Summer:
Early fall, for the peak of southward migration:
For part shade, Columbine and Coral Bells are two of the best hummingbird flowers for afternoon shade or dappled light under trees. Find more options among our shade-loving plants. For containers, compact Agastache, Salvia and annual Zinnias bring hummingbirds to patios and small spaces. See our container and patio favorites.
Every plant in our hummingbird collection is chosen for natural nectar, from Agastache and Penstemon to Salvia and Zauschneria, with waterwise picks for Western gardens.
New perennials can take a season or two to reach full size. Fast-growing flowers keep nectar flowing while they establish:
Many of the hummingbird flowers we grow are also waterwise. Agastache, Penstemon, Salvia and Zauschneria evolved in dry Western landscapes, so once properly planted and established they thrive on little supplemental water while feeding hummingbirds, bees and butterflies. Learn more in our guide to waterwise gardening and xeriscaping.
Right plant, right place. Know your USDA hardiness zone and average annual rainfall before you choose. In the hot, dry Southwest, heat- and drought-adapted natives perform best (see our Southwest plants), while gardeners in wetter or colder regions should match plants to their own conditions. Every one of our plant pages lists zones and water needs. Gardening where deer browse? Start with our top deer resistant plants for waterwise gardens.
You can plant a hummingbird garden in either season. Fall planting gets a head start on next year: cooler air and soil that stays warm enough for root growth help perennials, shrubs and trees establish before the next growing season, so they are better prepared for summer heat and dry spells. In cold-winter regions, we generally recommend planting cold-hardy perennials six to eight weeks before your average date of hard frost. The goal is to prepare for next year's visitors, not to feed birds already migrating this fall. Learn more in our tips for fall planting perennials in cold winter regions and the advantages of fall planting.
Spring planting works well too, and it's the better choice where the ground freezes early. Plant once the danger of hard frost has passed and the soil is workable, then water regularly through the first season while roots establish. See how to plant waterwise perennials for step-by-step guidance. Whichever season you choose, the best timing depends on your local conditions and each plant's hardiness.
We always put natural nectar first, but a clean feeder is a useful supplement, especially in early spring before many flowers open, while new plantings establish, and in late fall when blooms fade and migrating birds still need fuel.
For the latest on nectar preparation, cleaning and replacement, follow the International Hummingbird Society's current guidance.
"Feeders can be a wonderful supplement to the natural nectar in your garden, as long as they're kept clean and filled with the right solution. They also bring hummingbirds close enough to observe their amazing behavior. There's a special kind of magic in watching these tiny birds up close, and feeders can help gardeners of all ages discover that wonder for themselves."
Hummingbirds build tiny cup-shaped nests on small branches of trees and shrubs, usually in sheltered spots, using plant down bound with spider silk. A garden with layers of plants gives them places to nest, rest and watch over their territory.
Hummingbirds are territorial, and a single bird will often guard a patch of flowers and chase others away. David kept a feisty Rufous Hummingbird in his garden and learned to plant around it:
Avoid pesticides, herbicides and synthetic fertilizers in and around your hummingbird garden. Chemical-free care does double duty: it protects the birds directly, and it protects the insects and spiders hummingbirds depend on for protein. A diverse, pesticide-free planting of natives and adapted perennials supports a healthy insect population, which in turn supports hummingbirds and songbirds. Learn more about natural nectar, habitat creation and how to grow a natural nectar pollinator garden.
We're a proud sponsor of the International Hummingbird Society's Certified Hummingbird Haven program. Certifying your garden supports hummingbird conservation and inspires neighbors to create habitat of their own. The program recognizes gardens that provide food, water and sanctuary while following eco-friendly practices, the same elements covered in this guide.
Register your garden to receive a personalized certificate and gardening tips through the program's e-newsletter. Official Certified Hummingbird Haven signs are also available if you'd like to display your participation.
"We developed this program because we want to offer extra encouragement to hummingbird enthusiasts to take the plunge and transform their yards into mini eco-reserves that will benefit hummingbirds and other wildlife."
Hummingbirds are drawn to bright, tubular flowers such as Agastache (Hummingbird Mint), Penstemon, Salvia, Columbine and Zauschneria (Hummingbird Trumpet). Plant several that bloom in sequence from spring through fall so nectar is always available.
Hummingbirds drink flower nectar for energy and eat small insects and spiders for protein. A pesticide-free garden of nectar-rich flowers provides both.
Dissolve 1 part plain white sugar in 4 parts hot (not boiling) water, stir until completely dissolved and let it cool. Never add red dye, honey or artificial sweeteners.
Clean and refill feeders often, and more frequently in hot weather. Replace nectar right away if it turns cloudy.
Hummingbirds build tiny cup-shaped nests on small branches of trees and shrubs, usually in sheltered spots. Layered plantings with shrubs and trees give them safe places to nest.
Apply through the International Hummingbird Society's Certified Hummingbird Haven program, which recognizes gardens that provide food, water, shelter and eco-friendly care. We're a proud sponsor of the program.