30 Waterwise Flowers for Hummingbirds From Plant Select

November 17th, 2023
Hummingbird gathering nectar from a waterwise perennial known as Red Birds in a Tree, one of the best hummingbird flowers for the dry West.

Pictured above: Hummingbird visiting red birds in a tree

Western native plants to attract hummingbirds to your garden

When you plant native flowers for hummingbirds, you’ll feed some of the smallest birds in the world with natural nectar—and add instant joy to your garden!

Below, you’ll find 30 waterwise flowers for hummingbirds from Plant Select. The waterwise perennials below are a mix of native plants (wild species, varieties and cultivars) from the western United States, unless noted otherwise.

Many of these flowers will attract other pollinators too, like hummingbird moths (aka, sphinx moths or hawk moths).

A white-lined sphinx moth feeds on Furman's Red sage, a western salvia.

Pictured above: White-lined sphinx moth visiting Furman’s Red sage

Please keep in mind, it may take some time for hummingbirds to find these plants. But once they do, they’ll often return year after year.

FULL SUN

Waterwise flowers to attract hummingbirds and sphinx moths

These plants are organized in alphabetical order by common name. For shade plants, please scroll to the next section.

Autumn Sapphire™ sage (pictured above)
Salvia reptans ‘P016S’
Learn about Autumn Sapphire™ sage
See its native range

Bridges' penstemon

Bridges’ penstemon (pictured above)
Penstemon rostriflorus
Learn about Bridges’ penstemon
See its native range

Coral Baby penstemon (pictured above)
Penstemon barbatus ‘Coral Baby’
Learn about Coral Baby penstemon
See its native range

CORONADO® hyssop (pictured above)
Agastache aurantiaca ‘P012S’
Learn about CORONADO® hyssop
See its native range

CORONADO® Red hyssop (pictured above)
Agastache ‘Pstessene’
Learn about CORONADO® Red hyssop

Desert penstemon

Desert beardtongue / Desert penstemon (pictured above)
Penstemon pseudospectabilis
Learn about desert penstemon
See its native range

Furman’s Red sage (pictured above)
Salvia greggii ‘Furman’s Red’
Learn about Furman’s Red sage
See its native range

HALF PINT® pineleaf penstemon (pictured above)
Penstemon pinifolius ‘Compactum’
Learn about HALF PINT® pineleaf penstemon
See its native range

Hardy manzanita (pictured above)
Arctostaphylos x coloradensis ‘Panchito’ or ‘Chieftain’
Learn about Panchito or Chieftain
See the native range for Panchito or Chieftain

Hummingbird trumpet mint (pictured above)
Monardella macrantha ‘Marian Sampson’
Learn about hummingbird trumpet mint
See its native range
Worth noting, this beautiful plant is often shorter lived.

KINTZLEY’S GHOST® honeysuckle (pictured above)
Lonicera reticulata ‘P015S’
Learn about KINTZLEY’S GHOST® honeysuckle
See its native range
Worth noting, honeysuckle can also offer shelter to hummingbirds in storms.

Mojave sage (pictured above)
Salvia pachyphylla
Learn about Mojave sage
See its native range

ORANGE CARPET® hummingbird trumpet (pictured above)
Epilobium canum subsp. garrettii ‘PWWG01S’
Learn about ORANGE CARPET® hummingbird trumpet
See its native range

PIKES PEAK PURPLE® penstemon (pictured above)
Penstemon x mexicali ‘P007S’
Learn about PIKES PEAK PURPLE® penstemon
This plant is a mix of Mexican and American wild penstemons.

Hummingbird visiting Red Birds in a Tree, one of the best waterwise flowers for perennials in Colorado, Utah and the interior West.

Red birds in a tree (pictured above)
Scrophularia macrantha
Learn about red birds in a tree
See its native range

Red feathers (pictured above)
Echium amoenum
Learn about red feathers
See its native range
Worth noting, red feathers is the one plant on this page that is not a North American native. We’ve included it here because it’s a lovely “season extender.” It blooms early in the season, often before other hummingbird plants have started flowering, making it an early nectar source.

RED ROCKS® penstemon (pictured above)
Penstemon x mexicali ‘P008S’
Learn about RED ROCKS® penstemon
This plant is a mix of Mexican and American wild penstemons.

Red yucca (pictured above)
Hesperaloe parviflora
Learn about red yucca
See its native range

SteppeSuns® Sunset Glow penstemon (pictured above)
Penstemon pinifolius ‘P019S’
Learn about SteppeSuns® Sunset Glow penstemon
See its native range

SONORAN SUNSET® hyssop (pictured above)
Agastache cana ‘Sinning’ PP 13,673
Learn about SONORAN SUNSET® hyssop
See its native range

Sunset hyssop (pictured above)
Agastache rupestris
Learn about Sunset hyssop
See its native range

Ultra Violet salvia (pictured above)
Salvia ‘Ultra Violet’ PP21,411
Learn about Ultra Violet salvia
See its native range

VERMILLION BLUFFS® Mexican sage (pictured above)
Salvia darcyi ‘Pscarl’
Learn about VERMILLION BLUFFS® Mexican sage
See its native range

Wild Thing sage (pictured above)
Salvia greggii
Learn about Wild Thing sage
See its native range

WINDWALKER® Desert Rose salvia (pictured above)
Salvia lemmonii ‘PWIN04S’
Learn about WINDWALKER® Desert Rose salvia
See its native range

WINDWALKER® Royal Red salvia (pictured above)
Salvia darcyi x S. microphylla ‘PWIN03S’
Learn about WINDWALKER® Royal Red salvia
See its native range

SHADE – PART SHADE

Flowers to attract hummingbirds

These plants are organized in alphabetical order by common name.

DENVER GOLD® columbine (pictured above)
Aquilegia chrysantha
Learn about DENVER GOLD® columbine
See its native range

REMEMBRANCE® columbine (pictured above)
Aquilegia ‘Swan Violet & White’
Learn about REMEMBRANCE® columbine

Sandia coral bells (pictured above)
Heuchera pulchella
Learn about Sandia coral bells
See its native range

Snow Angel coral bells (pictured above)
Heuchera sanguinea ‘Snow Angel’
Learn about Snow Angel coral bells
See its native range

Where to find hummingbird plants from Plant Select

Ask for these hummingbird plants at local garden centers and online retailers. If your favorite retailer doesn’t have what you want, let them know you’d like these plants!

Want to learn about hummingbirds? Please explore: