30 Waterwise Flowers for Hummingbirds From Plant Select
November 17th, 2023
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).
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 (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 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.
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:
- Hummingbird habitat: Find out what makes prime habitat for hummers (Audubon Rockies)
- Design considerations for planting a bird-friendly garden (Audubon Rockies)
- A hummer guide to identify hummingbirds in the western U.S. (Western Hummingbird Partnership)
- Backyard hummingbirds to learn about hummingbirds in Colorado, Utah and Wyoming (Audubon Rockies)
