8 Best Perennials for Hummingbirds in 2026
Hummingbirds are drawn to bright, tubular flowers that provide nectar throughout the season.
Perennial choices with staggered bloom times keep visits steady from spring through fall.
The best plants also offer shelter and reliable repeat blooms year after year.
Some familiar favorites and a few surprising picks can reshape how beds are planned.
| Hummingbird Butterfly Wildflower Seed Mix (7,500 Seeds) |  | Best Wildflower Mix | Plant Type: Wildflower seed mix | Pollinator Appeal: Hummingbirds, butterflies | Bloom Form: Mixed blooms | VIEW LATEST PRICE | Read Our Analysis |
| Outsidepride Scarlet Sage Seeds for Pollinator Gardens |  | Best for Pollinators | Plant Type: Scarlet sage seeds | Pollinator Appeal: Hummingbirds, bees, butterflies | Bloom Form: Red spikes | VIEW LATEST PRICE | Read Our Analysis |
| Secured Plastic Plant Support Clips 50 Pack Green |  | Best Support Clips | Plant Type: Plant support clips | Pollinator Appeal: Plant support aid | Bloom Form: N/A | VIEW LATEST PRICE | Read Our Analysis |
| Bee & Butterfly Garden Bulb Collection |  | Best Bulb Collection | Plant Type: Bulb collection | Pollinator Appeal: Bees, butterflies, hummingbirds | Bloom Form: Mixed blooms | VIEW LATEST PRICE | Read Our Analysis |
| Perfect Plants Nanho Butterfly Shrub (1 Gallon) |  | Best Shrub Pick | Plant Type: Butterfly shrub | Pollinator Appeal: Butterflies, bees, hummingbirds | Bloom Form: Violet flower clusters | VIEW LATEST PRICE | Read Our Analysis |
| 200,000+ Wildflower Seeds 16 Variety Perennial Mix |  | Best Large Mix | Plant Type: Perennial seed mix | Pollinator Appeal: Bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, birds | Bloom Form: Mixed blooms | VIEW LATEST PRICE | Read Our Analysis |
| Earth Science Wildflower Butterfly & Hummingbird Mix |  | Best Premium Mix | Plant Type: Wildflower seed mix | Pollinator Appeal: Butterflies, hummingbirds, bees | Bloom Form: Mixed blooms | VIEW LATEST PRICE | Read Our Analysis |
| Perennial Wildflower Seeds Mix for Hummingbird and Butterfly Garden |  | Best Perennial Mix | Plant Type: Perennial seed mix | Pollinator Appeal: Hummingbirds, butterflies | Bloom Form: Mixed blooms | VIEW LATEST PRICE | Read Our Analysis |
More Details on Our Top Picks
Hummingbird Butterfly Wildflower Seed Mix (7,500 Seeds)
If you want a simple way to turn a small space into a pollinator magnet, the Hummingbird Butterfly Mix is a strong pick. You get a large 1-ounce packet with over 7,500 pure live seeds from FAMILY SOWN, enough to cover about 100 square feet. This nectar-rich wildflower blend draws hummingbirds and butterflies while keeping blooms going through the season. You can use it for borders or wildflower patches, and the included planting instructions make setup easy. The reusable zipper packaging helps keep seeds fresh, and the seller backs growth with a 30-day refund if they don’t sprout.
- Plant Type:Wildflower seed mix
- Pollinator Appeal:Hummingbirds, butterflies
- Bloom Form:Mixed blooms
- Growth Habit:Annual mix
- Sun Needs:Sun/part shade
- Outdoor Use:Borders, wildflower areas
- Additional Feature:7,500+ pure seeds
- Additional Feature:Covers 100 sq ft
- Additional Feature:Reusable zipper packaging
Outsidepride Scarlet Sage Seeds for Pollinator Gardens
Outsidepride Scarlet Sage seeds are a smart pick for gardeners who want a heat-tolerant perennial that keeps hummingbirds coming back all summer. You get 5,000 GMO-free Salvia coccinea seeds that grow 24–36-inch plants with red spikes and inch-wide blooms. Plant them in full sun to partial shade with moist, well-draining soil, then water regularly. They’re hardy in zones 6–9 and handle heat and drought well. You can sow indoors 8–10 weeks before frost or direct sow outside. Deadhead often, and you’ll boost blooms for bees and butterflies too.
- Plant Type:Scarlet sage seeds
- Pollinator Appeal:Hummingbirds, bees, butterflies
- Bloom Form:Red spikes
- Growth Habit:Perennial
- Sun Needs:Full sun/part shade
- Outdoor Use:Gardens, borders, mixes
- Additional Feature:5,000 seed count
- Additional Feature:USDA zones 6–9
- Additional Feature:Indoor seed starting
Secured Plastic Plant Support Clips 50 Pack Green
For gardeners who want an easy, reusable way to keep perennials upright, these secured plastic plant support clips are a smart choice. You can pinch the handles to open each clip, position it around a stem and support, then release to lock it in place. The clear PP plastic resists water, oil, and heat, so you’ll reuse them season after season. Use them on canes, stakes, hoops, trellises, or cages to support climbing vines, tomatoes, beans, and delicate blooms. Their hollow design improves airflow, while the gentle hold protects stems and fruit-laden branches from breakage.
- Plant Type:Plant support clips
- Pollinator Appeal:Plant support aid
- Bloom Form:N/A
- Growth Habit:Reusable clip
- Sun Needs:N/A
- Outdoor Use:Supports stems
- Additional Feature:Quick-open pinch handles
- Additional Feature:Hollow-carved ventilation
- Additional Feature:Reusable PP plastic
Bee & Butterfly Garden Bulb Collection
The Bee & Butterfly Garden Bulb Collection is a smart pick if you want a ready-made mix that keeps your garden buzzing and blooming from spring through summer. You get 100 hand-selected bulbs: 30 Anemone blanda, 20 mixed Gladiolus, 20 Allium moly, and 30 mixed Ixia. Plant them once, and you’ll enjoy succession blooms from spring’s white and lavender flowers to summer’s tall, colorful spikes and bright gold and pink-purple accents. These hardy perennials need little care, multiply each year, and attract bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators to borders, beds, containers, and cut-flower displays.
- Plant Type:Bulb collection
- Pollinator Appeal:Bees, butterflies, hummingbirds
- Bloom Form:Mixed blooms
- Growth Habit:Perennial bulbs
- Sun Needs:Full sun
- Outdoor Use:Beds, borders, containers
- Additional Feature:100 hand-selected bulbs
- Additional Feature:Succession spring-summer blooms
- Additional Feature:Includes cut-flower varieties
Perfect Plants Nanho Butterfly Shrub (1 Gallon)
Perfect Plants Nanho Butterfly Shrub is a strong pick if you want a hummingbird-friendly perennial that also pulls in butterflies and bees with fragrant violet-purple blooms. You’ll get a live Buddleja ‘Nanho’ shrub that grows bushy, reaches 6 to 10 feet, and can hit that size in two seasons. Plant it in full sun for the best flower show, and give it moderate water until it’s established. It’s hardy in zones 5 to 9, heat tolerant, rabbit resistant, and may die back in winter before returning in spring. The 1-gallon plant ships rooted and ready.
- Plant Type:Butterfly shrub
- Pollinator Appeal:Butterflies, bees, hummingbirds
- Bloom Form:Violet flower clusters
- Growth Habit:Shrub
- Sun Needs:Full sun
- Outdoor Use:Shrub borders, specimen plant
- Additional Feature:Sweet honey fragrance
- Additional Feature:Drought tolerant established
- Additional Feature:Full root system
200,000+ Wildflower Seeds 16 Variety Perennial Mix
With 200,000+ wildflower seeds across 16 perennial varieties, this mix suits gardeners who want a simple way to build a long-lasting, pollinator-friendly planting that draws hummingbirds in from the start. You’ll get heirloom favorites like Purple Coneflower, Black-Eyed Susan, Blue Flax, and Shasta Daisy, all suited to indoor or outdoor sowing in any USDA zone. The lab-tested seeds sprout fast, stay viable up to three years, and arrive sealed for freshness. Use them for meadows, borders, or window boxes, and enjoy blooms that support bees, butterflies, birds, and hummingbirds season after season.
- Plant Type:Perennial seed mix
- Pollinator Appeal:Bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, birds
- Bloom Form:Mixed blooms
- Growth Habit:Perennial mix
- Sun Needs:Indoor/outdoor
- Outdoor Use:Meadows, borders, window boxes
- Additional Feature:16 heirloom varieties
- Additional Feature:3-year viability
- Additional Feature:QR growing guide
Earth Science Wildflower Butterfly & Hummingbird Mix
Earth Science Wildflower Butterfly & Hummingbird Mix is a strong pick if you want an easy, low-maintenance way to support pollinators in your garden. You get a 6-pound, non-GMO seed mix with wildflower seed, plant food, and soil conditioners in one 3-in-1 blend. It includes annuals and perennials like zinnia, cosmos, Shasta daisy, sweet William, and black-eyed Susan. You’ll attract butterflies, hummingbirds, bees, and other pollinators while supporting local habitat. It blooms לאורך the season, and you won’t need much upkeep. Earth Science pairs earth-friendly ingredients with practical growing performance.
- Plant Type:Wildflower seed mix
- Pollinator Appeal:Butterflies, hummingbirds, bees
- Bloom Form:Mixed blooms
- Growth Habit:Annual/perennial mix
- Sun Needs:Full sun
- Outdoor Use:Landscape planting
- Additional Feature:3-in-1 formula
- Additional Feature:Plant food included
- Additional Feature:Soil conditioners included
Perennial Wildflower Seeds Mix for Hummingbird and Butterfly Garden
If you want a low-maintenance seed mix that brings lasting color and reliable nectar to your hummingbird and butterfly garden, this perennial wildflower blend is a strong fit. You get 25 non-GMO, open-pollinated varieties and 100,000 pure live seeds with no fillers. Sow them on fresh, rich soil in full sun, then mist lightly until they germinate. The mix includes favorites like columbine, lupine, blanket flower, and black-eyed Susan, so you’ll see staggered blooms from spring onward. It adapts to most soils, handles moderate moisture, and can help you build a colorful, pollinator-friendly bed.
- Plant Type:Perennial seed mix
- Pollinator Appeal:Hummingbirds, butterflies
- Bloom Form:Mixed blooms
- Growth Habit:Perennial mix
- Sun Needs:Full sun
- Outdoor Use:Outdoor gardens
- Additional Feature:25-variety blend
- Additional Feature:100,000 pure live seeds
- Additional Feature:Moisture-proof resealable pouch
Factors to Consider When Choosing Perennials For Hummingbirds
When you choose perennials for hummingbirds, look for nectar-rich bloom shapes that let their long bills and tongues work easily. You’ll also want plants with extended bloom seasons, the right sun and soil needs, and strong native wildlife appeal. Height and structure matter too, since layered plantings give hummingbirds safe perches and better feeding spots.
Nectar-Rich Bloom Shapes
To attract hummingbirds, focus on perennials with tubular, trumpet-shaped blooms that match their long bills and tongues, ideally in bright red, orange, or deep pink. You’ll give them the easiest access when flowers are about 1 to 3 inches long, narrow at the throat, and held outward or pendant. These shapes let hummingbirds hover and sip without needing a perch or a broad landing spot. Choose plants that produce nectar-rich blossoms with roughly 20–25% sugar, since that fuels their high-energy flight. Clusters of blooms are even better because they offer multiple feeding points on one plant and boost daily nectar availability. When you pick flowers with these traits, you’re helping hummingbirds feed efficiently and return often to your garden.
Extended Bloom Seasons
For hummingbirds to keep returning, you’ll want perennials that bloom in stages across the season, from early spring through late fall. Pick species with early, mid, and late bloom windows so nectar never runs out. You’ll also do better with plants that rebloom or flower for 6–12 weeks or more, since they keep feeding both migrants and residents. Mix low, mid, and tall growers to create layered flowering and give birds more places to feed. Choose varieties that respond well to deadheading or light pruning, because you can often trigger another flush of blooms. Finally, match each perennial to your USDA zone and climate so it survives winter and repeats its bloom cycle year after year.
Sun And Soil Needs
Bloom timing keeps hummingbirds coming back, but the right light and soil conditions help those perennials actually perform. You’ll usually get the best nectar display in full sun, where plants receive at least 6–8 hours of direct light each day. Pair that with well-drained, loamy soil rich in organic matter so roots stay moist without sitting in water. Aim for a soil pH near 6.0 to 7.0; outside that range, blooms can thin out. If your site runs hot and dry, choose drought- and heat-tolerant perennials and work in compost to boost water retention. In cooler or shadier spaces, pick perennials that handle 3–6 hours of sun and keep the soil richer and evenly moist.
Native Wildlife Appeal
A steady stream of native, nectar-rich perennials will keep hummingbirds visiting your garden through the season. You’ll do best with species that match your USDA hardiness zone, because they bloom on cue, need less fuss, and feed local birds with familiar nectar and insects. Choose tubular flowers with deep corollas, around 1–2 cm wide or longer, so hummingbirds can reach the nectar with their bills. Bright reds, oranges, and tubular pinks usually draw them better than green or white blooms. Mix perennials that flower from spring through fall, so you maintain food during migration and nesting. Also include native host plants and pollen sources that support insects, since hummingbirds often grab spiders and bugs for protein along with nectar.
Height And Structure
When you choose perennials for hummingbirds, think beyond color and bloom time—height and plant structure matter just as much. You’ll get the best results by mixing 3- to 6-foot plants that place nectar in the mid- to upper canopy with shorter 1- to 2-foot companions that add layers for foraging and resting. Choose upright, tubular flower spikes or long blooms that fit a hummingbird’s bill and support hovering. You can also vary stem strength: sturdy stems give birds perches and hold heavy flowers, while flexible stems keep flight paths open. Staggered heights and branching habits create nectar at multiple levels all season. Make sure taller plants won’t crowd out shorter ones, so light and airflow stay strong throughout your bed.
Low-Maintenance Growth
After you’ve balanced height and structure, focus on plants that keep your hummingbird garden easy to manage. Choose perennials that shrug off drought once established, so you only need occasional deep watering instead of constant attention. Look for long bloom periods or staggered flowering, because they’ll feed hummingbirds longer and cut back on deadheading and extra plantings. Self-seeding or clump-forming perennials are smart choices too; they spread gradually, fill gaps, and save you from replanting every season. Pick varieties with low pruning needs and strong resistance to pests and disease, so you won’t spend weekends troubleshooting. Most importantly, match each plant to your hardiness zone and light conditions. When you do, you’ll reduce failures, simplify care, and keep nectar flowing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do I Attract Hummingbirds Without Using Feeders?
You can attract hummingbirds by planting nectar-rich native flowers, adding red blooms, and providing water and perches. One hummingbird may visit 1,000 flowers daily, so create a layered, pesticide-free garden they’ll love.
Which Perennial Bloom Shapes Do Hummingbirds Prefer Most?
You’ll get the best visits from tubular, trumpet-shaped, and long, narrow blooms because they fit hummingbirds’ bills and tongues. You should plant red, orange, or coral flowers, and avoid flat, open blooms whenever possible.
Can I Grow Hummingbird Perennials in Shady Areas?
Yes, you can grow some hummingbird perennials in shady areas, but you’ll get fewer blooms. You’ll do best with part shade, bright woodland spots, and shade-tolerant varieties like columbine, coral bells, and bleeding heart.
How Often Should I Deadhead Hummingbird-Friendly Perennials?
Deadhead them every few days, or as soon as blooms fade, to encourage more flowers. You’ll keep plants neat and hummingbirds coming. Skip deadheading seed heads you want for winter interest or self-sowing.
Are Native Perennials Better for Hummingbirds Than Hybrids?
Yes—native perennials often beat hybrids for hummingbirds, like nectar fountains in overdrive. You’ll usually give them steadier nectar, richer blooms, and easier feeding. But you can mix both if your garden’s local climate suits them.
