The #1 Thing That Attracts Hummingbirds Has Nothing to Do With Flower Color

Hummingbird lovers often believe that red flowers, like bee balm and trumpet vine, are the key to attracting hummingbirds. While it’s true that hummingbirds are enticed by red, which is why hummingbird feeders are often that hue, in nature, color isn’t the only deciding factor.

There’s another reason hummingbirds choose one flower over another, and it has to do with their unique biology. The shape of the flowers in your garden matters, too.

For decades, gardeners have been told that planting red flowers is the best way to attract hummingbirds, and there’s some truth to that advice. Bright red, orange, and pink blooms are highly visible to hummingbirds, helping catch a bird’s attention from a distance. But researchers have found that hummingbirds don’t limit themselves to red flowers. They can see a broad spectrum of colors and regularly visit flowers in shades of purple, pink, yellow, white, and even blue.

Scientists believe many red flowers evolved to attract hummingbirds while discouraging bee visitors. Color may get a hummingbird to take a closer look, but another feature ultimately determines whether it stops to feed.

Hummingbirds choose flowers primarily for their shape. These tiny birds have evolved alongside flowering plants for millions of years, and their bodies are perfectly adapted to feed from certain blooms. Their long, slender bills and extendable tongues allow them to reach deep into tubular flowers where nectar is stored, giving them an advantage over many other pollinators. At the same time, many bird-pollinated flowers have evolved long, tube-shaped blooms with nectar positioned where hummingbirds can easily reach it. It’s a relationship that benefits both the bird and the plant.

Instead of choosing plants based on color alone, look for nectar-rich flowers with long, tubular blooms. Those bird-friendly shapes encourage hummingbirds to stop, feed, and return again and again, whether the flowers are red or another color.

The good news is that many of the best hummingbird flowers are native North American plants with tubular blooms in a wide range of colors. Adding them to your garden will attract more hummingbirds while bringing beautiful color and variety to your landscape.

• Bee balm: This fragrant native perennial produces tubular flowers in red, pink, purple, and white that hummingbirds eagerly visit.

• Salvia: Available in red, purple, blue, pink, white, and orange, salvias provide abundant nectar throughout the growing season. While some species are native to North America, many of the varieties sold at garden centers are hybrids.

• Cardinal flower: This native wildflower is one of the most reliable hummingbird magnets, thanks to its brilliant red blooms.

• Coral honeysuckle: This native, non-invasive vine produces long, trumpet-shaped flowers in shades of red, coral, and yellow that hummingbirds love.

• Penstemon: These North American native plants produce tubular flowers in shades of pink, purple, blue, red, and white that provide an excellent source of nectar for hummingbirds.

By planting a mix of these nectar-rich flowers, you’ll create a hummingbird-friendly garden filled with blooms in many different colors. Looking for even more hummingbird-friendly plants? Browse these additional flowers that attract hummingbirds for more colorful options to add to your garden.

Creating a hummingbird-friendly garden takes more than choosing the right flowers. For the best results, plant a variety of nectar-rich blooms that flower from spring through fall so hummingbirds have a reliable food source all season. Like all wildlife, hummingbirds also need access to fresh water, so adding a shallow birdbath or mister can make your yard even more inviting.

While nectar provides the energy hummingbirds need, they also rely on tiny insects and spiders for protein, especially during the breeding season. That’s why it’s important to avoid using pesticides, which can harm hummingbirds directly and reduce the insects they depend on for a balanced diet.

To provide an extra food source when flowers are scarce, you can also hang a hummingbird feeder, especially during early spring and fall migration. Just be sure to avoid these common hummingbird feeder mistakes to keep visiting birds safe and healthy.