High Nectar and Pollen Counts Attract Pollinators
1. Salvia
With its tubular shaped flowers, the salvia is a favorite annual that attracts hummingbirds. While they are attracted to the color red, they will enjoy all colors of salvia–even the black and blue varieties. Salvia will bloom throughout the summer, and deadheading will occasionally encourage even more flowers.
2. Lupine
Lupine is a perennial that is fairly short-lived but self-seeds in the garden. Lupine sends up a long stem covered with tubular shaped flowers that the hummingbirds love. These flowers bloom in late spring.
3. Columbine
Columbine is a spring-blooming perennial that will provide nectar when other plants have not yet flowered. Their tubular shaped flowers provide nectar for the hummingbirds, and they come in multiple colors that will fit in any garden.
4. Begonia Funky Scarlet
This shade-loving plant is perfect for hanging baskets with its long draping stems that are covered in tubular shaped flowers. The flowers are a brilliant scarlet red and will draw the hummingbirds to your yard all summer.
5. Butterfly Weed Plant
This plant was named the perennial of the year in 2017 for good reason. The butterfly weed seed will grow in almost any soil conditions and can tolerate almost any climate. The butterfly weed is easy to grow and is covered with large, orange flower heads that butterflies love. It blooms in late summer the first year and from early summer until frost every subsequent year.
6. Morning Glory
Morning glories are vining flowers that have been a favorite for decades. Used to cover fences, buildings and walls, these are one of the easiest vines to grow. They love the sun and will tolerate dry soils. Most gardeners think of the traditional blue morning glories, but they now come in multiple colors–even red! The tubular shaped flowers cover the vines that attract hummingbirds and butterflies.
7. Bee Balm
Bee balm is an easy-to-grow perennial that comes in shades of pink and red. As its name indicates, it is loved by all pollinators, including bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.
8. Sunflower
Sunflowers, with their huge flower heads, are very attractive to butterflies. If you haven’t checked recently, sunflowers come in many colors and sizes. You don’t have to plant the towering sunflowers of old. The varieties available today come in heights that will fit in any garden. This is one of the best flowers to attract butterflies.
9. Petunia
Petunias are one of the easiest annual flowers to grow in containers or garden beds. The tubular flowers of almost every color are attractive to both butterflies and hummingbirds.10.
10. Four O’Clock
This old-time favorite is making a comeback with its unusual broken color. Unlike most flowers that bloom all day and close in the evening, the four o’clocks first open in late afternoon. This timing is great for the hummingbirds and the butterflies, as well as the gardener returning home after work. The additional uniqueness of the broken flower color makes this a flower for every garden. These are just a few of the flowers that will attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Remember that you must never use pesticides or insecticides in your garden if you are trying to keep the pollinators.
