These Gorgeous Flowers Are A Hummingbird's Best Friend

It's difficult not to pause when a hummingbird zips into view, and if you want more of these gorgeous birds to visit your garden, there are plenty of flowers that are a hummingbird's best friend. These tiny birds are more than pretty visitors, too. They're important pollinators that have a big impact on ecosystems by maintaining biodiversity, supporting food chains, and contributing to healthy habitats in nature. But attracting them to your garden isn't simply a matter of chance. While feeders are one way to attract hummingbirds, the most effective and sustainable way to support these tiny feathered friends is to give them what they truly crave: Nectar-rich flowers like the crimson bottlebrush (Melaleuca citrina).

With their vivid red spikes and a brush-like shape, planting bottlebrush flowers is a genius tip that will attract more hummingbirds to your garden. These flowers flourish in USDA Hardiness Zones 8 through 11,  are packed with nectar, and bloom in spring through fall — exactly when hummingbirds are breeding or migrating. Additionally, tubular blooms in bright colors are easy for hummingbirds to feed from and likely to catch their attention, guaranteeing that these flowers hit the most essential notes on these tiny birds' wish lists.

The crimson bottlebrush is key to transforming your space into a hummingbird heaven. This eye-catching evergreen shrub is beloved by hummingbirds and not only because red is a color that they prefer. With smart plant selection and thoughtful layout, different types of beautiful hummingbirds might be found in your backyard more often. But what makes bottlebrush blooms especially suited to hummingbirds is their structure: Long spikes made up of dozens of individual tubular flowers. These are packed tightly with accessible nectar, and the brush-like shape allows these birds to sip without perching. 

Because bottlebrushes often bloom more than once per year — in spring and again in summer or fall — these plants provide reliable fuel throughout most of the year. They thrive in full sun, tolerate drought, and adapt to a variety of soils, including clay, loam, and sand. They're also salt-tolerant, making them a great choice for coastal gardens. 

If you want to extend your garden's hummingbird season, try pairing crimson bottlebrush with a winter-blooming flower for a year-round hummingbird buffet. Shrimp plant (Phlogacanthus guttatus) blooms in winter, thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 10 through 11, and is known to attract hummingbirds with bright red, orange, and yellow blooms.  When planting, be sure to group flowers in clusters to help hummingbirds feed more efficiently, and layer different plant heights to add perching and nesting opportunities. By following these tips, you'll be rewarded with these feathered visitors in abundance.