The Stunning Perennial That'll Keep Hummingbirds Coming To Your Yard Through Fall

To ensure that hummingbirds keep zipping through your yard after summer fades, there's one stunning perennial you'll want to add to your garden. Known for its vivid red blooms, this plant has a long flowering season that offers a reliable nectar source that hummingbirds can't resist. The mimbres figwort (Scrophularia macrantha), also called redbirds-in-a-tree, flowers from July through October, filling the late-season gap when many other nectar plants have finished for the year.

While many garden flowers fade by the end of summer, mimbres figwort is just hitting its stride. Found around high elevations in southwestern New Mexico, this herbaceous perennial is one of several native plants that make a sustainable approach to attracting hummingbirds possible. It grows best in USDA Hardiness Zones 4 to 9 and thrives when planted in areas that get full or part sun with loamy, sandy, or clay soils. Its brilliant tubular blooms are shaped perfectly for hummingbirds, which rely heavily on nectar during migration. That makes this plant an excellent choice if you're looking for flowers that will transform your space into a hummingbird heaven, keeping the winged gems well-fed and coming back day after day.

Unlike most figworts, mimbres figwort may be pollinated exclusively by hummingbirds. Its bright red flowers are long and tubular, making them a perfect match for hummingbirds' slender beaks and long tongues. Red is also the one color that will instantly invite more hummingbirds to your garden, so you'll encourage repeat visits from migrating birds when their energy demands are high.

Because it blooms into the fall, redbirds-in-a-tree is especially valuable for ruby-throated hummingbirds and other species preparing to migrate. These birds require large quantities of nectar to fuel their long flights, and late-season flowers can make a critical difference. What's more, the plant's tall, upright stems and loosely branched inflorescence clusters provide easy landing spots and multiple feeding ports, ideal for territorial hummingbirds that tend to guard high-quality food sources. 

Although it's rare in the wild, this pretty perennial is gaining popularity in gardens for its drought tolerance and ornamental value. While its commercial availability remains limited, mimbres figwort is increasingly offered by native plant nurseries under its common name, redbirds-in-a-tree. Plant it with flowering companions like late-blooming sage (Salvia spp.) or giant hyssops (Agastache spp.) to expand the nectar buffet.