The Low-Maintenance Flower That Attracts Hummingbirds All Summer & Fall Long

If you're in a hot spot for hummingbirds, you may be able to enjoy these friendly fliers from the very beginning of spring all the way into autumn when they migrate south for warmer weather. While filling your garden with spring-blooming flowers is a great way to initially attract more hummingbirds to your yard or garden, some of your yard's appeal may fade if it's left bare come summer and fall. Instead, you may want to add more plants like this long-blooming flower that lures in hummingbirds without requiring a large amount of maintenance.

Also known as the tree marigold, the Mexican sunflower (Tithonia rotundifolia) is an eye-catching annual that's as durable as it is visually appealing. It holds up well not only to drought and heat (and thus dry soil) but also to deer and salt. As a result, it's fairly low-maintenance, requiring little TLC on your part to produce those stunning blooms that hummingbirds and other pollinators can't get enough of. 

Mexican sunflowers produce large, show-stopping red or orange flowers from the middle of summer until the first frosts of the year, oftentimes giving you months of hummingbird-magnet color. Due to this, they can be a great choice if you want to start a pollinator garden without the hassle of caring for finicky, time-consuming plants with a laundry list of maintenance needs.

When growing Mexican sunflowers to attract hummingbirds throughout the summer and fall, you'll want to ensure that you're encouraging the most blooms possible. While these sunny flowers can thrive as a low-maintenance addition to your garden, a little additional elbow grease can go a long way. For example, giving your Mexican sunflowers fertilizer at the time of planting can encourage healthier growth. Mexican sunflowers don't require heavy or frequent fertilization. In fact, overdoing the fertilizer actually causes more harm than good, leading to more foliage and less of those flowers that hummingbirds love so much.

As with many low-maintenance plants, however, learning the basics of care is often enough to result in those hummingbird-friendly blooms. Mexican sunflowers are an easy-to-grow plant that beginner gardeners may wish to try their hand at. They require full sun for the best results, so consider a south-facing spot in your yard where they can receive at least six hours of direct sunlight each day. While they overall aren't picky about their soil, they do benefit from good drainage, so keep that in mind when picking out the perfect location.

For the best chances at attracting hummingbirds with your Mexican sunflowers, consider companion planting to benefit your garden with other hummingbird-friendly flowers that can handle their growing conditions, including options like zinnias and coreopsis.