Not Pentas: The Dramatic Annual Flower That Hummingbirds Can't Resist

If you're looking to start your own pollinator garden, pentas can be a common place to start. These vibrant flowers are a hit among pollinators, and they're often useful in helping turn your outdoor space into a hummingbird haven. However, if you're looking for a plant with more dramatic visual appeal, this flowering vine adds flair to the vertical spaces while still drawing hummingbirds into your garden and may be worth considering.

The cardinal climber (Ipomoea sloteri, also seen as Ipomoea x multifida) is a stunning hybrid that's no stranger to stealing the show. It sports both dramatic blooms and attractive foliage, making nearly every part of the plant visually appealing in a hummingbird garden. However, it's not all good looks alone. Instead, with its red tubular flowers that begin blooming in July and continue until frost, it's a popular choice among hummingbirds. Because of this, you can enjoy not only the striking appearance of this plant but also the vibrant and fascinating little pollinators it attracts. The vines themselves grow up to 10 feet long and readily climb trellises, fences, and other supports, helping you utilize the prime vertical real estate in your garden and ensure no square footage goes to waste. This is perfect if you're trying to make the most of a small backyard while still cultivating both aesthetics and hummingbird appeal.

For those gardeners who dream of a lush, hummingbird-friendly garden but haven't quite honed their green thumb yet, you're in luck — cardinal climbers are both easy to grow and low-maintenance, which makes them a perfect plant for beginner gardeners. Of course, even the most low-maintenance plants benefit from the right type of TLC, especially when your goal is to encourage blooming for the best chance at attracting as many hummingbirds as possible.

When growing cardinal climbers to attract more hummingbirds, sunlight is one of the most important factors to pay attention to. These plants thrive when offered full sun. If you don't have a full sun spot to offer, they can tolerate some lighter amounts of shade. However, shade can impact their blooms, and since that's the part that hummingbirds are after, you'll have the best chances at successfully cultivating a hummingbird haven with a sunny spot.

Outside of sunlight, cardinal climbers are fairly easy-going. They prefer consistently moist soil but can tolerate brief dry periods once established if watered appropriately. Another advantage is that this vine doesn't require pruning or deadheading, making it an even lower-maintenance choice. And, the less time you have to spend maintaining this dramatic annual means the more time available to watch the hummingbirds it could draw in.