In Louisiana gardens, color isn’t the only thing that draws a crowd—fragrance matters too. These sweet-smelling blooms don’t just delight your senses; they act like beacons for hummingbirds.
From native charmers to backyard favorites, these flowers turn any garden into a buzzing, fluttering hotspot. Plant them once, and watch the winged visitors return again and again.
1. Trumpet Vine
Bursting with vibrant orange-red tubular blooms, trumpet vine creates quite the spectacle in Louisiana gardens. Hummingbirds simply can’t resist its nectar-filled flowers that appear from early summer through fall.
Also known as ‘cow-itch vine’ by locals, this aggressive climber can reach heights of 30-40 feet when given proper support. Despite its somewhat invasive nature, its ability to attract hummingbirds makes it a favorite among wildlife gardeners.
2. Cardinal Flower
Standing tall with brilliant red spikes, cardinal flower creates a dramatic vertical accent in moist Louisiana gardens. Native to wetland areas, this striking perennial thrives in the humid conditions of the Bayou State.
Hummingbirds find the intensely red tubular blooms irresistible, often returning daily to sip nectar. Despite its delicate appearance, cardinal flower is surprisingly hardy in Louisiana’s climate, blooming from midsummer through early fall.
3. Coral Honeysuckle
Unlike its invasive Japanese cousin, coral honeysuckle is a well-behaved native vine perfect for Louisiana gardens. Its clusters of tubular coral-red flowers emit a subtle sweet fragrance that hummingbirds can detect from surprising distances.
The twining stems can beautifully cover fences or trellises while providing nectar throughout spring and summer. As a bonus, this vine produces bright red berries in fall that attract songbirds, making it a wildlife-friendly addition to any Louisiana landscape.
4. Butterfly Bush
Resembling lilac plumes but thriving in Louisiana’s heat, butterfly bush produces cone-shaped flower clusters in purple, pink, or white. The honey-scented blooms appear from summer through fall, creating a constant feeding station for hummingbirds.
Hardy and drought-tolerant once established, this shrub can reach 5-10 feet tall in Louisiana gardens. For maximum hummingbird attraction, plant in full sun and deadhead spent blooms regularly to encourage continuous flowering throughout the growing season.
5. Scarlet Sage
Blazing with intense red spikes, scarlet sage creates dramatic splashes of color in Louisiana gardens from spring until frost. The tubular flowers contain abundant nectar that hummingbirds eagerly seek out during their daily feeding rounds.
Growing 2-3 feet tall, this heat-loving annual or short-lived perennial thrives in the Bayou State’s climate. For a stunning display, mass several plants together in borders or containers where their fiery blooms can catch both human and hummingbird attention.
6. Cypress Vine
Delicate and graceful, cypress vine adorns Louisiana gardens with star-shaped scarlet flowers against feathery foliage. This annual climber grows quickly in the warm Louisiana climate, often reaching 15 feet in a single season.
Hummingbirds are particularly drawn to the trumpet-shaped blooms that appear abundantly from summer until frost. Morning glory enthusiasts love this relative that self-seeds readily, returning year after year to create vertical interest and hummingbird habitat in the garden.
7. Turk’s Cap
Quirky flowers that never fully open give Turk’s cap its distinctive charm in partially shaded Louisiana gardens. The twisted red petals resemble a Turkish turban, creating a unique silhouette that stands out among more conventional blooms.
Perfectly adapted to Louisiana’s climate, this shrubby perennial blooms from summer through fall. Hummingbirds adore the nectar-rich flowers, which they can access with their specialized bills while other insects often cannot reach the sweet reward.
8. Firebush
Glowing with clusters of tubular orange-red blooms, firebush creates a spectacular display in Louisiana gardens from late spring until frost. The flowers transition to small berries that add additional wildlife value to this already impressive shrub.
Reaching 3-4 feet tall in Louisiana, firebush thrives in the heat and humidity that challenges many other plants. Hummingbirds make regular feeding visits to these nectar-rich blooms, sometimes defending a particularly productive bush from other birds.
9. Red Buckeye
Native to Louisiana woodlands, red buckeye offers some of spring’s earliest tubular blooms for returning hummingbirds. The upright clusters of scarlet flowers appear before the leaves fully emerge, creating a striking silhouette in the early garden.
Growing as a large shrub or small tree, this Louisiana native reaches 15-20 feet at maturity. Particularly valuable for wildlife gardens, red buckeye provides crucial early-season nectar when many other plants haven’t yet begun flowering.
10. Cigar Plant
Sporting unusual tubular flowers tipped with white and black, cigar plant truly resembles its namesake. This low-growing perennial spreads to form colorful mats of bloom in Louisiana gardens from spring through fall.
Hummingbirds find the nectar-filled flowers irresistible and will make frequent visits throughout the day. Though tender in colder climates, cigar plant thrives in Louisiana’s heat and humidity, often performing better as temperatures rise during summer months.
11. Mexican Sunflower
Towering with fiery orange daisy-like blooms, Mexican sunflower creates a dramatic backdrop in Louisiana summer gardens. Despite its imposing height of 4-6 feet, this annual has a surprisingly delicate appearance when its thin branches sway in the breeze.
Hummingbirds visit the nectar-rich centers, while butterflies often perch on the flat landing pads of the petals. Heat-loving and drought-tolerant, Mexican sunflower performs beautifully during Louisiana’s hottest months when many other flowers struggle.
12. Pineapple Sage
Releasing a surprising fruity scent when brushed against, pineapple sage delights both gardeners and hummingbirds in Louisiana. The bright scarlet tubular flowers appear in abundance during fall, just when many hummingbirds are migrating through the state.
Growing 3-4 feet tall, this aromatic herb creates both culinary and wildlife value in the garden. The leaves can flavor teas and desserts, while the late-season blooms provide critical nectar for hummingbirds preparing for their long journey south.
13. Bee Balm
Creating firework-like displays of spiky red, pink or purple blooms, bee balm brings both visual drama and sweet fragrance to Louisiana gardens. The unusual flower structure features whorls of tubular petals that perfectly accommodate a hummingbird’s specialized feeding apparatus.
Native to North America, this perennial spreads gradually to form impressive clumps over time. Beyond attracting hummingbirds, bee balm leaves can be dried for aromatic teas, connecting Louisiana’s rich culinary traditions with wildlife-friendly gardening.
14. Firecracker Plant
Cascading with slender tubular blooms, firecracker plant creates a fountain of color in Louisiana gardens and containers. The arching stems become covered with bright red or orange flowers that hummingbirds simply can’t resist.
Particularly effective in hanging baskets where its draping habit can be showcased, this tender perennial blooms from spring until frost in Louisiana. The abundant nectar production makes it a hummingbird favorite, often attracting multiple birds that compete for feeding rights.
15. Pentas
Boasting star-shaped flower clusters in shades of red, pink, or white, pentas create non-stop color in Louisiana gardens from spring until frost. The flat-topped bloom clusters provide perfect landing pads for butterflies while still offering abundant nectar for hovering hummingbirds.
Heat-loving and humidity-tolerant, pentas thrive during Louisiana’s challenging summer months when many other plants fade. For maximum hummingbird attraction, the bright red varieties tend to be most effective, though all colors will draw these fascinating birds.
16. Shrimp Plant
Mimicking its crustacean namesake, shrimp plant produces unusual overlapping bracts in peachy-pink or golden yellow that truly resemble shrimp. The actual flowers are small white tubes that emerge from between these colorful bracts, offering perfect feeding opportunities for hummingbirds.
Thriving in Louisiana’s heat and humidity, this subtropical perennial can bloom nearly year-round in protected locations. The quirky flower form creates interesting textural contrast in mixed borders while serving as a reliable nectar source for garden hummingbirds.
17. Coral Porterweed
Flowering nearly continuously in Louisiana gardens, coral porterweed produces slender spikes of small tubular blooms in shades of coral-pink or blue. Though each individual flower is tiny, the numerous blooms on each spike create abundant nectar sources for hummingbirds.
Heat-loving and drought-tolerant once established, this perennial forms a bushy mound 2-3 feet tall. The flowers gradually open from the bottom of each spike upward, ensuring a long period of bloom that keeps hummingbirds returning day after day.
18. Bat-faced Cuphea
Sporting whimsical flowers that truly resemble tiny bat faces, this unusual plant brings smiles to Louisiana gardeners and steady nectar to hummingbirds. The small purple and red blooms appear in abundance from spring until frost, creating a continuous feeding station.
Growing just 1-2 feet tall, bat-faced cuphea works beautifully in containers or front-of-border plantings. Despite its delicate appearance, this plant handles Louisiana’s heat and humidity with remarkable resilience, often performing better as temperatures rise.
19. Four O’Clocks
Opening their trumpet-shaped blooms in late afternoon, four o’clocks release a sweet vanilla-like fragrance that perfumes Louisiana gardens and attracts evening-feeding hummingbirds. The colorful flowers in pink, yellow, white or magenta often appear splashed or striped, adding visual interest.
These old-fashioned favorites form tuberous roots that return reliably year after year in Louisiana’s climate. The flowers remain open overnight, making them valuable for attracting both late-day hummingbirds and early morning visitors before closing for the day.
20. Bottlebrush
Exploding with cylindrical red flower spikes that perfectly resemble their namesake cleaning tool, bottlebrush creates dramatic focal points in Louisiana landscapes. The unusual blooms are actually composed of many stamens that contain abundant nectar attractive to hummingbirds.
Growing as a large shrub or small tree in Louisiana, bottlebrush can reach 15 feet tall at maturity. The eye-catching red blooms appear most heavily in spring but continue sporadically through summer and fall, providing long-season interest for both humans and hummingbirds.