Texas gardens can come alive when hummingbirds make a visit, and the right flowers are key. I’ve tried planting a variety myself, and a few stunning blooms seem to be their favorite.
These flowers don’t just add beauty—they bring vibrant, flitting visitors right to your yard. With a few thoughtful choices, your garden can feel full of life and movement all season.
Let’s explore the flowers that attract hummingbirds in Texas.
1. Trumpet Vine
Looking for a show-stopping climber that hummingbirds can’t resist? The vibrant orange-red blooms of this vigorous vine produce copious nectar throughout summer.
Texas gardeners appreciate how this native plant handles the brutal heat while providing reliable food for hummingbirds. Just give it sturdy support—this enthusiastic grower can reach 30-40 feet!
2. Salvia
Red salvias create quite the buzz in hummingbird circles with their spiky blooms producing nectar in abundance. The tubular flowers perfectly match a hummingbird’s specialized bill shape.
Many Texas gardeners consider these drought-tolerant perennials the backbone of any hummingbird garden. Both native and cultivated varieties thrive in the Lone Star State’s challenging climate while keeping hungry hummers coming back.
3. Turk’s Cap
Native to Texas woodlands, this shade-loving perennial produces unusual twisted red blooms that never fully open. Hummingbirds adore these distinctive flowers that seem custom-made for their long bills.
Growing 2-3 feet tall, Turk’s Cap thrives even in challenging Texas conditions where other plants struggle. The bonus? Those charming hibiscus-like blooms keep producing from spring through fall’s first frost.
4. Coral Honeysuckle
Unlike its invasive cousin, this native vine offers tubular red-orange blooms that hummingbirds find irresistible. The slender flowers produce sweet nectar that perfectly matches the hummingbird’s feeding style.
Texas gardeners love how this well-behaved climber adds vertical interest without taking over. Growing to about 15 feet, coral honeysuckle thrives in most Texas soils while attracting hummingbirds from spring through summer.
5. Flame Acanthus
Sometimes called hummingbird bush, this Texas native earns its nickname honestly! The fiery orange-red tubular flowers appear abundantly during the hottest months when many other plants have stopped blooming.
Hardly any plant handles Texas heat better than this drought-tolerant shrub. Growing 3-4 feet tall, flame acanthus requires almost no care while providing crucial nectar during summer’s most challenging days.
6. Firebush
When summer temperatures soar in Texas, firebush really comes into its glory. The clusters of tubular red-orange flowers become hummingbird magnets during the hottest months when nectar sources are scarce.
Many Texas gardeners consider this heat-loving shrub essential for maintaining hummingbird activity in late summer. Growing 3-4 feet tall in most gardens, firebush rewards minimal care with maximum wildlife appeal.
7. Cardinal Flower
Few plants produce blooms with such intense red color as this native wildflower. The striking spikes of cardinal-red flowers rise 3-4 feet tall, creating dramatic vertical accents that hummingbirds spot from impressive distances.
Unlike many hummingbird plants, cardinal flower appreciates Texas gardens with consistently moist soil. Plant it near water features or in low spots where it will thrive while providing premium nectar from midsummer through fall.
8. Cigar Plant
The unusual tubular blooms of this plant resemble tiny lit cigars with red bases and gray tips. Hummingbirds find these nectar-rich flowers completely irresistible and will visit them repeatedly throughout the day.
While not winter-hardy throughout all of Texas, cigar plants grow quickly and bloom abundantly in a single season. Many gardeners in the Lone Star State treat them as annuals or grow them in containers that can be protected.
9. Penstemon
Several penstemon species thrive in Texas, offering tubular blooms in shades from scarlet to pink. These native perennials bloom heavily in spring when hummingbirds first return from migration, providing crucial early-season nectar.
Texas gardeners appreciate how these drought-tolerant beauties handle poor soil and minimal care. Growing 2-3 feet tall, penstemons combine perfectly with later-blooming plants to create season-long hummingbird appeal.
10. Esperanza
Also called yellow bells, this stunning shrub produces clusters of golden trumpet-shaped flowers throughout summer and fall. While red flowers typically attract hummingbirds, these bright yellow blooms prove irresistible to the tiny birds.
Esperanza has earned its place in Texas gardens by combining spectacular beauty with incredible heat tolerance. Growing 4-6 feet tall in a single season, it creates a dramatic backdrop in Lone Star landscapes while keeping hummingbirds well-fed.
11. Autumn Sage
Don’t let the name fool you—this Texas native blooms from spring through fall! The lipstick-red flowers (also available in pink or purple) produce abundant nectar that keeps hummingbirds coming back repeatedly.
Texas gardeners value this tough little shrub for its incredible drought tolerance and long bloom season. Growing just 2-3 feet tall, autumn sage fits perfectly into smaller spaces while still making a big impact on hungry hummingbirds.
12. Pride of Barbados
With its exotic-looking orange-red blooms and feathery foliage, this showstopper creates a tropical feel in Texas gardens. Hummingbirds find the unusual flowers irresistible and will defend a blooming plant from other visitors.
Southern Texas gardeners can grow this heat-loving beauty as a perennial, while those in northern parts of the Lone Star State often treat it as an annual. Either way, it grows quickly and rewards with spectacular blooms during the hottest months.
13. Crossvine
This vigorous native vine produces trumpet-shaped orange-red flowers that appear abundantly in spring. Hummingbirds returning from migration rely on these early blooms as crucial fuel after their long journey.
Texas gardeners appreciate how this semi-evergreen climber maintains interest year-round. Capable of reaching 50 feet, crossvine thrives throughout the Lone Star State, even in challenging conditions where other flowering vines struggle.
14. Rock Rose
This tough Texas native produces papery pink blooms that open fresh each morning and last just a single day. Despite their ephemeral nature, the flowers appear in such abundance that hummingbirds make regular feeding circuits.
Few plants handle Texas heat and drought better than rock rose. Growing just 2-3 feet tall, this compact shrub fits perfectly into water-wise Lone Star landscapes while still providing reliable nectar for thirsty hummingbirds.