California gardens can become magical places when hummingbirds zip through the air, their wings beating so fast they’re just a blur. These tiny birds are attracted to specific flowers that provide the sweet nectar they crave.
Beyond the common sage and fuchsia, there’s a world of unusual blooms that will transform your garden into a hummingbird paradise.
1. Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
Standing tall with vibrant red spikes that seem to glow in the sunlight, cardinal flowers are hummingbird magnets. Their tubular shape perfectly fits a hummingbird’s bill.
Native to wet areas, these striking perennials thrive near ponds or in consistently moist garden spots. Despite their delicate appearance, they’re surprisingly hardy in California’s coastal regions.
Plant them in groups for maximum impact – the hummingbirds will thank you by putting on aerial shows as they dart between blooms.
2. Lion’s Tail (Leonotis leonurus)
Imagine fuzzy orange whorls stacked along tall stems, resembling a lion’s tail – that’s this South African native that’s found a happy home in California gardens. Hummingbirds can’t resist its unusual tubular flowers.
Drought-tolerant and deer-resistant, lion’s tail thrives in full sun with minimal water. The tiered blooms appear from summer through fall, providing reliable nectar for months.
An added bonus: this striking plant also attracts butterflies while repelling unwanted garden pests.
3. Red Yucca (Hesperaloe parviflora)
Despite its name, red yucca isn’t actually a yucca at all! This Texas native sports arching flower stalks with coral-pink tubular blooms that hummingbirds find irresistible.
Extremely drought-tolerant, red yucca thrives in California’s hot, dry regions where other plants struggle. Its evergreen, grass-like foliage stays attractive year-round, even when not in bloom.
Give it full sun and well-drained soil, then watch as hummingbirds battle for territory around these long-blooming beauties from spring through fall.
4. Bat-faced Cuphea (Cuphea llavea)
Looking for something truly unusual? Bat-faced cuphea features quirky purple and red flowers that genuinely resemble tiny bat faces with fuzzy ears and whiskers.
These whimsical blooms produce copious amounts of nectar that hummingbirds can’t resist. Native to Mexico, bat-faced cuphea thrives in Southern California’s mild climate, flowering almost year-round in frost-free areas.
Plant it in containers or as a low border where you can enjoy both the amusing flowers and the hummingbirds they attract.
5. Woolly Blue Curls (Trichostema lanatum)
A California native that deserves more attention, woolly blue curls features fuzzy purple flowers emerging from woolly stems – creating a texture unlike anything else in your garden. Hummingbirds flock to these unusual blooms.
Growing naturally on dry slopes, this drought-tolerant shrub needs excellent drainage and minimal summer water once established. The aromatic foliage adds another sensory dimension to your garden.
Early morning visitors might catch hummingbirds covered in the plant’s blue pollen, looking like they’ve been dusted with blueberry powder!
6. Firecracker Plant (Russelia equisetiformis)
Cascading fountains of thin, green stems explode with tubular red flowers that look just like firecrackers – hence the name. Hummingbirds perform amazing aerial acrobatics to reach every bloom on this unusual Mexican native.
Perfect for hanging baskets or spilling over walls, firecracker plant creates dramatic effects in California gardens. It blooms nearly year-round in frost-free areas, providing reliable nectar even when other plants have finished.
Once established, it needs surprisingly little water, making it perfect for drought-conscious gardeners.
7. Desert Honeysuckle (Anisacanthus thurberi)
Bright orange tubular flowers erupt from woody stems on this southwestern native that hummingbirds simply can’t resist. Unlike common honeysuckle, this desert-adapted variety thrives in California’s hot, dry conditions.
The slender, trumpet-shaped blooms appear in waves from spring through fall, creating a reliable nectar source. Hummingbirds will actually defend territory around a mature desert honeysuckle!
Plant it where you can watch the show from a window – the contrast between the tiny birds and the vibrant orange flowers makes for captivating garden entertainment.
8. Flying Dragon Cigar Plant (Cuphea ignea ‘Flying Dragon’)
Imagine hundreds of tiny orange-red tubes with purple and white tips covering a compact plant – that’s the flying dragon cigar plant. Each bloom resembles a miniature lit cigar, creating an unusual visual effect hummingbirds find irresistible.
This heat-loving perennial flowers non-stop from spring until frost in most California gardens. The compact size makes it perfect for containers or front-of-border placements where you can watch hummingbird activity up close.
Morning visitors might catch dew droplets clinging to the colorful tubes, creating a magical sparkling effect.
9. Kangaroo Paw (Anigozanthos)
Straight from Australia comes one of the most unusual flowers you’ll ever grow – fuzzy, finger-like blooms in vibrant colors that genuinely resemble a kangaroo’s paw. Hummingbirds are drawn to their unusual shape and bright colors.
The velvety texture of these flowers is unlike anything else in your garden. Native to Australia’s dry regions, kangaroo paws thrive in California’s Mediterranean climate with excellent drainage.
Available in reds, oranges, yellows, and even green, they make spectacular cut flowers that last for weeks in arrangements.
10. Pineapple Sage (Salvia elegans)
Late in the season when other flowers fade, pineapple sage bursts into brilliant scarlet blooms that hummingbirds desperately need before migration. The tubular flowers grow on tall spikes above aromatic foliage that truly smells like fresh pineapple when touched.
Growing up to 4 feet tall, this Mexican native creates a dramatic backdrop in California gardens. Crush a leaf between your fingers for an instant tropical scent – a fun garden activity for kids.
The bright red flowers appear just as monarch butterflies migrate through, creating magical garden moments.
11. California Fuchsia (Epilobium canum)
A true California native superstar, California fuchsia covers itself with trumpet-shaped orange-red blooms in late summer just when gardens need color. Hummingbirds go absolutely crazy for these flowers!
The silvery-gray foliage creates a beautiful contrast with the vibrant blooms. Extremely drought-tolerant once established, it spreads to form attractive drifts in dry garden areas where other plants struggle.
Watch for hummingbirds performing aerial battles over prime territory around these plants – they recognize a good thing when they see it.
12. Bouvardia (Bouvardia ternifolia)
Star-shaped scarlet flowers with slender tubes gather in clusters atop this lesser-known Mexican native. Bouvardia has been a secret weapon of hummingbird gardeners for years, yet remains surprisingly uncommon in California gardens.
The four-pointed blooms create a distinctive look unlike typical hummingbird flowers. In mild coastal areas, bouvardia can bloom nearly year-round, providing reliable nectar through multiple seasons.
Plant it near windows or outdoor seating areas where you can enjoy both the flowers and the hummingbird visitors they attract.
13. Pride of Madeira (Echium candicans)
Reaching dramatically skyward, pride of Madeira produces enormous purple-blue flower spikes that can reach 4 feet tall! While butterflies cover these blooms during the day, hummingbirds often claim them during quiet morning and evening hours.
The massive flower cones emerge from rosettes of silvery foliage, creating architectural drama in California coastal gardens. Native to the island of Madeira, this plant thrives in similar Mediterranean climates.
A mature specimen creates a breathtaking focal point that will have neighbors stopping to ask what that amazing plant is.