Hummingbirds bring such a spark of life to Oregon gardens, and the right flowers will have them visiting often. I’ve planted a few varieties myself and it’s always exciting to see them zip around the yard.
Bright colors and nectar-rich blooms are the real magnets for these little birds. It’s such a joy watching them hover and feed up close.
Let’s pick the flowers that will keep your garden buzzing with activity!
1. Trumpet Vine
These dramatic climbing vines produce clusters of tubular orange-red flowers that hummingbirds find irresistible. The trumpet-shaped blooms are perfectly designed for their long bills and tongues.
Thriving in Oregon’s varied climate, trumpet vines can grow up to 40 feet, creating stunning vertical displays on trellises, fences, or arbors. They’re drought-tolerant once established, making them relatively low-maintenance additions to your garden.
2. Bee Balm
The unique crown-like flowers of bee balm come in shades of red, pink, and purple that attract hummingbirds from impressive distances. Native Americans used this plant medicinally for centuries.
Plant bee balm in sunny spots across your Oregon landscape for reliable summer blooms. The fragrant foliage adds a pleasant minty scent to your garden, while the nectar-rich flowers keep hummingbirds returning day after day.
3. Cardinal Flower
Brilliant scarlet spikes make cardinal flowers absolute magnets for hummingbirds in late summer. Few plants produce such intensely red blooms that stand out dramatically against green foliage.
Western Oregon’s moist conditions are perfect for these stunning perennials that prefer consistently damp soil. Their upright form adds vertical interest to garden borders while providing essential late-season nectar when many other flowers have finished blooming.
4. Columbine
Delicate yet hardy, columbines feature distinctive spurred flowers that seem custom-designed for hummingbird beaks. Their nodding blooms dance in spring breezes, creating living art in your garden beds.
Throughout Oregon’s diverse growing regions, columbines adapt beautifully to partial shade conditions. They self-seed readily, establishing charming colonies that return year after year with minimal care, providing early-season nectar for hungry hummingbirds.
5. Fuchsia
Dangling like colorful earrings, fuchsia blooms are irresistible to hummingbirds with their bright colors and abundant nectar. Their pendulous shape allows these tiny birds to hover perfectly while feeding.
Hardy varieties thrive in Oregon’s coastal regions where they appreciate the mild climate and regular moisture. Hanging baskets overflow with these blooms, creating spectacular displays that bring hummingbirds right up to your porch or patio for close-up viewing.
6. Penstemon
Tubular blooms in vivid reds, purples, and pinks make penstemons perfect hummingbird attractors. Their tall flower spikes create vertical interest while providing landing perches between feeding sessions.
Central Oregon gardeners appreciate penstemon’s exceptional drought tolerance once established. Many native varieties thrive in the state’s diverse conditions, flowering for weeks and creating reliable nectar sources that hummingbirds will travel long distances to visit.
7. Salvia
Spikes of tubular flowers make salvias among the most reliable hummingbird attractors. The plants produce nectar in quantities perfectly suited to these high-energy birds’ needs.
Many varieties thrive in Oregon’s summer heat, blooming for months with minimal care. Their aromatic foliage deters deer and other garden pests, making them practical additions to your landscape while still providing essential nutrition for your hummingbird visitors.
8. Crocosmia
Fiery orange-red blooms arch gracefully on slender stems, creating perfect feeding stations for hovering hummingbirds. The tubular flowers align perfectly with hummingbird beaks for efficient nectar collection.
Crocosmia’s corms multiply readily in Oregon’s mild climate, forming impressive clumps over time. Their sword-shaped foliage adds structural interest even when not in bloom, while their mid-summer flowering provides critical nectar during peak hummingbird activity periods.
9. Flowering Currant
Early spring clusters of dangling pink blossoms appear just as hummingbirds return to Oregon from migration. This native shrub provides critical early-season nectar when few other food sources are available.
Willamette Valley gardens benefit from flowering currant’s adaptability to various soil conditions. The plant’s berries later attract other wildlife, making it a multi-season contributor to your garden’s biodiversity while serving as an essential early food source for hungry hummingbirds.
10. Honeysuckle
Sweet fragrance and tubular blooms make honeysuckle vines hummingbird favorites. The long, narrow flowers perfectly accommodate their specialized feeding apparatus for efficient nectar extraction.
Native varieties thrive throughout Oregon without becoming invasive like some imported species. Their twining habit creates beautiful vertical displays on trellises or fences, while their long blooming period ensures consistent nectar sources for hummingbirds throughout the summer months.
11. Red Hot Poker
Torch-like flower spikes in fiery orange and yellow create dramatic vertical elements that hummingbirds can spot from far away. The tubular florets are perfectly sized for their specialized feeding habits.
Southern Oregon’s warm, dry summers create ideal conditions for these drought-tolerant perennials. Their architectural form makes bold statements in garden borders while providing reliable nectar sources from late spring through summer for resident and migrating hummingbirds alike.
12. Foxglove
Tall spires covered in spotted, tubular blooms create natural feeding stations for hummingbirds. The flowers’ throats guide these precision flyers directly to rich nectar sources.
Oregon’s western valleys provide perfect growing conditions for these woodland-edge plants. Though technically biennial, foxgloves self-seed readily, creating ongoing displays that return year after year while providing vertical drama and essential nectar for your hummingbird visitors.
13. Canna
Bold tropical flowers in hot colors make cannas standout attractions for hummingbirds seeking high-energy nectar. Their large, paddle-shaped leaves create dramatic backdrops for the vibrant blooms.
Despite Oregon’s temperate climate, cannas thrive during summer months in sunny locations. Their rhizomes can be easily lifted and stored during winter in colder regions of the state, ensuring these hummingbird favorites return year after year to your garden.
14. Coral Bells
Delicate sprays of tiny bell-shaped flowers hover above attractive foliage, creating perfect feeding stations for hovering hummingbirds. The plants’ compact size makes them ideal for front borders or container gardens.
Throughout Oregon’s varied climate zones, coral bells provide reliable blooms with minimal maintenance. Their colorful foliage adds year-round interest to your garden while their dainty flower spikes provide specialized nectar sources perfectly suited to hummingbirds’ feeding habits.
15. Butterfly Bush
Long flower panicles in purple, pink or white attract both butterflies and hummingbirds to your garden. The tiny florets contain rich nectar that provides essential energy for these aerial acrobats.
Choose sterile varieties approved for Oregon gardens to prevent unwanted spreading. Their arching branches create graceful forms in the landscape while providing weeks of continuous blooms that serve as reliable nectar sources throughout the summer months.
16. Hardy Hibiscus
Dinner-plate sized blooms in vibrant colors create dramatic focal points that attract hummingbirds despite not having typical tubular shapes. The large flowers produce abundant nectar rewards for visiting pollinators.
Even in Oregon’s cooler climate, these perennials return reliably each summer with proper mulching. Their late-season blooming period provides critical nectar sources when many other flowers have finished, helping hummingbirds build energy reserves for migration or winter survival.