Hummingbirds add a magical touch to Florida gardens with their iridescent feathers and zippy movements. These tiny birds are always on the hunt for nectar-rich flowers to fuel their lightning-fast metabolism.
While many gardeners plant the usual suspects like salvia or trumpet vine, there’s a whole world of unexpected blooms that will have hummingbirds flocking to your yard year-round.
1. Firespike: The Tropical Stunner
Brilliant crimson spikes emerge from this tropical beauty during late summer and fall when many other nectar sources are scarce. Hummingbirds can’t resist the tubular flowers that seem designed specifically for their long bills.
Native to Central and South America, firespike thrives in Florida’s humid climate and can reach heights of 4-5 feet. It performs wonderfully in partial shade, making it perfect for those tricky spots under trees where few flowering plants prosper.
2. Shrimp Plant: Nature’s Living Sculpture
Resembling its crustacean namesake, the shrimp plant dangles unusual brownish-red or golden bracts that hummingbirds find irresistible. Small white flowers peek out from these bracts, creating a quirky yet elegant appearance in any garden.
Hardy and drought-tolerant once established, this Mexican native grows into a sprawling shrub about 3 feet tall. The constant production of those shrimp-like bracts means hummingbirds have a reliable nectar source practically year-round in Florida’s mild climate.
3. Coral Honeysuckle: Native Nectar Pipeline
Unlike its invasive Japanese cousin, coral honeysuckle is Florida’s native vine that hummingbirds absolutely adore. The coral-red tubular flowers appear abundantly in spring, with sporadic blooming continuing through fall.
Growing as a twining vine that can reach 15-20 feet, this beauty works wonderfully on fences, trellises, or arbors. Its trumpet-shaped blooms aren’t just pretty—they’re perfectly shaped for a hummingbird’s bill, making nectar access a breeze for these tiny aerial acrobats.
4. Turk’s Cap: The Hat-Shaped Hummingbird Magnet
Sporting unusual bright red flowers that never fully open, Turk’s Cap looks like tiny Turkish turbans bobbing in the breeze. Hummingbirds have mastered the art of accessing the nectar from these partially closed blooms that many insects can’t reach.
This shade-loving perennial is remarkably heat-tolerant and deer-resistant. In Florida gardens, it keeps flowering from late spring through fall, creating a dependable refueling station for hungry hummingbirds when they need energy most.
5. Lion’s Ear: The Fluffy Favorite
Lion’s Ear creates quite the spectacle with whorls of fuzzy orange flowers stacked along tall stems that can reach 6 feet. The tubular blooms poke out from these fuzzy clusters like little nectar straws perfectly sized for hummingbird bills.
Originally from Africa, this drought-tolerant plant has adapted beautifully to Florida’s sandy soils. Blooming from summer through fall, it attracts not just hummingbirds but butterflies too, creating a lively pollinator party in any sunny garden spot.
6. Porterweed: The Understated Powerhouse
Don’t let the modest appearance fool you—porterweed is a hummingbird superhero. Tiny purple, blue, or red flowers line slender stems like beads on a string, producing copious amounts of nectar that keeps hummingbirds coming back throughout the day.
Florida gardeners love this native plant for its incredible drought tolerance and non-stop blooming habit. The flowers open sequentially along each stem, ensuring there’s always a fresh nectar source available from spring until the first frost.
7. Cigar Plant: Nature’s Hummingbird Buffet
Cigar Plant earned its name from the tubular orange-red flowers that resemble tiny cigars tipped with gray ash. These nectar-filled tubes are practically irresistible to hummingbirds, who will visit dozens of times daily.
Low-growing and spreading, this plant creates a colorful groundcover in Florida gardens. The constant production of flowers from spring through fall makes it one of the most reliable hummingbird attractors available, especially valuable during migration seasons when birds need extra energy.
8. Crossvine: The Fence Transformer
Crossvine erupts with trumpet-shaped orange-red blooms in spring that seem to set fences and arbors ablaze with color. The flowers’ long nectar tubes are perfectly designed for hummingbirds’ specialized feeding habits.
As a native Florida vine, crossvine maintains evergreen foliage year-round in most parts of the state. Its vigorous climbing habit makes it perfect for covering unsightly fences or walls, turning them into vertical hummingbird gardens that can reach heights of 50 feet!
9. Firecracker Plant: The Explosive Bloomer
Cascading stems covered with tubular red flowers give firecracker plant its explosive name. Each thin, needle-like bloom contains sweet nectar that fuels hummingbirds’ high-energy lifestyles.
Perfect for hanging baskets or spilling over walls, this Mexican native creates a waterfall of color in Florida landscapes. The plant’s arching habit showcases the flowers perfectly, making it easier for hovering hummingbirds to access each bloom while putting on quite a show for human observers too.
10. Coral Bean: The Native Showstopper
Spikes of brilliant red tubular flowers emerge from this native shrub before the leaves appear in spring, creating a dramatic display that hummingbirds can spot from far away. Each scarlet bloom is packed with energy-rich nectar.
Growing as a deciduous shrub or small tree reaching 5-10 feet tall, coral bean adds structural interest to Florida gardens year-round. After flowering, distinctive bean pods develop containing bright red seeds that add winter interest while the plant rests before next spring’s hummingbird feast.
11. Tropical Sage: The Year-Round Provider
Vibrant red, pink, or white tubular flowers stand tall on slender stems, creating a colorful beacon for passing hummingbirds. As a Florida native, tropical sage has evolved alongside local hummingbird populations, creating the perfect nectar match.
Unlike many garden plants, tropical sage blooms almost continuously in Florida’s climate. Its drought tolerance makes it practically maintenance-free once established. The plant reseeds readily, creating naturalized patches that provide reliable hummingbird nutrition throughout the seasons.
12. Hamelia: The Firebush Phenomenon
Clusters of fiery orange-red tubular flowers adorn this native shrub from summer through fall, creating a beacon for hungry hummingbirds. The plant’s dark red stems and bluish-black berries add extra visual interest to Florida landscapes.
Growing into a substantial shrub up to 12 feet tall, firebush creates both a nectar source and protective cover for birds. Its ability to bloom through Florida’s hottest months provides critical nutrition when many other plants have stopped flowering, making it a true hummingbird lifesaver.
13. Blue Porterweed: The Surprising Attractor
Tiny blue-purple flowers line delicate stems like miniature beads, creating an airy cloud of color that hummingbirds find surprisingly irresistible. Despite not being red (hummingbirds’ favorite color), this plant produces exceptionally high-quality nectar.
A Florida native wildflower, blue porterweed thrives in poor soil where other plants struggle. It blooms nearly year-round in most of Florida, creating a consistent nectar source. The plant’s open habit allows hummingbirds to hover easily while feeding from dozens of tiny blooms in quick succession.