Texas gardens can become buzzing hotspots for hummingbirds during their fall migration. These tiny, jewel-toned birds need energy-rich nectar to fuel their incredible journey south.
Planting the right late-summer and fall flowers not only beautifies your yard but creates a crucial refueling station for these amazing aerial acrobats.
1. Firebush Brings The Heat
Firebush earns its name with clusters of tubular orange-red flowers that seem to ignite the garden from July through November. Native to Mexico and parts of Texas, this drought-tolerant shrub grows 3-4 feet tall in most gardens.
Hummingbirds can’t resist its nectar-filled blooms that appear right when migration kicks into high gear. Plant firebush in full sun and watch it become a hummingbird magnet during those hot August afternoons.
2. Turk’s Cap – Nature’s Hummingbird Feeder
Resembling tiny Turkish turbans, the bright red flowers of Turk’s Cap never fully open, creating the perfect shape for hummingbird beaks. This Texas native thrives in dappled shade, producing blooms from June until frost.
What makes Turk’s Cap exceptional is its ability to attract hummingbirds even in shadier spots where other nectar plants struggle. The plants grow 2-3 feet tall and spread nicely, creating an understory haven for these tiny birds.
3. Autumn Sage Keeps Blooming
Don’t let the name fool you – Autumn Sage starts flowering in spring and keeps going strong through fall! This Texas native produces waves of tubular blooms in red, pink, purple, or white, depending on the variety.
Standing about 2-3 feet tall, Autumn Sage creates a riot of color even during the hottest months. Hummingbirds particularly favor the red varieties, swooping in repeatedly to sip nectar from the abundant flowers that intensify their blooming as temperatures cool.
4. Rock Penstemon’s Colorful Trumpets
Rock Penstemon showcases clusters of tubular pink to purple flowers that brighten Texas gardens from late summer into fall. Growing in rocky, well-drained soils where other plants struggle, this native perennial reaches about 2 feet tall.
Hummingbirds zero in on the trumpet-shaped blooms, hovering expertly while they extract the sweet nectar. The plant’s drought tolerance makes it perfect for xeriscaped gardens and natural landscapes where supplemental water is limited.
5. Flame Acanthus Attracts With Fiery Blooms
Flame Acanthus bursts with fiery orange-red tubular flowers from July through October, creating a beacon for passing hummingbirds. This Texas native shrub grows 3-4 feet tall and thrives in the hottest, driest parts of your garden.
The timing of its most prolific blooming perfectly coincides with fall hummingbird migration. Remarkably drought-resistant once established, Flame Acanthus requires almost no supplemental water, making it an eco-friendly choice for Texas gardeners.
6. Tropical Milkweed’s Double Benefit
Tropical Milkweed produces clusters of star-shaped orange and yellow flowers that attract both hummingbirds and monarch butterflies. The 3-foot tall stems support blooms from summer until frost, providing nectar during critical migration periods.
While primarily known for supporting monarchs, the abundant nectar makes it equally valuable to hummingbirds. For Texas gardens, consider cutting it back in late fall to prevent disruption of monarch migration patterns while still providing late-season hummingbird food.
7. Mexican Bush Sage’s Purple Spires
Mexican Bush Sage creates dramatic purple spires that stand 3-4 feet tall, blooming profusely from late summer until the first hard freeze. The velvety flower stalks sway gracefully in the breeze, adding movement to the fall garden.
Hummingbirds particularly appreciate this sage during September and October when many other nectar sources have faded. The plants form a rounded, silvery-leaved shrub that remains attractive even when not in bloom, making it a garden standout.
8. Coral Honeysuckle’s Native Appeal
Unlike its invasive Japanese cousin, Coral Honeysuckle is a well-behaved native vine that hummingbirds adore. Its clusters of tubular red flowers appear from spring through fall, standing out against glossy green foliage.
The vine can climb 10-15 feet, making it perfect for fences, trellises, or arbors. Hummingbirds are particularly drawn to the red blooms that intensify in late summer and early fall, providing essential migration fuel. As a bonus, small red berries follow the flowers, attracting songbirds.
9. Pineapple Sage’s Late-Season Surprise
Pineapple Sage waits until fall to unfurl its show of brilliant scarlet blooms, just when hummingbirds need them most. The 3-4 foot tall plant features pineapple-scented foliage all season, then bursts into flower as days shorten.
The timing couldn’t be more perfect for migrating hummingbirds passing through Texas. The bright red tubular flowers appear abundantly along tall stems, creating a dramatic late-season display that continues until frost cuts the show short.
10. Pride of Barbados’ Tropical Flair
Pride of Barbados creates a tropical paradise with its feathery foliage and striking orange-red flower clusters that appear from summer through fall. In South Texas, this show-stopping plant can reach 6-8 feet tall, while in central areas it behaves more like a returning perennial.
Hummingbirds can’t resist the nectar-rich blooms that appear in greatest abundance during the hottest months. The plant’s heat tolerance makes it perfect for those challenging spots where summer sun bakes other flowers.
11. Trumpet Vine’s Hummingbird Highway
Trumpet Vine produces clusters of orange-red tubular flowers perfectly shaped for hummingbird beaks. This vigorous native vine blooms from July through September, providing nectar just when migration begins.
Growing up to 40 feet long, trumpet vine needs strong support and regular pruning to keep it in bounds. The payoff comes when dozens of hummingbirds visit the trumpet-shaped blooms, creating aerial displays as they defend their favorite feeding spots.
12. Cigar Plant’s Tiny Powerhouse Blooms
Cigar Plant features unusual tubular flowers with red bases and white or black tips that resemble tiny lit cigars. This low-growing perennial reaches about 2 feet tall and blooms continuously from summer through fall in most Texas gardens.
Despite their small size, the flowers pack a nectar punch that hummingbirds can’t resist. The plant’s compact growth makes it perfect for containers or border edges where the hummingbird activity can be easily observed from patios or windows.
13. Esperanza’s Golden Trumpets
Esperanza lights up late summer and fall gardens with clusters of golden-yellow trumpet-shaped flowers. Also called Yellow Bells, this shrub grows 4-6 feet tall in a single season, creating an impressive display in full sun locations.
Hummingbirds readily visit the bright blooms that appear in greatest abundance from August through October. Native to the Texas-Mexico border region, Esperanza handles heat and drought with ease, continuing to flower even during the most challenging weather conditions.
14. Cardinal Flower’s Brilliant Red Beacons
Cardinal Flower produces spikes of intensely red tubular blooms that rise 2-4 feet tall from August through October. Unlike many hummingbird plants, this native perennial prefers moist soil and can even thrive in boggy areas or near water features.
The vibrant red color acts like a beacon to passing hummingbirds, who have co-evolved with this plant. In East Texas gardens with adequate moisture, Cardinal Flower creates dramatic vertical accents while providing some of the richest nectar sources available to migrating hummingbirds.