Top Hummingbird Plants for Sun and Shade

Attracting hummingbirds to your garden is both beautiful and beneficial. These energetic pollinators are drawn to nectar-rich plants with vibrant, tubular blooms. While they are often associated with sunny flower beds, many excellent hummingbird plants also thrive in shaded areas. Whether your garden is bathed in sunlight or nestled in dappled shade, you can create a hummingbird haven with the right plant choices. Many of these plants are available at Strader’s Garden Center, making it easy to bring hummingbird-friendly blooms home.

Hummingbird Favorites for Shade

If your garden has more shade than sun, don’t worry—many colorful and nectar-rich plants attract hummingbirds.

Fuchsia (Fuchsia spp.)

Fuchsia is a favorite for its dramatic, drooping flowers in shades of red, pink, and purple. The pendulous, tubular blooms are ideal for hummingbirds. Fuchsia thrives in cooler temperatures with consistent moisture and prefers part to full shade, making it an excellent choice for hanging baskets and containers on shaded porches and patios.

Torenia (Torenia fournieri)

Often called the wishbone flower, torenia produces trumpet-shaped blossoms in shades of purple, blue, yellow, and white. It blooms profusely in partial to full shade, providing nectar that attracts hummingbirds all season long. This compact plant is perfect for window boxes or the front edge of a shaded flower bed.

Impatiens (Impatiens walleriana)

A go-to annual for shaded gardens, impatiens offer continuous color throughout the season. While not all varieties attract hummingbirds, red and pink shades are particularly appealing. Plant them in rich, well-draining soil and maintain consistent watering for optimal growth.

Hardy Geranium (Geranium macrorrhizum)

Unlike their tender cousins, hardy geraniums are perennials with a long bloom season and attractive foliage. The small but nectar-rich flowers are well-suited for hummingbirds and thrive in lightly shaded garden areas.

Columbine (Aquilegia spp.)

Columbine’s unique spurred blossoms appear in a variety of colors and bloom during spring and early summer. These perennials flourish in part shade and attract hummingbirds during their peak migration period.

Bleeding Heart (Dicentra spectabilis)

With its heart-shaped pink flowers, bleeding heart is a spring-blooming perennial that thrives in full to part shade. The arching stems and nectar-rich blooms provide an early-season nectar source for hummingbirds in woodland gardens.

Hummingbird Favorites for Sun

Sunny gardens offer a broader selection of hummingbird-friendly plants, including long-blooming perennials and heat-tolerant annuals.

Cuphea (Cuphea ignea and Cuphea llavea)

Often called cigar plant or bat-face cuphea, these plants bloom continuously in warm weather. Their bright red and purple tubular flowers are irresistible to hummingbirds. Cuphea thrives in full sun and works well in containers or garden borders.

Salvia (Salvia spp.)

Salvia is one of the best plants for attracting hummingbirds. With numerous varieties available, including native and hybrid types, you’ll find options in red, blue, purple, and pink. These sun-loving perennials and annuals are drought-tolerant and bloom throughout the season.

Lantana (Lantana camara)

Lantana’s clusters of brightly colored flowers are both heat- and drought-tolerant. The nectar-rich blooms are highly attractive to hummingbirds, and lantana thrives in full sun with minimal maintenance.

Agastache (Agastache spp.)

Commonly known as hummingbird mint or hyssop, agastache produces spikes of tubular flowers in shades of orange, pink, and purple. This sun-loving, drought-tolerant perennial blooms from summer into fall, providing reliable nectar for hummingbirds.

Lobelia cardinalis (Cardinal Flower)

This native perennial produces tall spikes of vivid red flowers that hummingbirds find especially attractive. It thrives in moist, sunny locations and tolerates some shade. Cardinal flower is a great choice for rain gardens or the edges of water features.

Kniphofia (Kniphofia uvaria)

Also known as red hot poker, kniphofia produces striking, upright flower spikes in shades of red, orange, and yellow. These bold blooms create a strong vertical accent in sunny beds and appeal to hummingbirds due to their shape and color.

Where to Buy Hummingbird Plants

Whether you’re planting a shade garden or a sun-filled border, these plants offer a reliable way to attract hummingbirds all season long. For the best selection and expert advice, visit Strader’s Garden Center, where many of these hummingbird-friendly plants are available in-store.