California Hummingbird Nectar Plants

Native Spring Nectar Plants

• Plant gooseberries to feed hummingbirds from October to March. Yellow bush snapdragons bloom from March to May. Manzanitas begin blooming as early as February and continue providing nectar as late as May or June. The succulent plant Live Forever grows out of rock walls and gives offers a drought-resistant way to provide food for hummingbirds.

Native Summer Nectar Plants

• There are several varieties of lobelia hummingbirds visit throughout the summer. Lobelia cardinalis, with its large, funnel-shaped blooms, is a hummingbird favorite. Scarlet monkey flowers bloom all summer long and have a bright-red hue attracting hummingbirds. Red thistle is a summer bloom that hummingbirds enjoy and that attracts monarch butterflies. Hummingbirds frequently feed from California columbines and are the main pollinators of that flower.

Plants for Fall

• California fuschsia begins blooming during the summer and continues flowering until December. There are varieties with red flowers that attract hummingbirds. Intermingle these with pink and white varieties to expand the garden's palette. California fuchsia varies in size from a few inches tall to a couple of feet.

Non-native Nectar Plants

• There are a number of non-native plants attractive to hummingbirds. Hibiscus comes in a variety of shades, and makes attractive hedges. Plants in the honeysuckle family are also enjoyed by the birds. Other non-native plants to explore include aloes, tropical salvias and mints.