Metro Los Angeles is home to several species of hummingbirds, with Anna’s hummingbird being the most common year-round resident.
These tiny, energetic creatures bring energy, life, and brilliant color to a garden and keep curious house cats entertained for hours.
Would you like to see them more often, and potentially all 6 or 7 species that visit the area?
Start by growing a few native flowering plants, the foundation of your future hummingbird garden.
Native plants are adapted to LA’s climate. They have minimal water requirements, making them an eco-friendly and sustainable choice. They produce the nectar hummingbirds crave and often bloom year-round — essential for keeping your feathered friends happy.
An Anna’s hummingbird in flight.
16 Must-Have Plants for Your Hummingbird Garden
Native California Selections
1. California Fuchsia (Epilobium canum)
- Bloom Time: Late summer to fall
- Why Hummingbirds Love It: Tubular red-orange flowers are rich in nectar.
- Care Tips: Thrive in full sun, requiring little water once established.
California fuchsia thrives in full sun and needs little water once established.
2. Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia)
- Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer
- Why Hummingbirds Love It: White flowers attract hummingbirds, while the red winter berries support other wildlife.
- Care Tips: Drought-tolerant and ideal for hillside gardens.
Toyon’s white flowers attract hummingbirds, while the red winter berries support other wildlife.
3. Hummingbird Sage (Salvia spathacea)
- Bloom Time: Spring
- Why Hummingbirds Love It: Strongly scented flowers are perfectly shaped for their tubular beaks.
- Care Tips: Great for shady spots; tolerates clay soil.
Hummingbird sage bears stongly scented, tubular flowers.
4. California Wild Lilac (Ceanothus spp.)
- Bloom Time: Spring
- Why Hummingbirds Love It: Dense clusters of blue flowers are brimming with nectar.
- Care Tips: Requires well-draining soil and plenty of sunlight.
California lilac requires well-draining soil and plenty of sunlight.
5. Sticky Monkey Flower (Diplacus aurantiacus)
- Bloom Time: Spring to summer
- Why Hummingbirds Love It: Bright orange blossoms are a reliable food source.
- Care Tips: Ideal for rock gardens and hard-to-grow areas.
Sticky monkey is ideal for rock gardens and hard-to-grow areas.
Non-Native But Hummingbird-Friendly Options
These plants are drought-tolerant and perfectly suited to LA gardening.
6. Red Hot Poker (Kniphofia spp.)
- Bloom Time: Late spring to summer
- Why Hummingbirds Love It: Bears eye-catching stalks of red and orange flowers.
- Care Tips: Prefers full sun and well-draining soil; low water use.
Red hot poker bears eye-catching stalks of red and orange flowers in late spring to summer.
7. Coral Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens)
- Bloom Time: Spring through summer
- Why Hummingbirds Love It: Vibrant, fragrant blooms with deep nectar reserves.
- Care Tips: A climbing vine that needs a trellis or fence.
Coral honeysuckle is a climbing vine that needs a trellis or fence.
8. Mexican Bush Sage (Salvia leucantha)
- Bloom Time: Fall to winter
- Why Hummingbirds Love It: Velvety purple flowers provide abundant nectar.
- Care Tips: Thrives with minimal care in full sun.
Mexican bush sage blooms from fall to winter and thrives with minimal care in full sun.
9. Cape Honeysuckle (Tecomaria capensis)
- Bloom Time: Year-round in LA’s mild climate
- Why Hummingbirds Love It: Bright red-orange tubular flowers.
- Care Tips: Tolerates pruning and grows as a shrub or vine.
Cape honeysuckle tolerates pruning and grows as a shrub or vine.
10. Trumpet Vine (Campsis radicans)
- Bloom Time: Summer to early fall
- Why Hummingbirds Love It: Showy trumpet-shaped orange-red blooms made for long beaks.
- Care Tips: Vigorous grower; requires regular pruning.
Trumpet vine is a vigorous grower that requires regular pruning.
Versatile Favorites
These plants work beautifully in any garden and are reliable hummingbird attractors.
11. Bottlebrush (Callistemon spp.)
- Bloom Time: Spring and summer
- Why Hummingbirds Love It: The bright red, bottlebrush-like flowers offer plentiful nectar.
- Care Tips: Easy to maintain; drought-tolerant once established.
Bottlebrush is easy to maintain and drought-tolerant once established.
12. Pentas (Pentas lanceolata)
- Bloom Time: Year-round in warmer climates
- Why Hummingbirds Love It: Star-shaped, nectar-rich flowers in red, pink, or white.
- Care Tips: Works well in garden beds or containers.
Pentas blooms year-round in warmer climates.
13. Lavender (Lavandula spp.)
- Bloom Time: Spring through summer
- Why Hummingbirds Love It: Fragrant purple blossoms that attract multiple pollinators.
- Care Tips: Requires well-drained soil; minimal watering after established.
Lavender’s fragrant purple blossoms attract multiple pollinators.
14. Desert Willow (Chilopsis linearis)
- Bloom Time: Late spring through fall
- Why Hummingbirds Love It: Trumpet-shaped blooms in pink, purple, and white.
- Care Tips: Very low water need; flourishes in sunny, hot areas.
Desert willow has very low water needs and flourishes in sunny, hot areas.
15. Aloe Vera (Aloe barbadensis miller)
- Bloom Time: Winter
- Why Hummingbirds Love It: Long stalks of tubular orange or yellow flowers.
- Care Tips: Doubles as a medicinal plant; loves dry conditions.
Aloe vera blooms during winter.
16. Kangaroo Paw (Anigozanthos spp.)
- Bloom Time: Spring through summer
- Why Hummingbirds Love It: Unusual tubular flowers mimic native blooms.
- Care Tips: Excellent in full sun and drought-tolerant landscapes.
Kangaroo paw excels in full sun and drought-tolerant landscapes.
Hummingbird Feeders
Feeders are powerful hummingbird attractors that can jump-start your garden and supplement your hummingbird-friendly plants.
- Choose a feeder with bright red or orange parts to attract hummingbirds.
- Use a sugar water mixture in the feeder (1 part white sugar dissolved in 4 parts water) and change it every few days.
- Clean the feeder with hot water and vinegar weekly to prevent mold and bacteria growth.
- Avoid using honey, artificial sweeteners, or food coloring in the nectar mix. They can harm hummingbirds.
Additional Tips for Your Hummingbird Garden
- Group plants with similar sun and water requirements.
- Provide water features. Hummingbirds enjoy shallow fountains or misters.
- Watch for predators that threaten hummingbirds (including cats).
- Plant in layers, with tall plants in the back and shorter ones in front, to create a natural habitat.
- Mix plants with various bloom times to provide nectar throughout the year.
- Avoid pesticides or insecticides that can harm hummingbirds and other pollinators. Instead, encourage beneficial insects to control pests naturally.
- Hummingbirds are territorial and may fight over food sources. Place multiple feeders around your garden instead of clustering them to give them their own space.
FAQs: Plants for a Hummingbird Gardens in LA
Q: Do hummingbirds prefer specific colors?
They’re drawn to vibrant hues like red, orange, and pink.
Q: How much water do hummingbird-friendly plants need?
Most are drought-tolerant, but water new plants until established.
Q: What time of year can I see hummingbirds in LA?
Many species are present year-round due to LA’s mild climate.
Q: What’s the best size for a hummingbird garden?
Any size works — even a small patio can host pots of nectar-rich plants.
Q: Can I feed hummingbirds with a feeder instead of plants?
Yes, but natural nectar sources are healthier and less prone to contamination.
Q: How do I prevent bees from taking over my garden?
Use bee guards on feeders and plant flowers with long tubular blooms better suited to hummingbirds.
Q: Do I need to prune my plants?
Some plants, like trumpet vines, need regular pruning, but many require minimal maintenance.
Q: How long does it take for hummingbirds to find my garden?
They may find it within days, but attracting a consistent crowd can take several weeks.