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Fuchsia

Fuchsia (fuchsia magellanica) produces masses of brilliant red pendant flowers act as beacons for hummingbirds. In warmer climates it's an attractive evergreen and is deciduous in colder regions. Grows into a very ornamental specimen planting. Be careful when ordering, however, to make sure you are getting a species tolerant to colder climates. Hardy fuchsias are available to zone 4, but the traditional plants have typically been hardy only to zones 6-10. It can tolerate full sun - just so long as the soil is never permitted to dry out - but is probably better suited to full or partial shade.

Cardinal Flower

With its brilliant red blossoms at the end of 3-4' stalks, Cardinal Flower (lobelia cardinalis) is ideal for attracting hummingbirds. It grows best in moist--even wet--soil in full or partial sun and will thrive along the margin of a garden pool. Once established, it usually will re-seed itself. An individual stalk of Cardinal Flower continues to blossom for several weeks. By the time the flowers at the top of the stalk are open, the older flowers at the base have already set seed.

Trumpet Honeysuckle

Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) grows 4-6' tall and blooms Mid-Spring. Also called Coral honeysuckle, its foliage resembles that of Japanese Honeysuckle, Lonicera japonica, which is a foreign invasive that chokes out native vegetation. Trumpet Honeysuckle is a rambling vine with tubular red flowers that are a favorite of Hummingbirds. It grows best in full or partial sun, climbing well on a fence or arbor up to 15 feet in height. Flowers vary in color from red to orange; there are even yellow varieties available at nurseries. Blooms are tube shaped, a bounty of color from mid-spring throughout the summer and doesn’t give up the ghost till we have consistent cold weather conditions! This vine is not invasive, in fact it is one of the most well behaved vines we have, perfect for use on a trellis or a fence line. Every garden should have one or five!