Bloom Your Own Backyard Buffet: 3 Native Flowers Hummingbirds Love

Discover why Wild Columbine, Cardinal Flower, and Bee Balm are the ultimate "neon signs" for attracting hummingbirds to your garden.

BIRD CARE, GARDENINGSEASONAL GUIDES

Sparkle Wings Team

2/21/20262 min read

If you want more hummingbirds in your garden, the secret is simple: go native. While feeders are great, hummingbirds recognize native North American flowers as their primary food source.

Planting these "Natural Buffets" near your Sparkle Wings™ feeder creates a high-visibility landing zone that keeps them coming back all season long.

1. Wild Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)
  • Why it works: This is one of the first flowers to bloom in the spring, exactly when hummingbirds return from their long migration.

  • The Look: It features unique red and yellow bell-shaped flowers that hang down, making it very easy for birds to sip while hovering.

2. Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
  • Why it works: This is often called a "hummingbird magnet" because it is almost exclusively pollinated by them.

  • The Look: It produces tall spikes of intense, brilliant red flowers that bloom in mid-to-late summer, providing a crucial energy boost before fall.

3. Bee Balm (Monarda didyma)
  • Why it works: Its tubular petals are the perfect shape for a hummingbird’s long beak.

  • The Look: These shaggy, fireworks-like flowers are packed with nectar. If you plant Bee Balm, hummingbirds will often make a "bee-line" straight to your yard.