Download Hummingbird plant list - Tucson Audubon Society

Hummingbird Plants
The plants on this list have flowers that are visited by hummingbirds. Having as many of these plants
as possible helps assure food resources for hummingbirds in your yard.
However, be aware that hummingbirds have other needs as well. Hummingbirds also eat insects; and
they need places to nest. Landscaping with a wide variety of native plants can help attract native
insects and provide nesting sites. Large shrubs and thorny, untrimmed desert trees can provide nesting
sites for hummingbirds.
For information about other native plants to use in your landscape, and general landscaping and
gardening advice, download our Guide to Food-rich Landscapes for Birds and People at
www.tucsonaudubon.org/what-we-do/conservation/urbansus.html.
Plants on this list are “low water use” and local to the Tucson area unless otherwise noted in the
description.
Name
Flame anisacanthus
Desert honeysuckle
Fairy duster
Scientific name
Anisacanthus quadrifidus
var. wrightii
Anisacanthus thurberi
Calliandra eriophylla
Desert willow
Chilopsis linearis
Ocotillo
Fouquieria splendens
Red hesperaloe
Hesperaloe parviflora
Chuparosa
Justicia californica
Red justicia
Justicia candicans
Mexican honeysuckle
Sierra Madre lobelia
Anderson wolfberry
Justicia spicigera
Lobelia laxiflora
Lycium andersonii
Baja wolfberry
Lycium brevipes
Fremont wolfberry
Lycium fremontii
Snapdragon vine
Maurandya
antirrhiniflora
Penstemon eatonii
Firecracker
penstemon
Parry penstemon
Autumn sage
Hummingbird
trumpet
Penstemon parryii
Salvia greggii
Zauschneria latifolia (Z.
californica)
Description
Shrub to 3’; attractive, dark orange flowers attract hummingbirds; tough once established; native
of SW Texas and N Mexico
Shrub to 4’; red-orange flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies
Shrub to 3’; puffy, pink flower clusters attract hummingbirds; hosts butterfly larvae; tough local
native
Tree to 15’; pink, pea-like flowers (on locally native variety) attract hummingbirds; willowy
growth form but not true willow; partial shade. Needs a little more water to get established—
generally grows on floodplains or near washes
Shrub to 12’; unique growth form with branches growing upward from base; terminal red flowers
attract hummingbirds and other pollinators; small leaves when moisture is present
Yucca-like rosette to 3’; hummingbirds like the red flowers; distinct growth form; good for large
pots; TX and Coahuila native
Spreading shrub to 4’; classic, drought-tolerant hummingbird plant, red flowers (yellow variety
available); blooms often
Erect shrub to 4’; red flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies; may need slightly more water
to get established
Shrub to 3’; orange flowers attract hummingbirds; N Mexico native
Shrub to 3’; light red flowers attract hummingbirds, native to some local mountains
Shrub to 5’; wolfberries are classic, large spiny shrubs with edible fruits that provide cover and
food for birds; small purple flowers visited by hummingbirds; fruits edible
Shrub to 8’; wolfberries are classic, large spiny shrubs with edible fruits that provide cover and
food for birds; small purple flowers visited by hummingbirds; this is the biggest species; Baja CA
native; fruits edible
Shrub to 5’; wolfberries are classic, large spiny shrubs with edible fruits that provide cover and
food for birds; small purple flowers visited by hummingbirds; fruits edible
Vine to 8’; delicate vine with small but beautiful red to purple flowers; visited by hummingbirds;
partial shade
Erect perennial to 3’; attractive, red flowers attract hummingbirds
Short-lived perennial to 3’; attractive pink flowers attract hummingbirds; reseeds easily
Shrub to 3’; red flowers attract hummingbirds
Shrub to 3’; showy red flowers visited by hummingbirds and butterflies; used by moth larvae