Grow this nectar-rich salvia to feed more hummingbirds.
Hummingbirds Love This Plant
Updated on May 21, 2025
Hummingbirds are not only adorable, they are beneficial to the ecosystem. Hummingbirds are important pollinators, helping to reproduce many wildflowers and plants. They are particularly drawn to Mexican Bush Sage because it provides a rich source of nectar and is an important food source.
“Mexican Bush Sage produces an abundance of nectar, which is a primary food source for hummingbirds,” says Alexander Betz, landscape designer and founder of Plant By Number. “The flowers are long and tubular, perfectly shaped for a hummingbird’s beak and tongue to extract nectar.”
Hummingbirds are also attracted to bright colors like the purple tips on Mexican bush sage, Betz says. Other plants they are attracted to include Other plants that attract hummingbirds include perennials like bee balm, salvia, and lupine, annuals such as zinnia and petunia and shrubs and vines like trumpet vine, weigela, and buddleia.
A Sweet Treat
Your backyard hummingbirds (and butterflies!) go crazy for the abundant nectar in the beautiful late-season purple-and-white blooms.
Mexican Bush Sage
- Salvia leucantha
- Annual to Zone 8
- Perennial in Zones 8 to 10
In cool climates, treat this shrubby perennial as an annual and plant it as soon as the threat of frost has passed. It needs a long growing season and mild winter to survive.
Plus: Learn 9 expert tips for attracting hummingbirds to your backyard.
Attracts: Birds and butterflies.
Light needs: Full sun.
Size: 3 feet tall and wide.
Grown for: Showy, nectar-rich blooms that last from summer until frost.
Foliage: The leaves and flowers have a fuzzy, velvety texture.
Notable characteristics: This backyard favorite is low-maintenance, drought-tolerant and container-friendly.
Check out more amazing backyard articles from Birds & Blooms.
FAQ
Do hummingbirds prefer red flowers?
Yes, while it’s true that hummingbirds are attracted to the color red, they are also generally drawn to other bright colors like yellow, pink and orange.
What time of year do hummingbirds visit lawns?
Hummingbirds typically migrate north beginning in the spring.
About the Experts
Alexander Betz is a landscape designer and founder of Plant By Number.
