Annual Flowers That Attract Hummingbirds

Impatiens

• Impatiens are the most popular bedding plant in the United States, outselling favorites such as petunias and geraniums. They come in a wide range of colors, including purple, pink, orange and scarlet red as well as many bicolor combinations. Impatiens grow in full sun or deep shade depending on the variety, and thrive in containers as well as in beds. Hummingbirds are attracted to all impatiens, but the varieties "walleriana" and "balsamina" are two favorites.

Climbing Snapdragon

• Climbing snapdragons, otherwise known as asarina, have trumpet-shaped blossoms that seem to cascade down the vine. The plant can grow as tall as 10 feet in mild climates, blooming from late spring through early fall. Deadheading, or pinching off the dead blooms, helps prolong the plant's flowering season. Climbing snapdragons grow well in containers as well as along fences or trellises. They comes in shades of violet-blue, pink, white and lavender.

Morning Glory

• Morning glories are one of the most popular climbing annuals, because they're prolific and easy to grow. When open, the flowers are broad and trumpet-shaped, which is ideal for hummingbirds. Morning glories are most recognized by their blue flowers, but other varieties have red, pink, purple or white flowers. They climb as high as 15 feet, making their blooms visible to a hummingbird in flight. They require full sun and can grow in both containers and along fences, walls or trellises.

Monkey Flower

• Monkey flower, also known as mimulus, is a mounding annual with tubular, widely-opening blossoms. The flower itself is striking, and colors range from pink to dark burgundy, scarlet red, cream, orange or yellow. They bloom from late spring to early fall, in part because most monkey flowers are hybrids between tender South American varieties and hardy Alaskan varieties. They prefer moist soil and won't tolerate dry conditions, and do equally well in full sun to partial shade.

Wishbone Flower

• The wishbone flower, or torenia, has anthers shaped like wishbones, resulting in its name. The wishbone flower is a shade-loving annual, thriving in either partial to deep shade. It's a bushy plant that doesn't do well in hot, humid weather, and is considered a tender annual. They're ideal for attracting hummingbirds in a climate zone where summers are on the cool side. Bluewings is a top performer that comes in lavender, violet, white, pink and rose. The yellow wishbone flower has golden blossoms with burgundy throats and black anthers.

Phlox

• Phlox, which is also called annual phlox and Drummond phlox, is a plant with dense clusters of tubular flowers that come in red, yellow, white, salmon, purple, pink and lavender. Phlox grow just about anywhere, including hanging baskets, rock gardens, borders, meadow gardens and as groundcover. The plant does well in full sun to partial shade, and also attracts butterflies. Different varieties of phlox flower at different times, so it's best to plant a few well-chosen varieties to have blooms all season long.