Pair Your Hummingbird Mint With These 13 Plants For A Garden Full Of Fluttering Visitors

Want a garden that’s buzzing with life? Pair your hummingbird mint with these 13 plants, and watch your garden come alive with fluttering visitors.

Imagine the vibrant colors and sweet scents that will fill the air as hummingbirds and butterflies stop by for a sip. These plant combos are not just beautiful, but they’ll also create a magical atmosphere right in your backyard.

Trust me, you’ll love how these picks bring the perfect touch of nature’s charm to your space!

1. Cardinal Flower

Nothing catches a hummingbird’s attention faster than the brilliant red spikes of cardinal flower. These native perennials produce intense crimson blooms that seem designed specifically for hummingbird beaks.

In the wild, they grow near streams and ponds, but they’ll thrive in your garden with consistent moisture. Their late summer blooming period extends the feeding season just when hummingbirds need extra energy for migration.

2. Bee Balm

With shaggy, crown-like flowers in shades of red, pink, and purple, bee balm creates a dramatic display that hummingbirds can’t resist. The nectar-rich blooms appear mid-summer when hummingbird activity peaks.

Native to North America, this mint family member shares hummingbird mint’s aromatic foliage but offers a completely different flower form. Plant them together for contrasting textures that extend blooming time and keep those tiny wings humming.

3. Trumpet Vine

Sometimes called “hummingbird vine” for good reason, this vigorous climber produces clusters of tubular orange-red flowers that seem custom-made for hummingbird feeding. The long, trumpet-shaped blooms hold abundant nectar that other pollinators struggle to reach.

Give this enthusiastic grower a strong support structure and some space to climb. Its dramatic vertical element creates the perfect backdrop for hummingbird mint’s more modest height, forming a complete feeding zone from ground to sky.

4. Salvia

Among hummingbird favorites, salvias rank near the top with their abundant spikes of tubular flowers. Available in nearly every color of the rainbow, these drought-tolerant perennials bloom for months on end, providing reliable nectar sources.

Try pairing blue-flowering varieties like ‘Black and Blue’ salvia with the contrasting colors of hummingbird mint. The combination creates visual drama for human eyes while establishing a nectar corridor that keeps hummingbirds returning daily to your garden.

5. Penstemon

Commonly called beardtongue, these North American natives produce elegant spires of tubular flowers in colors ranging from white to pink, red, and purple. Their upright growth habit complements the bushier form of hummingbird mint perfectly.

Many penstemon varieties thrive in the same well-drained, sunny conditions that hummingbird mint prefers. The foxglove-like flowers open progressively up the stem, extending the blooming period and ensuring hummingbirds have a reason to visit your garden throughout the season.

6. Columbine

Early-season feeding opportunities are crucial for hungry hummingbirds returning from migration. Columbines fill this niche perfectly with their unique spurred flowers that bloom in spring before many other nectar plants.

The nodding blooms in shades of red, pink, purple, and yellow contain nectar tucked inside long spurs that match perfectly with hummingbird beaks. Plant columbines near hummingbird mint to create a continuous buffet from spring through fall.

7. Foxglove

The dramatic flowering spires of foxglove create vertical interest while offering perfect feeding tubes for hummingbirds. Reaching heights of 2-5 feet, these biennial or short-lived perennials produce dozens of spotted, tubular blooms on each stem.

Most foxgloves bloom in early summer, helping to bridge the gap between spring columbines and peak-season hummingbird mint. The classic cottage garden look of foxgloves brings romantic charm while their tall stature adds structural dimension to your hummingbird haven.

8. Coral Bells

Primarily grown for their colorful foliage, coral bells surprise gardeners with delicate sprays of tiny bell-shaped flowers that hummingbirds adore. The dainty blooms appear on thin, wiry stems held high above the attractive leaf mounds.

Modern varieties come in foliage colors ranging from purple-black to caramel, silver, and lime green. This diversity makes them perfect for creating eye-catching combinations with hummingbird mint while extending the nectar offerings in your garden.

9. Butterfly Bush

Despite its name, butterfly bush attracts hummingbirds just as effectively as it does butterflies. The long panicles of small, tubular flowers produce copious nectar that keeps pollinators coming back day after day.

Modern compact varieties fit easily into smaller gardens while still delivering big blooms in purple, pink, white or blue. Plant butterfly bush behind shorter hummingbird mint to create a layered effect that allows hummingbirds to feed at multiple heights simultaneously.

10. Flowering Tobacco

Evening garden magic happens when flowering tobacco unfurls its star-shaped blooms and releases its sweet perfume. Hummingbirds are particularly drawn to the long-tubed varieties with dangling flowers in white, pink, lime green, or red.

As twilight approaches, these plants become feeding stations for hummingbirds making their final rounds of the day. The tall, branching habit of flowering tobacco creates a perfect upper story above the mid-height hummingbird mint, maximizing feeding opportunities in a small space.

11. Fuchsia

Hanging baskets of fuchsia create perfect eye-level feeding stations for curious hummingbirds. The pendant, lantern-like blooms in combinations of pink, purple, red and white seem designed specifically for these aerial acrobats.

Unlike many hummingbird plants, fuchsias thrive in partial shade, allowing you to extend your hummingbird habitat into less sunny areas. Try placing fuchsia baskets near windows where you can enjoy the spectacle of feeding hummingbirds up close.

12. Cuphea

Often called cigar plants or firecracker plants, these non-stop bloomers produce tiny tubular flowers with remarkable staying power. Most varieties bloom continuously from spring until frost, providing reliable nectar sources when other plants may be resting.

The unusual flower shapes—some resembling tiny cigars with white tips, others looking like miniature firecrackers—add whimsy and conversation pieces to your garden. Their compact size makes them perfect border plants in front of taller hummingbird mint.

13. Cape Honeysuckle

In warmer climates, cape honeysuckle creates a spectacular backdrop for hummingbird mint with its climbing habit and clusters of bright orange-red tubular flowers. Unlike true honeysuckle, this South African native blooms nearly year-round in frost-free areas.

Even in cooler regions, cape honeysuckle makes an excellent container specimen that can be overwintered indoors. The tubular flowers attract hummingbirds with their bright color and abundant nectar, creating a tropical feel in any garden.