10 Salvias That Draw the Most Hummingbirds
Hummingbird experts recommend 10 types of salvia that serve as magnets for hummingbirds.
Salvias and hummingbirds are meant for each other. Here are the 10 best salvias to grow to attract the most hummingbirds to your garden.
Hummingbird experts Bart O'Brien and Sheri Williamson recommend the following species as magnets for hummingbirds. This list can help you plan your plants for next year's garden or serve as a list to take with you to your favorite nursery.
1. Salvia clevelandii: Cleveland sage, blue sage
Evergreen, drought-tolerant Southern California native shrub with blue flowers that start in late spring. USDA Zones 8–10.
2. Salvia elegans: Pineapple sage
Bright red flowers bloom from midsummer into fall. Crush the leaves to experience this salvia’s namesake pineapple scent. Zones 8–10, or grown as an annual. (See photo above.)
3. Salvia greggii: Autumn sage
Texas native that blooms in red from spring through fall. It's many named cultivars and hybrids provide a range of warm colors. Zones 8–10.
4. Salvia guaranitica: Anise-scented sage, hummingbird sage
Deep purple flowers produced midsummer to fall. Zones 8–10, or grown as an annual. (See photo above.)
5. Salvia leucantha: Mexican bush sage, velvet sage
Compact late-summer and fall bloomer with purple-and-white flowers. Zones 8–10, or grown as an annual.
6. Salvia leucophylla: Purple sage
A native of dry slopes of coastal Southern California, this shrubby salvia forms dense blocks of gray foliage topped with lavender flowers. Zones 7–10.
7. Salvia madrensis: Forsythia sage
Quick-growing Mexican native plant that can grow to seven feet in one season. Large leaves and buttery yellow flowers that appear late summer to fall. Zones 7–11.
8. Salvia microphylla: Baby sage, black-currant sage
Native to southeastern Arizona and Mexico. Red flowers on red-tinted stems from midsummer to fall. Many pink and red cultivars are available. Zones 8–10.
9. Salvia regla: Royal sage, mountain sage
Texas native with large red flowers that appear in early summer; blooms again in fall. Zones 8–10.
10. Salvia spathacea: Hummingbird sage, pitcher sage
A native of coastal California with thick spikes of rosy flowers in late winter and spring, with a rebloom in fall. Zones 8–11.
Learn more about gardening for hummingbirds:
Attract Hummingbirds with Red Flowers
Rose Rhinestones Penstemon Brings Hummingbirds to the Garden
Wildlife & Pollinator-Friendly Garden Plans