Hummingbirds in the Pacific Northwest
Rufous hummingbirds arrive in the Pacific Northwest in spring and nest in the region, while Anna’s hummingbirds are found in many areas during much of the year. Calliope hummingbirds also occur in parts of the region, especially in drier mountain areas. Exact timing varies by location and year, so planting for a long bloom season is more useful than aiming for a single date.
What Makes a Good Hummingbird Plant
Hummingbirds are often drawn to tubular flowers, and red, orange, and pink blooms are commonly mentioned, though they will visit other colors too. The best gardens offer nectar in sequence from early spring into fall, plus nearby shrubs or trees for perching and cover. Native plants also support the small insects that hummingbirds eat.
Early Season
- Red-flowering currant (Ribes sanguineum): blooms in early spring in western Oregon and Washington, often when migrating hummingbirds arrive.
- Salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis): an early-blooming shrub for moist sites.
- Pacific bleeding heart (Dicentra formosa): a woodland plant for shade, blooming in spring.
Spring Into Summer
- Western columbine (Aquilegia formosa): red and yellow nodding flowers that suit part shade or sun with some moisture.
- Orange honeysuckle (Lonicera ciliosa): a native vine with orange tubular flowers.
- Twinberry (Lonicera involucrata): a shrub for moist spots with yellow flowers and dark berries.
- Penstemons (Penstemon species): several natives are used, such as Cardwell’s penstemon, which prefers sun and good drainage.
- Indian paintbrush (Castilleja species): semi-parasitic and often hard to establish in gardens.
Summer Into Fall
- Scarlet gilia (Ipomopsis aggregata): a red-flowered plant of drier sites, more typical east of the Cascades.
- Fireweed (Chamaenerion angustifolium): blooms in summer on disturbed ground. It can spread widely in gardens by roots and seed.
- Columbia lily (Lilium columbianum): nodding orange flowers in meadow-like settings.
Since many of these overlap with plants that other pollinators use, our guide to fall blooming native perennials can help extend your garden further into autumn, and the plants in our drought resistant butterfly plants guide suit drier east-side sites.
Matching Plants to Your Site
- Shade and moist soil: bleeding heart, columbine, twinberry, salmonberry.
- Sun and well-drained soil: penstemon, scarlet gilia.
- West of the Cascades vs. east: the west side is wetter and milder; the east side is drier with colder winters. Check hardiness and moisture needs of each plant.
Planting Tips
- Group plants in clusters so the flowers are easy to spot.
- Avoid pesticides, which reduce the insects hummingbirds eat.
- Buy from native plant nurseries, and confirm the plants are suited to your zone.
- Choose native species instead of invasive ornamentals.
A Note on Feeders
Feeders can supplement plants. If you use one, keep it clean and change the sugar solution regularly, using plain white sugar and water without dyes. Check with a local Audubon chapter for current guidance, including cold-weather advice.
FAQ
What is the number one plant to attract hummingbirds? There isn’t a single best plant. In the Northwest, red-flowering currant is a frequently recommended early choice, followed by columbine and penstemon.
Do hummingbirds go back to the same feeders every year? Many are reported to return to places where they found food before, but this varies.
Do hummingbirds drink at night? They generally do not feed at night. Hummingbirds can enter a state called torpor on cold nights to conserve energy.
Do hummingbirds like it when you talk to them? There is no good evidence they respond to speech the way pets do. Quiet, consistent activity near feeders is usually fine.