the only hummer I've ever gotten was on firebush when we lived in Naples.

Red Firespike
Purple firespike
Red Shrimp
Fruit cocktail shrimp
Sanchezia

firebush
coral honeysuckle
firecracker (Russelia)
firespike (the purple more than the red, but both)
Mexican Sage

I need one more!
Black & Blue Salvia

Bottlebrush
Aloe
Honeysucle
Firecracker
shrimp plant
I have some others that are still too small to talk about.
Felix

Oh, I had to get in on this one! I have some of the ones mentioned and couldn't be without -- like the firespikes, firebush, shrimp plants, coral honeysuckle, etc., but I'm watching one recently that loves the oak tree blooms. Others are:

Red ground orchid
Clerodendrum speciosissimum (a true magnet)
Abutilon (mine is the tall one - orange stripes)

Ginny

Dwarf ponciana, also called Pride of Barbados.

It's the only thing in my yard that has brought them back over and over again all winter. Part of that might be the other stuff mentioned here is low-growing. I have firespike and firecracker and some of the other things mentioned, but I also have a giant puppy who's hell on all that he can trample. I suspect the birds see those paws and stay away, but they like the dwarf ponce, which is out of his reach.

Right now the best is the coral honeysuckle. I would say overall it is the best at this time of year. Also, the red shrimp plant is in full bloom as is the Hong Kong Orchid tree that gets frequent visits. The red and black and blue salvias are getting lots of visits and this should continue until next December. The purple firespike is still getting some visits, but it's past it's prime. The cape honeysuckle has been a fav also. Mine has covered most of a crepe myrtle.

In full summer the firebush is the favorite. I'm sure it's blooming down south right now, but in Central Florida they were hit hard by the last freeze. I have most of the others listed above including the Clerodendrum speciosissimum, which I have always called the pagoda flower. Mine is kind of an orange color. I picked it up after I saw a hummer visiting it at the zoo in Sanford.

In the fall the red firespike is king. Later the turk caps really come into bloom and the hummers really like them also. In late winter (January and February) the flame vine gets visits as do the bleeding heart vines. The bleeding heart vine was a favorite until the freeze, which killed off all the flowers. The freeze didn't faze the cross vines, the shrimp plant or the salvias though.

The freeze got a lot of my pentas and my porterweeds are just coming back. The hummers really like the porterweeds of almost any color. Too bad mine won't be blooming again for a while.

As you can see I'm a hummingbird plant maniac. I get every plant that might possibly attract them. Got a few new ones this spring...

Good choices, everyone. Tom has covered most of my favorites, for sure. I will add that not only do they nectar at powderpuff and bottlebrush trees, but they will nest in them as well.

Coral honeysuckle, coral honeysuckle, coral honeysuckle. The BEST, ever, I think for getting constant visitors. I have had very good luck with black & blue salvia, as others have said. It gives you a good hummer plant that isn't red or pink, too. Hamelia patens is great, but it does freeze badly, even though it is a native. I think it is really a south Florida native and is borderline here in Central Florida. Both of mine froze to the ground and are showing no signs of returning.

Jatropha. Mine love spicy jatropha. However, the freeze killed my beautiful shrub DEAD. Not coming back. *sniff*

It also killed my pentas (which had been popular with the hummers) and just about everything else in my yard, except...CORAL HONEYSUCKLE. (Did I mention I really love this plant for hummers?)

And as Tom also mentioned, turk's cap. It is hardy, gets huge, blooms all year long, and they cannot resist it. I have both red and pink started in my yard, and can't wait for them to reach a good size. But they are blooming already, and drawing in hummers. Plant one where you can see it from inside the house, and you will be watching hummers from your windows.

And one last thing...CORAL HONEYSUCKLE.

*grin*

Marcia

marcia, my jatropha is putting out tons of new growth. i maybe might have a cutting or two for you at the swap. i also managed to find some porterweed, if you want. maybe you have some coral honeysuckle to trade?

finally, how can you all not mention shrimp plant? i have a peaches and cream one right out my back door. every morning and evening the hummers visit it.

Hahaha, Ill-Man...at least 3 people mentioned shrimp plant! You crazy, fast-reading guy, you! I would love another start of a jatropha...but this one will stay in a POT so I can move it indoors. It was just about my favorite plant in my garden before it croaked. I could use some porterweed, too. I hope I will have something to trade. Can I take cuttings from the honeysuckle? I cut it back a few weeks ago, so it doesn't have any long viney bits yet, but maybe by the swap it will. I am so wiped out in my yard, I have very little to trade at all. I'm starting from scratch, pretty much.

Marcia

Marcia, the firebush almost always come back. They take a while though, so don't dig yours up. All of mine are coming back, but it appears from the roots. They will take a long time to get back to where they were.

One group that we have not mentioned are the cupheas. Most attract hummingbirds. In my experience the two best are the Micropetala, which we call the cigar plant sometimes and the other is Ignea, which we call the candy corn cuphea at times. The bat-faced cuphea is popular also, and will attract hummers.

There is also the group of fuchsias. I haven't been successful with these but many others have.

Then there is the Rose of Sharon which will get lots of visits when blooming. I first discovered hummingbirds in Florida when I went downstairs one morning at dawn and saw one visiting my Rose of Sharon. I was hooked after that...This hibiscus has the added benefit of not being bothered by freezes.

Last but not least are the cannas. Lots of them, but of course the hummers tend to prefer the red ones.

I'm going to stop now, but some more will surely pop into my head later.

Tom, I knew about the cupheas, but had never thought about cannas for hummers, though I do grow them. Also, Rose of Sharon is a plant I always forget down here. I remember how beautiful yours is (and how covetous I was!!) and would love to try one. I have a perfect spot for it, and the fact that it doesn't freeze makes it a real WINNER in my mind. I've never seen it in a nursery, though. Did you get yours locally?

Yes, fuchsias are good, but the pretty "ballerina tutu" ones die so quickly. However, Gartenmeister fuchsia will take the heat and they really do love that one. I usually have a pot of it growing on the patio every year. The bright orange flowers are a draw for the hummers and butterflies, too. Thanks for the reminder.

Marcia

One that was not mentioned is button ginger (costus woodsonii). Very popular in my garden. I also have justicia golden flame which is extremely popular. The other three most favorites are tall pentas (I have the pink tones), firecracker plant (russelia equisetiformis), and dwarf powder puff. I only have had the hummers here starting in late summer through fall, so that is the main plant selection during that time. I've never noticed them on my shrimp plant or firespike, and my clerodendrums are usually spent by then. I really have been intending to get a coral honeysuckle. Maybe this will bring it to mind next time I go to the nursery.

Anna

I've just started growing the justicia golden flame, Anna. I've heard that it does well in partial shade. Is that your experience? I love the dwarf powederpuff--the red ones that is. They bloom almost all year and the butterflies really like them. I've seen hummers visit, but they aren't favorites in my yard. The Russelia Equisetiformis or firecracker plant is a very good one, but it needs to be in a tall pot for it to do best for the hummers since it tends to hang over.

Marcia, I think I bought the Rose of Sharon at Home Depot. It must be ten years or so since I got it. I remember that it was blooming then and I purchased one for some friends also. I feed mine banana peels...

The hummers really like the chaste tree when it is in bloom and they love aloes also. And then there is the coral bean and ...

Thanks so much, everyone! I have started a list for the USF sale.

Veronica

Hi Veronica! Can I add my faves to the list?
Batfaced Cuphea, or just about any of them but Batfaced is my favorite!
Red "Indianshot" Canna
Nile Lilly
Cypress Vine
Red Honeysuckle
Salvia, again, just about any of them!

By the way, the Duchess du Brabant you sent me is looking marvelous! Lots of blooms already and settling in happily in the garden! Thank you again for the "must have" rose!

nova aka Susan

For those of you that like the firecracker or cigar plant you should try the cuphea shumannii or orange cuphea. I found this at bustani plant farm in OK. and put my friends at network54 onto it and they all love it. I even overwintered it inside in my cold climate. Give it try , it would be an annual for you people in a warmer climate like fl.

Here is a link that might be useful: bustani plant farm