My hummers continue to love the Streptocarpella, a hanging basket plant - also Cuphea Bat Face and Gold Fish plant (nematanthus) also a hanging basket plant.

I have something called bouvardia, that they like. Would probably be shrubby for you. Pentas gets shrubby. And then there is cestrum nocturnum. aloes and agaves.

You are probably in the equivalent of USDA hardiness zone 8-10 which would mean that most plants that are annuals for many of us would be perennial for you.
Fuschia 'Gartenmeister Bonstadt'
Tropical Hibiscus
Manettia
Shrimp Plant (Justicia brandegeana)
Texas Firebush (Hamelia Patens)
Mimosa
Lantana
Butterfly Bush
Rose of SHaron
Foxglove
Cuphea Ignea (Mexican Cigar)

Penny

I couldn't help but notice, none of the replies were from the subtropics. Have you asked your question on the California forum? There are whole orders of perennials, vines, and shrubs in your state that we of the frosty set have not even heard of. I'd also call a local nature center and see if they have plant lists. Also check out botanical gardens, there could be one in your area with a hummingbird garden.

I find Pachystachys lutea to be a hit with the little guys. I believe there is also a P. cardinalis. I've heard Tillandsias are to their liking, as well. Aloes are very popular, and come in different sizes, and different blooming seasons.

Is the Pachystachys lutes the plant that looks like a shrimp plant with yellow flowers? I have considered buying that before.

Ellery

There are so many tropical shrubs and perennials that interest, host, and provide for those little buggers. Here are some tropicals or hardy tropicals that help out the hardy perennials in the garden-Hoya "Hawaiian Purple", Heliconia ( both pendulant and upright), Stephanotis, Madagascar Jasmine, Hedychium cultivars such as "Elizabeth" and "Thai Spirit", and others in the gardens and greenhouses such as Streptocarpella, Erythrina (Coral Tree),and Albizzia j. there are many shrubs and perennials that I consider and are not classified as tropical, but plants like Buddleja, Agastache, Salvia (there are loving my S. elegans Scarlet Tangerine), Lobelia ( upright and mounding perennial forms like laxiflora and cardinalis), Vitex, Nepeta ( I grow 8 varieties but subsessilis and faassenii x do well for attractants), Phystogia v. Miss Manners and pink forms, and the list can go on and on with vines, groundcovers, upright perennials, mounding shrubs, and upright shrub and small trees. I suggest on using the net to obtain lists of sub-tropical, tropcial, and to be temperate climate loving plants to host, provide food , and attract hummers. And to offer another piece of advice, combine with hardy plants and awareness of hardiness to your specific zonal shifts.

Wow! Lots of great ideas.
Now the hard part. Since I don't have room for everything, which to pick?

Thanks everyone, Jeff

As a group, the tropical large salvias are hard to beat. I have many tropicals planted for hummingbirds, but at the moment, the most popular are salvias leucantha and Limelight. Another very popular and smaller plant is ruellia microphylla.

Wow there are some great recomendations here for Tropicals.I agree that Cannas and Salvias are highly attractive for starters.Ive always wanted to grow shrimp plant but it's not hardy enough up here. Good luck with your choices , at least you have plenty to choose from!
-stephen