Nectar from flowers isn't the only thing that hummingbirds are attracted to. Here are some herbs that hummingbirds like to eat.
6 Herbs for Hummingbirds
Updated on Aug. 11, 2025
I love attracting hummingbirds to my gardens, as they’re not only beautiful to look at, but are also beneficial. “Hummingbirds are great pollinators,” Joyce Corbett of Classic Courtyards says. “Plus, they help keep bug populations in check.”
Too often, people assume hummingbirds only visit red flowering plants, so they load up on fuchsia baskets and overlook another group of favorites—herbs! While red flowers do catch their eye, many herb plants are just as appealing, but Corbett advises that you will need to let them bloom. “You may get a little less to harvest, but if hummingbirds are your goal, they’ll need the flowers,” she says.
Ahead, learn about six herbs you can add to your garden to attract this unique and helpful bird.
-
On This Page
Rosemary Flowers, a Hummingbird Favorite
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), a culinary favorite, is also a hummingbird favorite and a long-season bloomer in my garden. It requires full sun and good drainage. Blooms are produced on previous year’s growth, so resist pruning rosemary until just after the blooms fade. That will aid in producing new branches for next year’s flowers.
-
Cat Mint Flowers Make Beautiful Nectar Factories
Cat Mint (Nepeta x fassinii) blooms off and on all summer into fall with proper deadheading. Cats are somewhat attracted to this plant, but not as much as they are to catnip (Nepeta cataria). So if you’re planting it for the hummingbirds, try putting it in a hanging basket or tall planter.
-
Lavender Bee Balm
Bee Balm (Mondarda didyma), a summer bloomer, comes in red but also in soft lavender, bright pink, white and soft pink. This herb will take some shade and appreciates regular water for best flowering.
Culinary Sage (Salvia officinalis) produces blue blooms in spring. Here are a few more herbs to plant in spring.
-
Society Garlic, A Lovely Flowering Herb
Tulbaghia violacea, also known as Society Garlic, is a tender perennial whose variegated form is often used as a pond plant. It grows well in the garden, too.
-
Lavender Hidcote Blooms in Rich Color
Lavender officinalis, a perennial plant, is often used in essential oils. Its flowers come in dark and light lavender/blue, pink or white.
FAQ
Can I still harvest herbs for cooking if I let them flower?
You can, but the flavor may be on the bitter side. Corbett suggests getting around this by letting some herb plants flower for the hummingbirds and pinching others back for edible herbs.
Where should I plant hummingbird-friendly herbs?
For optimal hummingbird attractiveness, plant herbs among other flowering plants. Most of the herbs on this list will also do best in sunny spots of your garden that receive at least six hours of sunlight each day.
About the Expert
- Joyce Corbett is the owner of Classic Courtyards in West Springfield, Massachusetts. She has over forty years of landscaping design and installation experience.
