Five Favorite Hummingbird Approved Plants for Your BC Garden

Hummingbirds are dazzling pollinators that bring energy and beauty to any garden. If you live in British Columbia and want to attract these tiny aerial acrobats, planting the right flowers is key! Here are five top-performing, native friendly plants that hummingbirds love in BC’s climate.  

 1. Red Columbine (Aquilegia formosa)  

🌺 Why hummingbirds love it: Tubular red and yellow flowers are perfect for their long beaks.  

🌿 Growing tips: Prefers partial shade, moist soil. Blooms spring to early summer.  

💡 Bonus: A BC native that’s low maintenance and deer-resistant!  

2. Salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis)  

🌺 Why hummingbirds love it: Early spring pink flowers provide crucial nectar when few other plants bloom.  

🌿 Growing tips: Thrives in moist, shady areas (great for woodland gardens). Produces edible berries!  

💡 Bonus: Supports other wildlife like bees and birds.  

 3. Scarlet Gilia (Ipomopsis aggregata)  

🌺 Why hummingbirds love it: Bright red, trumpetshaped flowers are irresistible.  

🌿 Growing tips: Loves full sun, welldrained soil. Droughttolerant once established.  

💡 Bonus: A showstopper in rock gardens or dry slopes.  

 4. Canada Lily (Lilium canadense)  

🌺 Why hummingbirds love it: Nodding yelloworange flowers are easy to access midflight.  

🌿 Growing tips: Prefers moist meadows or garden edges. Plant bulbs in fall.  

💡 Bonus: Stunning addition to cottagestyle gardens.  

 5. Beardtongue (Penstemon spp.)  

🌺 Why hummingbirds love it: Tubular flowers (in red, purple, or pink) are nectarrich.  

🌿 Growing tips: Full sun, excellent drainage. Droughtresistant—ideal for BC’s dry summers.  

💡 Bonus: Try Penstemon serrulatus (Coastal Penstemon), a BC native!  

 Tips for a Hummingbird Haven  

 Plant in clusters to create a "target" for hummingbirds.  

 Avoid pesticides—they harm hummingbirds and their insect prey.  

 Add a water feature (misters or shallow fountains attract them).  

What’s your favorite hummingbird plant in BC? Share in the comments below!  (By GYCS)