If you love the magic of hummingbirds, here are five first-rate plants you'll hum the praises of:
Beard tongue (Penstemon spp.)
Plant red-flowering types, such as P. barbatus or ‘Chester Scarlet'. Zones vary by type.
Bee balm (Monarda didyma)
Look for cultivars such as ‘Cambridge Scarlet' or ‘Gardenview Scarlet'. Zones 4 to 9.
Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
Hummers go for ‘Bee's Flame' and ‘Queen Victoria', among others. Zones 3 to 9.
Hummingbird mint (Agastache spp.)
Sure bets from the Southwest include ‘Desert Sunrise' (Zones 5 to 10) and A. rupestris (Zones 5 to 9).
Sage (Salvia spp.)
Grow annuals such as S. coccinea or perennials such as S. fulgens (Zones 9 and 10).