Attract More Hummingbirds and Butterflies This Summer with These 10 Plants

Hannah O'Connor
5 days ago
4 min read

Want to turn your garden into a magnet for hummingbirds and butterflies? Planting nectar-rich flowers is one of the best ways to support pollinators, but in Central Texas, success means choosing plant species that can handle long, hot summers.

This curated list includes a blend of native and well-adapted plants that are perfectly suited for our climate. By mixing perennials, annuals, vines, and shrubs, you'll create a layered landscape that supports both beauty and biodiversity.

From starry blooms to trumpet-shaped flowers, these ten plants provide reliable color and food from late spring through fall.

Shrubs

Turk’s Cap (Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii)

Size: 3–6 ft tall and wide
A Texas native for shady gardens

This hardy perennial shrub features unique red flowers that resemble twisted hibiscus blooms—perfectly shaped for hummingbird beaks. It blooms from late spring to frost, thrives in part to full shade, and is very drought-tolerant once established. Great for naturalizing, borders, and understory planting.

Mexican Honeysuckle (Justicia spicigera)

Size: 2–3 ft tall and wide
Colorful and easy for partial shade

Though not a true honeysuckle or native, this shrub is extremely well-adapted to Central Texas. Soft orange tubular flowers bloom from spring through fall, attracting hummingbirds regularly. It prefers morning sun or dappled shade and benefits from moderate watering and mulching during dry spells.

Perennials

Autumn Sage (Salvia greggii)

Size: 2–3 ft tall and wide
A tough Texas native with constant color

This compact, woody perennial is a hummingbird favorite thanks to its tubular blooms in shades of red, coral, and pink. Native to Central and West Texas, it flourishes in full sun, tolerates reflected heat, and requires minimal water once established. Regular light pruning keeps it blooming from spring through fall.

Gregg’s Mistflower (Conoclinium greggii)

Size: 1–2 ft tall and spreading
A butterfly magnet native to Texas

Low-growing and spreading, this plant is irresistible to Queen butterflies and other pollinators. Its purple blooms appear from late spring into fall. Plant it in full sun to part sun, and water deeply but infrequently once it's established. Ideal for meadow gardens, cottage borders, or mass planting.

Lantana (Lantana urticoides and hybrids)

Size: 2–4 ft tall and wide
Long-blooming, heat-tolerant, and butterfly-friendly

This rugged perennial is a standout in any Central Texas garden. Native and hybrid types are available in a rainbow of colors and bloom from spring through frost. Lantana thrives in full sun, handles extreme drought, and provides continuous nectar for butterflies and bees.

Cuphea ‘Vermillionaire’ (Firecracker Plant)

Size: 18–28 in tall and wide
A compact perennial packed with blooms

Covered in small orange-red tubular flowers, this plant attracts hummingbirds nonstop from late spring through fall. Ideal for borders or containers, it thrives in full sun, tolerates heat and humidity, and requires well-drained soil. Regular watering helps it thrive, but it's fairly low maintenance.

Vines

Madame Rosie Trumpet Creeper (Campsis radicans)

Size: 20–30 ft long
Big blooms and big hummingbird traffic

This vigorous climbing vine bursts into coral-pink trumpet flowers in early to midsummer, drawing hummingbirds from near and far. Best for fences, trellises, or arbors, it requires full sun, occasional deep watering, and a strong support structure. Prune back in winter to keep it in check.

Carolina Jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens)

Size: 10–20 ft long
A spring-blooming evergreen vine

This evergreen climber lights up fences and arbors with fragrant yellow blooms in late winter to early spring, providing nectar during a time when little else is blooming. It grows in full sun to part shade, prefers well-draining soil, and benefits from occasional summer watering. Offers visual structure year-round.

Annuals

Zinnia (Zinnia elegans)

Size: 1–3 ft tall, 1 ft wide
Bright and bold butterfly magnet

Zinnias are a classic Texas annual that blooms abundantly in the heat. Plant them in full sun and well-drained soil, and you'll get flowers from late spring through fall. Butterflies—including Monarchs and Swallowtails—flock to them for nectar. Deadheading encourages nonstop color.

Pentas (Pentas lanceolata)

Size: 18–24 in tall and wide
Compact plants with starry flowers

Pentas bloom in clusters of pink, lavender, or red and attract butterflies all summer long. They thrive in full sun, tolerate part shade, and need regular watering, especially in containers. A vibrant choice for seasonal beds, borders, and pollinator-focused designs.

Supporting the Full Life Cycle of Hummingbirds and Butterflies

Creating a pollinator-friendly garden involves more than just planting flowers. To truly support hummingbirds and butterflies, it’s important to consider their full life cycle—providing not only food, but also shelter, water, and places to raise their young.

Host plants are critical for butterflies. While nectar plants feed adults, species like milkweed and passionvine provide food for caterpillars.
Shelter can come from shrubs, dense perennials, or layered plantings. Plants like Turk’s Cap and Mexican Honeysuckle offer protection from wind, predators, and extreme temperatures.
Water sources such as shallow dishes, birdbaths with stones, or small fountains give pollinators a safe place to drink.
Chemical-free gardening is essential. Avoid pesticide sprays—especially while plants are blooming—as even organic options can harm pollinators.
Natural debris like leaf litter or bare soil patches supports native bees and overwintering butterflies.

By designing with habitat in mind, your garden becomes more than just beautiful—it becomes a refuge that nurtures pollinators from start to finish.

Conclusion

Central Texas gardens come alive in summer when hummingbirds and butterflies arrive in search of nectar, shelter, and safe places to thrive. By planting a thoughtful mix of native and adapted shrubs, perennials, vines, and annuals, you’ll provide the long-lasting blooms and habitat these pollinators depend on.

Whether you're working with a sunny front yard or a shady backyard border, there's a plant on this list that can help you bring more life into your landscape. Plus, many of these selections are drought-tolerant, low-maintenance, and well-suited for our challenging climate.

Visit Round Rock Garden Center to find these pollinator-friendly plants in stock and let our team help you design a garden that thrives all season long.

Happy Gardening!

Sources

“Native and Adapted Landscape Plants.” Grown Green Native Adapted Plant Guide, City of Austin and Texas AgriLife Extension, https://www.austintexas.gov/department/grow-green.
“Pollinator Plants for Austin.” Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center and Williamson County Master Gardeners, February 2020.