Like other pollinating species, hummingbirds rely on a variety of nectar sources. In fact, this sugary substance makes up the majority of their diets. Even if you hang a feeder in your garden and make homemade hummingbird nectar for these birds, they still need nectar from flowers as well. Wallflowers (Erysimum linifolium) are available in purple cultivars, such as “Bowles Mauve,” which may attract hummingbirds while being easy to grow in almost any yard or garden.

Aside from their attractiveness to pollinators like hummingbirds, wallflowers are also considered relatively easy to grow and maintain. They are suitable for growing in USDA hardiness zones 7 to 9, and can even be planted in drier climates. In addition to their benefits to hummingbirds as well as their environmental resilience, wallflowers can be among the stunning purple flowers you can grow in your garden. Alternatively, there are other purple-containing wallflowers you can plant as well. These include cultivars with multiple colors, such as “Erysistible Tricolor,” which can include red, purple, and other hues.

You can plant wallflower seeds directly into the ground, or you can buy preestablished potted plants and place them around your yard. If you prefer that these flowering plants grow out of soil in your garden, consider planting seeds 10 to 12 weeks before the last frost so they can bloom in time for spring. Wallflowers do best in full sun, as well as dry, well-draining soil. Once planted and established, you are most likely to see western wallflowers bloom in the late spring and until summer.

It’s also worth considering making your garden more diverse with multiple types of flowering plants. Planting native flowers helps hummingbirds thrive because these can produce more nectar to feed pollinators. There are at least 180 known species of wallflowers, and only 12 of them are native to North America, with most, like Erysimum linifolium, indigenous to Europe. While hummingbirds may visit purple wallflowers, they are generally most attracted to bright reds and oranges, as well as tubular-shaped flowers. Other types of wallflowers called western wallflowers (Erysimum capitatum) are available in red, orange, maroon, and yellow, and they are also considered native to the U.S. Additionally, there are several types of tubular flowers to lure hummingbirds to your yard. These may all be considered in addition to Erysimum linifolium for multiple colors that both you and pollinating species can enjoy.