Anna's Hummingbird
Calypte anna
Iridescent green hummingbird with males showing brilliant magenta crown and gorget. Year-round Bay Area resident; males perform dramatic dive displays. Pollinates sage, currants, and flowering shrubs while feeding on nectar.
Plants that support Anna's Hummingbird
71 plants
Alameda Manzanita
Arctostaphylos pallida
shrub
Early season nectar; supports breeding season energy demands
Arroyo Willow
Salix lasiolepis
shrub
Nests in willow branches; also gleans insects from foliage
Bearberry Honeysuckle
Lonicera involucrata var. ledebourii
shrub
Early spring nectar source for breeding season preparation
Big-leaf Maple
Acer macrophyllum
tree
Early spring nectar source during blooming Apr-May; breeding season fuel
Bigberry Manzanita
Arctostaphylos glauca
shrub
Primary nectar source, especially critical during breeding season (Dec-Jun) and molting period
Bitter Cherry
Prunus emarginata
tree
Early spring nectar source during flowering period; critical for breeding season energy
Black Sage
Salvia mellifera
shrub
Primary nectar source during Apr-Jul bloom; critical for breeding season energy demands
Blue Dicks
Dipterostemon capitatus
geophyte
Early spring blooms provide critical nectar during breeding season initiation Mar-May
California Buckeye
Aesculus californica
tree
Spring nectar during territorial establishment and courtship, May-Jun
California Figwort
Scrophularia californica
perennial herb
Year-round resident in California; critical early season nectar source Feb-Apr when few flowers bloom
California Flannel Bush
Fremontodendron californicum
shrub
Primary nectar source Apr-Jun during breeding season
California Fuchsia
Epilobium canum
perennial herb
Late-season nectar resource during breeding season extension Aug-Nov
California Saxifrage
Micranthes californica
perennial herb
Spring breeding season nectar source in mountain habitats
California Wild Rose
Rosa californica
shrub
Primary nectar source May-Aug during breeding season
California blackberry
Rubus ursinus
shrub
Early spring nectar source when flowers bloom
California skullcap
Scutellaria californica
perennial herb
early spring nectar source in native plant gardens and chaparral
Chamise
Adenostoma fasciculatum
shrub
Dense foliage provides nesting and roosting sites year-round; critical winter shelter
Chaparral Currant
Ribes malvaceum
shrub
Critical winter nectar source Oct-Feb during breeding and territorial establishment
Chaparral Mallow
Malacothamnus fasciculatus
shrub
Primary year-round resident; critical for winter territoriality and early breeding season (Dec-Mar)
Cliff Maids
Lewisia cotyledon
perennial herb
Early spring breeding season resource in rocky foothills and gardens
Cobwebby Thistle
Cirsium occidentale var. venustum
annual
Utilizes thistle blooms for high-energy nectar source during breeding and non-breeding seasons
Common sunflower
Helianthus annuus
annual
Year-round California resident; utilizes blooms seasonally
Coyote Brush
Baccharis pilularis
shrub
Fall nectar source, also nesting shrub in some years
Coyote Mint
Monardella villosa
shrub
Primary nectar source Jun-Sep bloom; critical for breeding season energy
Creeping Oregon Grape
Berberis aquifolium var. repens
shrub
Early spring nectar source during breeding season establishment Mar-May
Creeping Sage
Salvia sonomensis
shrub
Primary nectar source during Apr-Jun bloom; critical for breeding season energy demands
Cupido Mariposa Lily
Calochortus uniflorus
perennial herb
early spring nectar source during breeding season establishment
Curl-Leaf Mountain Mahogany
Cercocarpus ledifolius
shrub
Year-round resident in California; relies on mahogany for early spring nectar before other plants bloom
Douglas Iris
Iris douglasiana
perennial herb
Early spring nectar source Mar-May, coincides with breeding season territory establishment
Douglas' Thistle
Cirsium douglasii var. douglasii
perennial herb
Year-round resident; thistle nectar important for winter energy reserves
Elegant Clarkia
Clarkia unguiculata
annual
Early breeding season nectar source Feb-May
Flowering Currant
Ribes sanguineum
shrub
Winter and early spring nectar source (Jan-Apr) supporting year-round California residents and early breeding activity
Foothill Penstemon
Penstemon heterophyllus
perennial herb
Early spring blooms (Apr-May) provide critical nectar during breeding season and territory establishment
Fremon's Bushmallow
Malacothamnus fremontii
shrub
nectar source during spring bloom and breeding season
Fringecups
Tellima grandiflora
perennial herb
Primary nectar source in coastal redwood and mixed evergreen forests; supports early breeding season (Dec-Jun)
Fuchsia-flowered Gooseberry
Ribes speciosum
shrub
early spring nectar source during breeding season establishment
Giant Figwort*
Adelinia grandis
perennial herb
Year-round resident in California; supplemental nectar source
Golden Currant
Ribes aureum
shrub
Early nectar source Mar-May during breeding season establishment
Hairy Ceanothus
Ceanothus oliganthus
shrub
Important year-round nectar resource; supports breeding and winter survival
Hillside Gooseberry
Ribes californicum var. californicum
shrub
Year-round resident in California; relies on currant flowers for nectar in late winter/early spring when few other sources available
Hooker's Evening Primrose
Oenothera elata subsp. hookeri
annual
Primary nectar source especially during breeding season Feb-May and winter resource
Huckleberry
Vaccinium ovatum
shrub
Feeds on flowers during Mar-May bloom; year-round resident in coastal CA
Hummingbird Sage
Salvia spathacea
perennial herb
Primary nectar source during early spring bloom (Mar-May); supports breeding season energy demands
Indian Warrior
Pedicularis densiflora
perennial herb
Spring blooms provide nectar during breeding season
Madrone
Arbutus menziesii
tree
Early spring nectar source Mar-May; important breeding season fuel
Monkeyflower (Scarlet)
Erythranthe cardinalis
perennial herb
Primary nectar source Apr-Oct bloom; critical winter resident energy source in coastal CA
Mount Diablo Manzanita
Arctostaphylos auriculata
shrub
Year-round resident in California; primary nectar source during winter and early spring when few other plants bloom
Mountain Coyote Mint
Monardella odoratissima
perennial herb
Year-round resident in California; critical nectar source for breeding season (Dec-Jun)
Narrow-leaf Milkweed
Asclepias fascicularis
perennial herb
Visits milkweed blooms Jun-Sep; year-round CA resident
Pink Honeysuckle
Lonicera hispidula
vine
Primary nectar source during Apr-Jul bloom; critical for breeding season energy
Pipevine
Aristolochia californica
vine
Early winter blooms (Jan-Apr) provide critical nectar source during cooler months when few plants flower; supports overwintering populations
Point Reyes Ceanothus
Ceanothus gloriosus
shrub
Early spring nectar source during Mar-May bloom; supports breeding season energy demands
Red Larkspur
Delphinium nudicaule
perennial herb
Visit red/orange Delphinium flowers during breeding season Apr-Jun; important early spring nectar source for establishing territories
Salmonberry
Rubus spectabilis
perennial herb
Early spring flowers provide nectar during breeding territory establishment
Scarlet Bugler
Penstemon centranthifolius
perennial herb
primary nectar source winter through early spring breeding season in California
Showy Penstemon
Penstemon spectabilis
perennial herb
Primary nectar source during winter and early spring breeding season in California deserts
Showy milkweed
Asclepias speciosa
perennial herb
Year-round nectar source; especially important during winter months when few other plants bloom in California
Southern honeysuckle
Lonicera subspicata
shrub
Year-round resident in southern California; important winter nectar source
Sticky Monkey Flower
Diplacus aurantiacus
shrub
Primary nectar source Mar-Aug bloom; critical winter resident energy source
Texas Indian Paintbrush
Castilleja foliolosa
perennial herb
Year-round nectar source in California; critical winter and early spring resource
Toyon
Heteromeles arbutifolia
tree
Year-round resident, nectar source during Jun-Jul bloom period
Van Houtte's Columbine
Aquilegia eximia
perennial herb
Early spring breeding season; critical nectar source during courtship and nesting
Vinegar-weed
Trichostema lanceolatum
annual
Supplemental nectar source, especially during breeding season
Western Azalea
Rhododendron occidentale
shrub
Spring breeding season nectar source, April-June
Western Columbine
Aquilegia formosa
perennial herb
Resident California species; primary nectar source Apr-Jul
Western Redbud
Cercis occidentalis
tree
Early spring blooms provide critical nectar during breeding season March-May
White bark California lilac
Ceanothus leucodermis
shrub
Year-round California resident; important winter and early spring nectar source
Whiteleaf Manzanita
Arctostaphylos viscida
perennial herb
Critical early spring nectar source for breeding season
Whiteleaf Manzanita
Arctostaphylos manzanita subsp. laevigata
shrub
Year-round resident in California; critical early season nectar source for breeding
Yellow Coastal Bush Lupine
Lupinus arboreus
perennial herb
Year-round resident utilizing spring blooms
Yerba Santa
Eriodictyon californicum
shrub
Primary nectar source during May-July bloom; supports breeding season energy demands