High Country Gardens
Orange Carpet Creeping Hummingbird Trumpet (Zauschneria garrettii)
Best low-maintenance groundcover for attracting hummingbirds to drought-prone gardens.
The Orange Carpet® Creeping Hummingbird Trumpet is a vibrant, native groundcover that forms a dense mat of bright green foliage, reaching 4-6 inches tall and spreading up to 18 inches wide. From mid-to-late summer, it bursts with a profusion of bright orange, trumpet-shaped flowers, drawing in hummingbirds and other pollinators. This drought-tolerant plant thrives in well-drained soil and is ideal for erosion control, rock gardens, or cascading over walls. For best results, leave it standing over winter and prune back in mid-spring.
$13.99
Owner Satisfaction
4.6
/ 5
Category Rank
864
/ 3268
#864 in Landscaping & Garden Plants
Price vs Category Average
-49%
Below average
Life Cycle
Perennial
/ Perennial
Who it's for
- Wildlife gardeners supporting migrating hummingbirds
- Xeriscaping enthusiasts seeking low-water landscape solutions
- Homeowners needing erosion control for sloped garden areas
Who should skip it
- Landscape designers prioritizing consistent year-round visual interest
- Gardeners with limited space or strict border requirements
- Gardeners dealing with heavy clay or poor drainage
Performance breakdown
Pollinator Appeal
Vibrant trumpet blooms act as a magnet for local hummingbirds.
Drought Tolerance
Thrives in arid conditions once established with minimal supplemental water.
Erosion Control
Dense matting habit effectively stabilizes soil on slopes and banks.
Maintenance Ease
Requires only a simple spring prune to maintain tidy growth.
Deer Resistance
Reliably ignored by browsing deer in most garden environments.
Versatility
Adapts easily to rock gardens, containers, or cascading wall plantings.
Key Specs
Life Cycle
Perennial
Watering Needs
Moderate
Light Requirement
Full Sun, Partial Shade
Bloom Season
Summer
Fragrance Level
No Fragrance
Pet Safe
False
Growth Habit
Trailing
Mature Height
4-6 inches
Features
- Attracts hummingbirds and pollinators
- Excellent for erosion control
- Long-lasting summer blooms
- Drought tolerant
- Deer resistant
- Low maintenance
- Suitable for containers
- Native plant
What customers say
Customers consistently praise the exceptional quality of the Orange Carpet Hummingbird Trumpet upon arrival, noting the robust health and careful packaging provided by High Country Gardens. The primary theme emerging is reliability; once established, this Zauschneria variety proves incredibly hardy and low maintenance, thriving even in challenging, dry conditions. Gardeners celebrate its vigorous creeping habit and the dependable late season bloom, confirming its effectiveness as a vibrant groundcover and a powerful magnet for hummingbirds. This plant delivers on its promise of specialized performance and enduring beauty.
Know before you buy
Since this plant spreads up to 18 inches wide, space them about 15 to 18 inches apart if you want them to eventually form a continuous, dense mat.
No, it is quite drought-tolerant. While it needs moderate watering during its first season to get established, it thrives with minimal supplemental water once its roots are settled in well-drained soil.
No, the Orange Carpet Creeping Hummingbird Trumpet is not considered pet-safe. It is best to plant it in areas where your pets do not typically graze or chew on garden foliage.
Leave the foliage standing throughout the winter to protect the crown of the plant. In mid-spring, once new growth begins to appear, you can prune back the old stems to tidy up the plant.
This perennial is hardy in USDA Zones 3 through 8, meaning it is well-adapted to cold climates. As long as it is planted in well-drained soil, it should return reliably each year.
Yes, its trailing growth habit makes it an excellent choice for containers or hanging baskets. Ensure the pot has good drainage, as this plant does not like to sit in soggy soil.
Still have a question?
Ask Hayley anything about this product before you decide.
Ready to buy?
$14