Grow Nectar-Rich Native Plants for Hummingbirds

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Grow a Hummingbird Native Plant Garden

250599305 1 Mary Junk Bnb Bypc2020, native plants for hummingbirds — Hummingbird at ocotillo plant flowers

Hummingbirds migrate hundreds of miles every spring and fall in search of food to fuel their busy bodies. Plant a nectar-rich oasis in your yard for flying jewels to enjoy on their journeys—and during nesting season in summer—by incorporating into your garden the native plants for hummingbirds that they seek out naturally.

“Native plants play a big role in supporting wildlife,” says Alyssa Sargent, a University of Washington Ph.D candidate who studies tropical hummingbird ecology. “Research has shown that landscaping with native plants can support more birds: higher abundance, more species and more breeding pairs. Hummingbirds generally seek flowers that ‘match’ the lengths of their bills, which is true of many native flowers.”

In addition, Alyssa points out: “We see hummingbirds feeding most often from tubular flowers that are red or orange and sometimes pink. It depends on whatever the local climate supports.”

Use this regional list to create a specialized hummingbird garden full of nectar for your favorite tiny fliers.

Western Native Plants for Hummingbirds

You’ve come to the right place if you’re after hummingbirds. Find rufouses and Calliopes in high concentrations in areas of the Northwest. Further south is home to broad-tailed and Allen’s. Anna’s is a year-round resident along the Pacific coast, while adaptable black-chinned hummingbirds thrive almost everywhere from urban gardens to pristine natural canyons.

Golden currant

Ribes aureum, Zones 3 to 8

Golden yellow flowers with a strong clove-like fragrance appear in early spring. Use as an informal hedge or in a border where it’ll grow about 6 feet high and 6 to 10 feet wide.

Crimson columbine, Aquilegia formosa — Western columbine

Western columbine

Aquilegia formosa, Zones 3 to 9

With bright red sepals and sunshine yellow petal blades, the nodding flowers are hard to miss—for both gardeners and hummingbirds! Grow in beds and borders with full sun to part shade for a pop of color late May through August.

Scarlet bugler

Penstemon centranthifolius, Zones 8 to 10

Brighten up waterwise gardens and naturalized areas with this perennial favorite that also attracts native bees and butterﬂies. It tolerates areas with cold winters within its hardiness zones.

Fireweed

Chamerion angustifolium, Zones 2 to 7

This tall, showy wildflower looks natural when planted in meadows, as well as woodland, rock and cottage gardens with moist soil and full sun. Clusters of pinkish purple flowers appear in early summer.

Southwestern Native Plants for Hummingbirds

Costa’s hummingbirds live in the Sonoran and Mojave deserts of Arizona and California, while black-chinneds, rufouses and Anna’s are more widespread across this arid area.

Ocotillo

Fouquieria splendens, Zones 7 to 10

Bright clusters of red flowers atop long, spiny stems make this unusual-looking plant impossible to miss. It’s a significant food source during the northern spring migration of hummingbirds seen in this region.

Beard-lip penstemon

Penstemon barbatus, Zones 4 to 8

Best for sunny areas, this penstemon grows up to 3 feet tall. Sparsely leaved stems allow hummingbirds easy access to the scarlet tubular blooms in early summer.

Want to add more color to your garden? Find even more colorful flowers for hummingbirds.

California fuchsia

Epilobium canum, Zones 8 to 10

Also called hummingbird trumpet, this shrubby plant sports bright red blooms after many wildflowers go to seed. This is extremely helpful timing for the start of the southward migration of many hummingbirds.

Salvia Greggii Cold Hardy Pink Close Up 2 — Autumn sage

Autumn sage

Salvia greggii, Zones 6 to 9

This small shrub is evergreen in southern hardiness zones and produces trumpet-shaped flowers in shades of red, pink, purple, orange and white in summer and fall. A drought-tolerant native, autumn sage does best in full sun without overwatering.

Check out the top 10 salvias to grow for hummingbirds.

Midwestern Native Plants for Hummingbirds

There is only one common hummingbird species found in the Midwest. If you guessed ruby-throated, you’re right! Look for these tiny fliers in semi-open habitats such as suburban backyards, parks, gardens, meadows and forest edges.

Trumpet vine

Campsis radicans, Zones 4 to 10

This high-climber’s vibrant orange-red flowers are irresistible. It blooms throughout summer and can reach 35 feet, making it the perfect planting companion for a pergola or fence. It’s native to many areas of the U.S., but check before planting in the Southeast, where it can be invasive.

Tall larkspur

Delpinium exaltatum, Zones 4 to 7

Its brilliant blue-purple flowers of delphinium add color to woodland and cottage gardens from July to September. Reaching 6 feet tall, this perennial should be grown in full sun (or in part shade in warmer climates) and in rich, well-draining soil.

Bring in your favorite flying jewels with these best purple flowers for hummingbirds.

Cardinal flower

Lobelia cardinalis, Zones 3 to 9

This flower’s name was inspired by the hue of the robes worn by Roman Catholic cardinals. Naturally found in areas with moist soil, cardinal flower will be at home in rain gardens or along water features.

hummingbird on coneflower — Hummingbirds on purple coneflower

Purple coneflower

Echinacea purpurea, Zones 3 to 8

Here’s a long-blooming plant with pinkish purple flowers that dazzle early summer through mid-fall. Drought and deer tolerant and low maintenance once established, purple coneflower reseeds itself in the garden every year.

Northeastern Native Plants for Hummingbirds

The Ruby Throated Hummingbird (archilochus Colubris) — Ruby-throated hummingbird on butterfly weed

Fun fact: Ruby-throats are the only hummingbirds to nest east of the Mississippi River. Encourage backyard visits by growing a few of these Northeast-friendly picks with essential nectar sources.

Butterfly weed

Asclepias tuberosa, Zones 3 to 10

This common meadow plant’s bold orange star-shaped blooms make it a beautiful cut flower. But leave plenty for the hummingbirds, as each clump offers a bounty of nectar (and butterfly weed also serves as a host plant for monarchs).

old fashioned flowers, plants for rocky soil — Eastern red columbine

Eastern red columbine

Aquilegia canadensis, Zones 3 to 8

A woodland wildflower with nodding red and yellow bell-like flowers, this perennial peaks in spring just when hummingbirds are making their return journeys to the U.S.

Trumpet honeysuckle

Lonicera sempervirens, Zones 4 to 9

Boasting trumpet-shaped flowers that are red on the outside and yellow inside, this popular vine’s nonaggressive growing nature makes it either an easy climber or ground cover.

Find even more vines to grow for hummingbirds.

248087051 1 Christian Begeman Bnbhc20 2 — Ruby-throated hummingbird at jewelweed

Jewelweed

Impatiens capensis, Zones 2 to 11

A midsummer to fall bloomer with yellowish orange flowers speckled with red, it naturally thrives in moist, shady areas and can even outcompete invasive garlic mustard.

Southeastern Native Plants for Hummingbirds

250460377 1 Kim Mitas Bnb Bypc2020 — Indian pink

Ruby-throated hummingbirds reign supreme in this region where native plants can take the heat. As a bonus, wandering black-chinned or rufous hummingbirds are sometimes seen in winter.

Indian pink

Spigelia marilandica, Zones 5 to 9

Truly dramatic red- and yellow-throated tubular flowers set the garden ablaze with color from late spring to summer. Extend the flowering season by removing spent blooms.

Canada lily

Lilium canadense, Zones 3 to 7

A summer stunner with as many as 20 red, orange or yellow blooms on one plant, it’s hard to miss this showy perennial at 3 to 8 feet tall.

Red buckeye

Aesculus pavia, Zones 4 to 8

Grown as a small tree or large shrub, this native is happy in full sun to part shade, though afternoon shade is recommended in areas with intense heat. Its tubular flowers impress in hues of orange to red in late spring.

Bnbbyc19 Nina Ehmer 2 — Spotted bee balm

Spotted bee balm

Monarda punctata, Zones 3 to 9

Able to tolerate dry spells, this aromatic member of the mint family boasts rosettes of purple-spotted flowers that form a showy spike. Plant bee balm in full sun for a midsummer to early fall show.

Next, check out the top 10 hummingbird plants that grow in shade.

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Originally Published: January 12, 2024

Author

Rachael Liska

Rachael Liska is a freelance writer and editor who has over 25 years of experience in the gardening, birding, lifestyle and travel niches. As an avid home gardener and backyard birder herself, she understands the joy that comes from creating and observing beauty around every bend and is eager to help her readers achieve their own dreams with a mix ...