Wild Columbine
Aquilegia canadensis
In Arkansas's Ozark Highlands & Mississippi Alluvial Plain, a magnet for hummingbirds — red blooms held from Apr to Jun for them to probe; 12–18 in wide.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 1–2.5 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Arkansas · Zones 6–8
Native Hummingbird Plants in Arkansas
Tubular, nectar-heavy native flowers that draw hummingbirds far more reliably — and safely — than any sugar-water feeder. For Arkansas, the right natives are shaped by Ozark Highlands & Mississippi Alluvial Plain and a humid subtropical climate. Every species below, from Wild Columbine and Scarlet Beebalm to the rest of the list, is genuinely native to Arkansas and the wider flora of the Southeast and hardy through zones 6–8. Hummingbirds are wired to investigate red and orange tubular flowers, so a few well-placed natives will out-pull a feeder and never need cleaning. Stagger bloom times so there is nectar from spring migration through fall departure, and plant near a perch or shrub where the birds can rest between feedings.
The plants
16 native species for Arkansas
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 6–8 · see this collection in other states.
Scarlet Beebalm
Monarda didyma
In Arkansas's Ozark Highlands & Mississippi Alluvial Plain, draws hummingbirds with scarlet red nectar tubes in Jul and Aug; happy in clay and loam soil.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2.5–4 ft
- Blooms Jul–Aug
Great Blue Lobelia
Lobelia siphilitica
In Arkansas's Ozark Highlands & Mississippi Alluvial Plain, hummingbird fuel — slender deep blue tubes too deep for most insects in Aug and Sep — hardy in zones 4–9.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2–3 ft
- Blooms Aug–Sep
Cardinal Flower
Lobelia cardinalis
In Arkansas's Ozark Highlands & Mississippi Alluvial Plain, hummingbirds work its electric scarlet flowers from Jul to Sep — good through zone 9.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jul–Sep
Turk's Cap
Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii
In Arkansas's Ozark Highlands & Mississippi Alluvial Plain, draws hummingbirds with turban red nectar tubes from May to Oct, 3–5 ft wide.
- Sun to shade
- Dry–average
- 2–5 ft
- Blooms May–Oct
Obedient Plant
Physostegia virginiana
In Arkansas's Ozark Highlands & Mississippi Alluvial Plain, a nectar stop hummingbirds return to, its pink flowers carried in Aug and Sep, hardy in zones 3–9.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Aug–Sep
Wild Bergamot
Monarda fistulosa
In Arkansas's Ozark Highlands & Mississippi Alluvial Plain, hummingbirds work its lavender flowers from Jun to Aug; cold-hardy to zone 3.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Crossvine
Bignonia capreolata
In Arkansas's Ozark Highlands & Mississippi Alluvial Plain, hummingbird fuel — slender orange-red tubes too deep for most insects in Apr and May — reaching 25–50 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 25–50 ft
- Blooms Apr–May
Buttonbush
Cephalanthus occidentalis
In Arkansas's Ozark Highlands & Mississippi Alluvial Plain, a magnet for hummingbirds — white blooms held from Jun to Aug for them to probe; spreading 4–8 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 5–10 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Woodland Phlox
Phlox divaricata
In Arkansas's Ozark Highlands & Mississippi Alluvial Plain, built for hummingbirds, with lavender-blue nectar tubes borne in Apr and May, reaching 10–15 in.
- Part shade
- Average
- 10–15 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Foxglove Beardtongue
Penstemon digitalis
In Arkansas's Ozark Highlands & Mississippi Alluvial Plain, tubular white flowers shaped for a hummingbird's bill in May and Jun, reaching 2–4 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Anise Hyssop
Agastache foeniculum
In Arkansas's Ozark Highlands & Mississippi Alluvial Plain, built for hummingbirds, with lavender-blue nectar tubes borne from Jun to Sep — reaching 2–4 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Trumpet Honeysuckle
Lonicera sempervirens
In Arkansas's Ozark Highlands & Mississippi Alluvial Plain, a magnet for hummingbirds — coral-red blooms held from Apr to Sep for them to probe — reaching 8–15 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 8–15 ft
- Blooms Apr–Sep
Wild Bleeding Heart
Dicentra eximia
In Arkansas's Ozark Highlands & Mississippi Alluvial Plain, a hummingbird flower — rose pink tubular blooms from Apr to Aug, reaching 12–18 in.
- Part shade
- Average
- 12–18 in
- Blooms Apr–Aug
Virginia Bluebells
Mertensia virginica
In Arkansas's Ozark Highlands & Mississippi Alluvial Plain, a magnet for hummingbirds — sky blue blooms held from Mar to May for them to probe; for loam ground.
- Part shade
- Average–wet
- 1–2 ft
- Blooms Mar–May
New Jersey Tea
Ceanothus americanus
In Arkansas's Ozark Highlands & Mississippi Alluvial Plain, a nectar stop hummingbirds return to, its frothy white flowers carried from May to Jul; for sand, rocky, and loam ground.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 2–3.5 ft
- Blooms May–Jul
Sourcing
Where to find these in Arkansas
Seeds & live plants on Amazon
Seed packets, plugs, and starter plants for many of these species ship to your door.
Browse on AmazonSome links here are affiliate links — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. The surest source of locally-adapted stock is a native-plant nursery or a native plant society sale in your area.