Foxglove Beardtongue
Penstemon digitalis
Through Maryland's Piedmont & Chesapeake Coastal Plain country, a hummingbird flower — white tubular blooms in May and Jun, for clay, rocky, and loam ground.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Maryland · Zones 6–8
Native Hummingbird Plants in Maryland
Tubular, nectar-heavy native flowers that draw hummingbirds far more reliably — and safely — than any sugar-water feeder. Every species here is genuinely native to Maryland and the wider flora of the Mid-Atlantic and hardy through zones 6–8 — proven performers for Maryland's humid, four-season climate across Piedmont & Chesapeake Coastal Plain, not a generic list. Local standouts include Foxglove Beardtongue and Wild Columbine. 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
15 native species for Maryland
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 6–8 · see this collection in other states.
Wild Columbine
Aquilegia canadensis
Through Maryland's Piedmont & Chesapeake Coastal Plain country, hummingbirds work its red flowers from Apr to Jun — reaching 1–2.5 ft.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 1–2.5 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Crossvine
Bignonia capreolata
Through Maryland's Piedmont & Chesapeake Coastal Plain country, hummingbird fuel — slender orange-red tubes too deep for most insects in Apr and May, happy in clay and loam soil.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 25–50 ft
- Blooms Apr–May
Turk's Cap
Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii
Through Maryland's Piedmont & Chesapeake Coastal Plain country, draws hummingbirds with turban red nectar tubes from May to Oct; spreading 3–5 ft.
- Sun to shade
- Dry–average
- 2–5 ft
- Blooms May–Oct
Woodland Phlox
Phlox divaricata
Through Maryland's Piedmont & Chesapeake Coastal Plain country, a magnet for hummingbirds — lavender-blue blooms held in Apr and May for them to probe — spreading 12–18 in.
- Part shade
- Average
- 10–15 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Obedient Plant
Physostegia virginiana
Through Maryland's Piedmont & Chesapeake Coastal Plain country, tubular pink flowers shaped for a hummingbird's bill in Aug and Sep; for clay and loam ground.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Aug–Sep
Scarlet Beebalm
Monarda didyma
Through Maryland's Piedmont & Chesapeake Coastal Plain country, a nectar stop hummingbirds return to, its scarlet red flowers carried in Jul and Aug; spreading 1.5–3 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2.5–4 ft
- Blooms Jul–Aug
Great Blue Lobelia
Lobelia siphilitica
Through Maryland's Piedmont & Chesapeake Coastal Plain country, built for hummingbirds, with deep blue nectar tubes borne in Aug and Sep; good through zone 9.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2–3 ft
- Blooms Aug–Sep
Trumpet Honeysuckle
Lonicera sempervirens
Through Maryland's Piedmont & Chesapeake Coastal Plain country, tubular coral-red flowers shaped for a hummingbird's bill from Apr to Sep; 8–15 ft tall.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 8–15 ft
- Blooms Apr–Sep
Wild Bergamot
Monarda fistulosa
Through Maryland's Piedmont & Chesapeake Coastal Plain country, draws hummingbirds with lavender nectar tubes from Jun to Aug; cold-hardy to zone 3.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Buttonbush
Cephalanthus occidentalis
Through Maryland's Piedmont & Chesapeake Coastal Plain country, hummingbirds work its white flowers from Jun to Aug, reaching 5–10 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 5–10 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Wild Bleeding Heart
Dicentra eximia
Through Maryland's Piedmont & Chesapeake Coastal Plain country, built for hummingbirds, with rose pink nectar tubes borne from Apr to Aug, 12–18 in tall.
- Part shade
- Average
- 12–18 in
- Blooms Apr–Aug
Cardinal Flower
Lobelia cardinalis
Through Maryland's Piedmont & Chesapeake Coastal Plain country, tubular electric scarlet flowers shaped for a hummingbird's bill from Jul to Sep; cold-hardy to zone 3.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jul–Sep
Virginia Bluebells
Mertensia virginica
Through Maryland's Piedmont & Chesapeake Coastal Plain country, a nectar stop hummingbirds return to, its sky blue flowers carried from Mar to May — 12–18 in wide.
- Part shade
- Average–wet
- 1–2 ft
- Blooms Mar–May
New Jersey Tea
Ceanothus americanus
Through Maryland's Piedmont & Chesapeake Coastal Plain country, a nectar stop hummingbirds return to, its frothy white flowers carried from May to Jul — hardy in zones 3–8.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 2–3.5 ft
- Blooms May–Jul
Sourcing
Where to find these in Maryland
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.