Wild Bergamot
Monarda fistulosa
Draws hummingbirds with lavender nectar tubes from Jun to Aug, 1.5–2 ft wide.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Michigan · Zones 4–6
Native Hummingbird Plants in Michigan
Tubular, nectar-heavy native flowers that draw hummingbirds far more reliably — and safely — than any sugar-water feeder. Michigan sits in a landscape of Great Lakes forest & dune, and the natives that thrive here are the ones built for its humid continental, lake-moderated character. The list below — led by Wild Bergamot and Cardinal Flower — is filtered to species genuinely native to Michigan and the wider flora of the Midwest and hardy through zones 4–6. 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
14 native species for Michigan
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 4–6 · see this collection in other states.
Cardinal Flower
Lobelia cardinalis
Hummingbird fuel — slender electric scarlet tubes too deep for most insects from Jul to Sep; for clay and loam ground.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jul–Sep
Wild Columbine
Aquilegia canadensis
Hummingbird fuel — slender red tubes too deep for most insects from Apr to Jun; spreading 12–18 in.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 1–2.5 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Woodland Phlox
Phlox divaricata
Hummingbirds work its lavender-blue flowers in Apr and May — 12–18 in wide.
- Part shade
- Average
- 10–15 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Trumpet Honeysuckle
Lonicera sempervirens
Hummingbird fuel — slender coral-red tubes too deep for most insects from Apr to Sep, good through zone 9.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 8–15 ft
- Blooms Apr–Sep
Great Blue Lobelia
Lobelia siphilitica
Hummingbirds work its deep blue flowers in Aug and Sep; reaching 2–3 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2–3 ft
- Blooms Aug–Sep
Anise Hyssop
Agastache foeniculum
Hummingbirds work its lavender-blue flowers from Jun to Sep; spreading 1.5–2 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Buttonbush
Cephalanthus occidentalis
Hummingbirds work its white flowers from Jun to Aug, reaching 5–10 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 5–10 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Foxglove Beardtongue
Penstemon digitalis
A magnet for hummingbirds — white blooms held in May and Jun for them to probe — spreading 1–2 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Obedient Plant
Physostegia virginiana
A hummingbird flower — pink tubular blooms in Aug and Sep; good through zone 9.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Aug–Sep
Scarlet Beebalm
Monarda didyma
Built for hummingbirds, with scarlet red nectar tubes borne in Jul and Aug — happy in clay and loam soil.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2.5–4 ft
- Blooms Jul–Aug
Virginia Bluebells
Mertensia virginica
Hummingbirds work its sky blue flowers from Mar to May, for loam ground.
- Part shade
- Average–wet
- 1–2 ft
- Blooms Mar–May
New Jersey Tea
Ceanothus americanus
Hummingbirds work its frothy white flowers from May to Jul — happy in sand, rocky, and loam soil.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 2–3.5 ft
- Blooms May–Jul
Bearberry
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Hummingbirds work its pink-white flowers in Apr and May — hardy in zones 2–6.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 4–8 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Sourcing
Where to find these in Michigan
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.