Autumn Sage
Salvia greggii
In Nevada's Great Basin sagebrush & Mojave, built for hummingbirds, with red nectar tubes borne from Apr to Oct; 2–3 ft wide.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 2–3 ft
- Blooms Apr–Oct
Nevada · Zones 4–9
Native Hummingbird Plants in Nevada
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 Nevada and the wider flora of the Great Basin and hardy through zones 4–9 — proven performers for Nevada's arid, wide day-night swings climate across Great Basin sagebrush & Mojave, not a generic list. Local standouts include Autumn Sage and Red-Flowering Currant. 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
12 native species for Nevada
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 4–9 · see this collection in other states.
Red-Flowering Currant
Ribes sanguineum
In Nevada's Great Basin sagebrush & Mojave, hummingbirds work its rose-pink flowers in Mar and Apr, for rocky and loam ground.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 5–9 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Desert Willow
Chilopsis linearis
In Nevada's Great Basin sagebrush & Mojave, hummingbirds work its orchid-pink flowers from May to Sep, for sand, rocky, and loam ground.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 15–25 ft
- Blooms May–Sep
Cardinal Flower
Lobelia cardinalis
In Nevada's Great Basin sagebrush & Mojave, tubular electric scarlet flowers shaped for a hummingbird's bill from Jul to Sep — happy in clay and loam soil.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jul–Sep
Flame Acanthus
Anisacanthus quadrifidus var. wrightii
In Nevada's Great Basin sagebrush & Mojave, a magnet for hummingbirds — orange-red blooms held from Jun to Oct for them to probe; happy in sand, rocky, and loam soil.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Oct
Western Columbine
Aquilegia formosa
In Nevada's Great Basin sagebrush & Mojave, tubular red flowers shaped for a hummingbird's bill from Apr to Jul, reaching 1.5–3 ft.
- Part shade
- Average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jul
Buttonbush
Cephalanthus occidentalis
In Nevada's Great Basin sagebrush & Mojave, a hummingbird flower — white tubular blooms from Jun to Aug, spreading 4–8 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 5–10 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Firecracker Penstemon
Penstemon eatonii
In Nevada's Great Basin sagebrush & Mojave, built for hummingbirds, with scarlet nectar tubes borne from Mar to May — 1.5–3 ft tall.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms Mar–May
Rocky Mountain Penstemon
Penstemon strictus
In Nevada's Great Basin sagebrush & Mojave, hummingbirds work its deep blue-purple flowers from May to Jul, for sand, rocky, and loam ground.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms May–Jul
Bearberry
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
In Nevada's Great Basin sagebrush & Mojave, hummingbirds work its pink-white flowers in Apr and May; reaching 4–8 in.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 4–8 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Oregon Grape
Berberis aquifolium
In Nevada's Great Basin sagebrush & Mojave, built for hummingbirds, with bright yellow nectar tubes borne in Mar and Apr, cold-hardy to zone 5.
- Sun to shade
- Dry–average
- 3–6 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Hairy Manzanita
Arctostaphylos columbiana
In Nevada's Great Basin sagebrush & Mojave, a nectar stop hummingbirds return to, its pink-white flowers carried from Mar to May — reaching 3–9 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 3–9 ft
- Blooms Mar–May
Sourcing
Where to find these in Nevada
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.