Obedient Plant
Physostegia virginiana
In North Dakota's Northern mixedgrass prairie & Drift Prairie, 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
- Home
- By state
- North Dakota
- Hummingbirds
North Dakota · Zones 3–4
Native Hummingbird Plants in North Dakota
Tubular, nectar-heavy native flowers that draw hummingbirds far more reliably — and safely — than any sugar-water feeder. North Dakota sits in a landscape of Northern mixedgrass prairie & Drift Prairie, and the natives that thrive here are the ones built for its cold, semi-arid character. The list below — led by Obedient Plant and Wild Columbine — is filtered to species genuinely native to North Dakota and the wider flora of the Great Plains and hardy through zones 3–4. 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
7 native species for North Dakota
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 3–4 · see this collection in other states.
Wild Columbine
Aquilegia canadensis
In North Dakota's Northern mixedgrass prairie & Drift Prairie, tubular red flowers shaped for a hummingbird's bill from Apr to Jun; reaching 1–2.5 ft.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 1–2.5 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Wild Bergamot
Monarda fistulosa
In North Dakota's Northern mixedgrass prairie & Drift Prairie, built for hummingbirds, with lavender nectar tubes borne from Jun to Aug, reaching 2–4 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Anise Hyssop
Agastache foeniculum
In North Dakota's Northern mixedgrass prairie & Drift Prairie, a magnet for hummingbirds — lavender-blue blooms held from Jun to Sep for them to probe, 2–4 ft tall.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Foxglove Beardtongue
Penstemon digitalis
In North Dakota's Northern mixedgrass prairie & Drift Prairie, tubular white flowers shaped for a hummingbird's bill in May and Jun — spreading 1–2 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Great Blue Lobelia
Lobelia siphilitica
In North Dakota's Northern mixedgrass prairie & Drift Prairie, a magnet for hummingbirds — deep blue blooms held in Aug and Sep for them to probe, 12–18 in wide.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2–3 ft
- Blooms Aug–Sep
New Jersey Tea
Ceanothus americanus
In North Dakota's Northern mixedgrass prairie & Drift Prairie, hummingbirds work its frothy white flowers from May to Jul, cold-hardy to zone 3.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 2–3.5 ft
- Blooms May–Jul
Sourcing
Where to find these in North Dakota
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.