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Pennsylvania · Zones 5–7

Native Hummingbird Plants in Pennsylvania

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 Pennsylvania and the wider flora of the Mid-Atlantic and hardy through zones 5–7 — proven performers for Pennsylvania's humid continental climate across Appalachian ridge-and-valley & Piedmont, not a generic list. Local standouts include Wild Bleeding Heart and Wild Bergamot. 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 Pennsylvania

Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 5–7 · see this collection in other states.

Perennial wildflower

Wild Bleeding Heart

Dicentra eximia

Through Pennsylvania's Appalachian ridge-and-valley & Piedmont country, hummingbird fuel — slender rose pink tubes too deep for most insects from Apr to Aug, for rocky and loam ground.

  • Part shade
  • Average
  • 12–18 in
  • Blooms Apr–Aug
Perennial wildflower

Wild Bergamot

Monarda fistulosa

Through Pennsylvania's Appalachian ridge-and-valley & Piedmont country, hummingbirds work its lavender flowers from Jun to Aug, spreading 1.5–2 ft.

  • Full–part sun
  • Dry–average
  • 2–4 ft
  • Blooms Jun–Aug
Spring ephemeral

Virginia Bluebells

Mertensia virginica

Through Pennsylvania's Appalachian ridge-and-valley & Piedmont country, built for hummingbirds, with sky blue nectar tubes borne from Mar to May, for loam ground.

  • Part shade
  • Average–wet
  • 1–2 ft
  • Blooms Mar–May
Perennial wildflower

Scarlet Beebalm

Monarda didyma

Through Pennsylvania's Appalachian ridge-and-valley & Piedmont country, draws hummingbirds with scarlet red nectar tubes in Jul and Aug, hardy in zones 4–9.

  • Full–part sun
  • Average–wet
  • 2.5–4 ft
  • Blooms Jul–Aug
Shrub

Buttonbush

Cephalanthus occidentalis

Through Pennsylvania's Appalachian ridge-and-valley & Piedmont country, a nectar stop hummingbirds return to, its white flowers carried from Jun to Aug; good through zone 9.

  • Full–part sun
  • Average–wet
  • 5–10 ft
  • Blooms Jun–Aug
Perennial wildflower

Anise Hyssop

Agastache foeniculum

Through Pennsylvania's Appalachian ridge-and-valley & Piedmont country, a hummingbird flower — lavender-blue tubular blooms from Jun to Sep, hardy in zones 4–9.

  • Full–part sun
  • Dry–average
  • 2–4 ft
  • Blooms Jun–Sep
Vine

Crossvine

Bignonia capreolata

Through Pennsylvania's Appalachian ridge-and-valley & Piedmont country, hummingbird fuel — slender orange-red tubes too deep for most insects in Apr and May; 6–10 ft wide.

  • Full–part sun
  • Dry–average
  • 25–50 ft
  • Blooms Apr–May
Perennial wildflower

Woodland Phlox

Phlox divaricata

Through Pennsylvania's Appalachian ridge-and-valley & Piedmont country, draws hummingbirds with lavender-blue nectar tubes in Apr and May, happy in loam soil.

  • Part shade
  • Average
  • 10–15 in
  • Blooms Apr–May
Vine

Trumpet Honeysuckle

Lonicera sempervirens

Through Pennsylvania's Appalachian ridge-and-valley & Piedmont country, tubular coral-red flowers shaped for a hummingbird's bill from Apr to Sep, happy in clay and loam soil.

  • Full–part sun
  • Dry–average
  • 8–15 ft
  • Blooms Apr–Sep
Perennial wildflower

Obedient Plant

Physostegia virginiana

Through Pennsylvania's Appalachian ridge-and-valley & Piedmont country, a hummingbird flower — pink tubular blooms in Aug and Sep, spreading 2–4 ft.

  • Full–part sun
  • Average–wet
  • 2–4 ft
  • Blooms Aug–Sep
Perennial wildflower

Foxglove Beardtongue

Penstemon digitalis

Through Pennsylvania's Appalachian ridge-and-valley & Piedmont country, draws hummingbirds with white nectar tubes in May and Jun — good through zone 8.

  • Full–part sun
  • Dry–average
  • 2–4 ft
  • Blooms May–Jun
Perennial wildflower

Cardinal Flower

Lobelia cardinalis

Through Pennsylvania's Appalachian ridge-and-valley & Piedmont country, hummingbird fuel — slender electric scarlet tubes too deep for most insects from Jul to Sep; hardy in zones 3–9.

  • Full–part sun
  • Average–wet
  • 2–4 ft
  • Blooms Jul–Sep
Perennial wildflower

Wild Columbine

Aquilegia canadensis

Through Pennsylvania's Appalachian ridge-and-valley & Piedmont country, hummingbird fuel — slender red tubes too deep for most insects from Apr to Jun — happy in rocky and loam soil.

  • Part shade
  • Dry–average
  • 1–2.5 ft
  • Blooms Apr–Jun
Perennial wildflower

Great Blue Lobelia

Lobelia siphilitica

Through Pennsylvania's Appalachian ridge-and-valley & Piedmont country, built for hummingbirds, with deep blue nectar tubes borne in Aug and Sep — spreading 12–18 in.

  • Full–part sun
  • Average–wet
  • 2–3 ft
  • Blooms Aug–Sep
Shrub

New Jersey Tea

Ceanothus americanus

Through Pennsylvania's Appalachian ridge-and-valley & Piedmont country, hummingbirds work its frothy white flowers from May to Jul; reaching 2–3.5 ft.

  • Full–part sun
  • Dry
  • 2–3.5 ft
  • Blooms May–Jul
Evergreen groundcover

Bearberry

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi

Through Pennsylvania's Appalachian ridge-and-valley & Piedmont country, built for hummingbirds, with pink-white nectar tubes borne 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 Pennsylvania

Seeds & live plants on Amazon

Seed packets, plugs, and starter plants for many of these species ship to your door.

Browse on Amazon

Some 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.