Trumpet Honeysuckle
Lonicera sempervirens
Built for hummingbirds, with coral-red nectar tubes borne from Apr to Sep — reaching 8–15 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 8–15 ft
- Blooms Apr–Sep
Tennessee · Zones 6–8
Native Hummingbird Plants in Tennessee
Tubular, nectar-heavy native flowers that draw hummingbirds far more reliably — and safely — than any sugar-water feeder. For Tennessee, the right natives are shaped by Cumberland Plateau, Ridge & Valley, cedar glades and a humid, four-season climate. Every species below, from Trumpet Honeysuckle and Wild Bleeding Heart to the rest of the list, is genuinely native to Tennessee and the wider flora of the Southeast and hardy through zones 6–8. 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
17 native species for Tennessee
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 6–8 · see this collection in other states.
Wild Bleeding Heart
Dicentra eximia
A nectar stop hummingbirds return to, its rose pink flowers carried from Apr to Aug, cold-hardy to zone 3.
- Part shade
- Average
- 12–18 in
- Blooms Apr–Aug
Crossvine
Bignonia capreolata
A hummingbird flower — orange-red tubular blooms in Apr and May — cold-hardy to zone 6.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 25–50 ft
- Blooms Apr–May
Obedient Plant
Physostegia virginiana
A nectar stop hummingbirds return to, its pink flowers carried in Aug and Sep, 2–4 ft wide.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Aug–Sep
Foxglove Beardtongue
Penstemon digitalis
Hummingbirds work its white flowers in May and Jun, cold-hardy to zone 3.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Woodland Phlox
Phlox divaricata
A magnet for hummingbirds — lavender-blue blooms held in Apr and May for them to probe, 10–15 in tall.
- Part shade
- Average
- 10–15 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Turk's Cap
Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii
Hummingbirds work its turban red flowers from May to Oct — happy in clay, rocky, and loam soil.
- Sun to shade
- Dry–average
- 2–5 ft
- Blooms May–Oct
Wild Bergamot
Monarda fistulosa
A magnet for hummingbirds — lavender blooms held from Jun to Aug for them to probe; 2–4 ft tall.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Cardinal Flower
Lobelia cardinalis
A nectar stop hummingbirds return to, its electric scarlet flowers carried from Jul to Sep; good through zone 9.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jul–Sep
Buttonbush
Cephalanthus occidentalis
Hummingbird fuel — slender white tubes too deep for most insects from Jun to Aug — reaching 5–10 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 5–10 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Wild Columbine
Aquilegia canadensis
A nectar stop hummingbirds return to, its red flowers carried from Apr to Jun, cold-hardy to zone 3.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 1–2.5 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Scarlet Beebalm
Monarda didyma
Draws hummingbirds with scarlet red nectar tubes in Jul and Aug — cold-hardy to zone 4.
- 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; spreading 12–18 in.
- Part shade
- Average–wet
- 1–2 ft
- Blooms Mar–May
Great Blue Lobelia
Lobelia siphilitica
Tubular deep blue flowers shaped for a hummingbird's bill in Aug and Sep — for clay and loam ground.
- 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, happy in sand, rocky, and loam soil.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Bearberry
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Built for hummingbirds, with pink-white nectar tubes borne in Apr and May; spreading 3–6 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 4–8 in
- Blooms Apr–May
New Jersey Tea
Ceanothus americanus
A hummingbird flower — frothy white tubular blooms from May to Jul — 2.5–4 ft wide.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 2–3.5 ft
- Blooms May–Jul
Sourcing
Where to find these in Tennessee
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.