Great Blue Lobelia
Lobelia siphilitica
In Wisconsin's Northern forest, driftless prairie & oak savanna, hummingbirds work its deep blue flowers in Aug and Sep, hardy in zones 4–9.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2–3 ft
- Blooms Aug–Sep
Wisconsin · Zones 3–5
Native Hummingbird Plants in Wisconsin
Tubular, nectar-heavy native flowers that draw hummingbirds far more reliably — and safely — than any sugar-water feeder. For Wisconsin, the right natives are shaped by Northern forest, driftless prairie & oak savanna and a cold continental climate. Every species below, from Great Blue Lobelia and Cardinal Flower to the rest of the list, is genuinely native to Wisconsin and the wider flora of the Midwest and hardy through zones 3–5. 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 Wisconsin
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 3–5 · see this collection in other states.
Cardinal Flower
Lobelia cardinalis
In Wisconsin's Northern forest, driftless prairie & oak savanna, built for hummingbirds, with electric scarlet nectar tubes borne from Jul to Sep — 1–2 ft wide.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jul–Sep
Virginia Bluebells
Mertensia virginica
In Wisconsin's Northern forest, driftless prairie & oak savanna, draws hummingbirds with sky blue nectar tubes from Mar to May, for loam ground.
- Part shade
- Average–wet
- 1–2 ft
- Blooms Mar–May
Scarlet Beebalm
Monarda didyma
In Wisconsin's Northern forest, driftless prairie & oak savanna, hummingbird fuel — slender scarlet red tubes too deep for most insects in Jul and Aug; spreading 1.5–3 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2.5–4 ft
- Blooms Jul–Aug
Trumpet Honeysuckle
Lonicera sempervirens
In Wisconsin's Northern forest, driftless prairie & oak savanna, draws hummingbirds with coral-red nectar tubes from Apr to Sep — for clay and loam ground.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 8–15 ft
- Blooms Apr–Sep
Woodland Phlox
Phlox divaricata
In Wisconsin's Northern forest, driftless prairie & oak savanna, tubular lavender-blue flowers shaped for a hummingbird's bill in Apr and May, good through zone 8.
- Part shade
- Average
- 10–15 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Foxglove Beardtongue
Penstemon digitalis
In Wisconsin's Northern forest, driftless prairie & oak savanna, tubular white flowers shaped for a hummingbird's bill in May and Jun, 2–4 ft tall.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Obedient Plant
Physostegia virginiana
In Wisconsin's Northern forest, driftless prairie & oak savanna, a nectar stop hummingbirds return to, its pink flowers carried in Aug and Sep, 2–4 ft tall.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Aug–Sep
Wild Bergamot
Monarda fistulosa
In Wisconsin's Northern forest, driftless prairie & oak savanna, 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
Anise Hyssop
Agastache foeniculum
In Wisconsin's Northern forest, driftless prairie & oak savanna, a nectar stop hummingbirds return to, its lavender-blue flowers carried from Jun to Sep; 1.5–2 ft wide.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Buttonbush
Cephalanthus occidentalis
In Wisconsin's Northern forest, driftless prairie & oak savanna, a magnet for hummingbirds — white blooms held from Jun to Aug for them to probe; reaching 5–10 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 5–10 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Wild Columbine
Aquilegia canadensis
In Wisconsin's Northern forest, driftless prairie & oak savanna, hummingbirds work its red flowers from Apr to Jun — 1–2.5 ft tall.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 1–2.5 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Bearberry
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
In Wisconsin's Northern forest, driftless prairie & oak savanna, a hummingbird flower — pink-white tubular blooms in Apr and May; 3–6 ft wide.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 4–8 in
- Blooms Apr–May
New Jersey Tea
Ceanothus americanus
In Wisconsin's Northern forest, driftless prairie & oak savanna, tubular frothy white flowers shaped for a hummingbird's bill from May to Jul; reaching 2–3.5 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 2–3.5 ft
- Blooms May–Jul
Sourcing
Where to find these in Wisconsin
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.