Cardinal Flower
Lobelia cardinalis
A hummingbird flower — electric scarlet tubular blooms from Jul to Sep; spreading 1–2 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jul–Sep
Alabama · Zones 7–9
Native Hummingbird Plants in Alabama
Tubular, nectar-heavy native flowers that draw hummingbirds far more reliably — and safely — than any sugar-water feeder. Alabama sits in a landscape of Gulf Coastal Plain & Cumberland Plateau, and the natives that thrive here are the ones built for its hot, humid subtropical character. The list below — led by Cardinal Flower and Foxglove Beardtongue — is filtered to species genuinely native to Alabama and the wider flora of the Southeast and hardy through zones 7–9. 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
15 native species for Alabama
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 7–9 · see this collection in other states.
Foxglove Beardtongue
Penstemon digitalis
Hummingbirds work its white flowers in May and Jun — for clay, rocky, and loam ground.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Wild Columbine
Aquilegia canadensis
A hummingbird flower — red tubular blooms from Apr to Jun, cold-hardy to zone 3.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 1–2.5 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Scarlet Beebalm
Monarda didyma
Hummingbirds work its scarlet red flowers in Jul and Aug; reaching 2.5–4 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2.5–4 ft
- Blooms Jul–Aug
Wild Bergamot
Monarda fistulosa
Hummingbirds work its lavender flowers from Jun to Aug; 1.5–2 ft wide.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Buttonbush
Cephalanthus occidentalis
Hummingbird fuel — slender white tubes too deep for most insects from Jun to Aug; spreading 4–8 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 5–10 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Turk's Cap
Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii
Hummingbirds work its turban red flowers from May to Oct; spreading 3–5 ft.
- Sun to shade
- Dry–average
- 2–5 ft
- Blooms May–Oct
Obedient Plant
Physostegia virginiana
A magnet for hummingbirds — pink blooms held in Aug and Sep for them to probe, reaching 2–4 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Aug–Sep
Woodland Phlox
Phlox divaricata
A nectar stop hummingbirds return to, its lavender-blue flowers carried in Apr and May; reaching 10–15 in.
- Part shade
- Average
- 10–15 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Trumpet Honeysuckle
Lonicera sempervirens
Hummingbird fuel — slender coral-red tubes too deep for most insects from Apr to Sep — good through zone 9.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 8–15 ft
- Blooms Apr–Sep
Great Blue Lobelia
Lobelia siphilitica
Draws hummingbirds with deep blue nectar tubes in Aug and Sep, 2–3 ft tall.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2–3 ft
- Blooms Aug–Sep
Crossvine
Bignonia capreolata
Draws hummingbirds with orange-red nectar tubes in Apr and May, good through zone 9.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 25–50 ft
- Blooms Apr–May
Wild Bleeding Heart
Dicentra eximia
Built for hummingbirds, with rose pink nectar tubes borne from Apr to Aug — cold-hardy to zone 3.
- Part shade
- Average
- 12–18 in
- Blooms Apr–Aug
Virginia Bluebells
Mertensia virginica
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
New Jersey Tea
Ceanothus americanus
A nectar stop hummingbirds return to, its frothy white flowers carried from May to Jul — happy in sand, rocky, and loam soil.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 2–3.5 ft
- Blooms May–Jul
Sourcing
Where to find these in Alabama
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.