Wild Columbine
Aquilegia canadensis
Through Colorado's Southern Rockies & High Plains country, a nectar stop hummingbirds return to, its red flowers carried from Apr to Jun — for rocky and loam ground.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 1–2.5 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Colorado · Zones 3–6
Native Hummingbird Plants in Colorado
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 Colorado and the wider flora of the Mountain West and hardy through zones 3–6 — proven performers for Colorado's semi-arid, cold winters, high sun climate across Southern Rockies & High Plains, not a generic list. Local standouts include Wild Columbine 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
13 native species for Colorado
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 3–6 · see this collection in other states.
Wild Bergamot
Monarda fistulosa
Through Colorado's Southern Rockies & High Plains country, hummingbird fuel — slender lavender tubes too deep for most insects from Jun to Aug — happy in clay, rocky, and loam soil.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Western Columbine
Aquilegia formosa
Through Colorado's Southern Rockies & High Plains country, a hummingbird flower — red tubular blooms from Apr to Jul — for rocky and loam ground.
- Part shade
- Average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jul
Anise Hyssop
Agastache foeniculum
Through Colorado's Southern Rockies & High Plains country, a nectar stop hummingbirds return to, its lavender-blue flowers carried from Jun to Sep — cold-hardy to zone 4.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Firecracker Penstemon
Penstemon eatonii
Through Colorado's Southern Rockies & High Plains country, a magnet for hummingbirds — scarlet blooms held from Mar to May for them to probe — cold-hardy to zone 4.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms Mar–May
Buttonbush
Cephalanthus occidentalis
Through Colorado's Southern Rockies & High Plains country, a magnet for hummingbirds — white blooms held from Jun to Aug for them to probe; for clay and loam ground.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 5–10 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Foxglove Beardtongue
Penstemon digitalis
Through Colorado's Southern Rockies & High Plains country, a hummingbird flower — white tubular blooms in May and Jun; 2–4 ft tall.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Obedient Plant
Physostegia virginiana
Through Colorado's Southern Rockies & High Plains country, built for hummingbirds, with pink nectar tubes borne in Aug and Sep, reaching 2–4 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Aug–Sep
Great Blue Lobelia
Lobelia siphilitica
Through Colorado's Southern Rockies & High Plains country, hummingbird fuel — slender deep blue tubes too deep for most insects in Aug and Sep — cold-hardy to zone 4.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2–3 ft
- Blooms Aug–Sep
Rocky Mountain Penstemon
Penstemon strictus
Through Colorado's Southern Rockies & High Plains country, a hummingbird flower — deep blue-purple tubular blooms from May to Jul, 1.5–2.5 ft tall.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms May–Jul
Oregon Grape
Berberis aquifolium
Through Colorado's Southern Rockies & High Plains country, hummingbirds work its bright yellow flowers in Mar and Apr, 3–5 ft wide.
- Sun to shade
- Dry–average
- 3–6 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Bearberry
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Through Colorado's Southern Rockies & High Plains country, hummingbird fuel — slender pink-white tubes too deep for most insects in Apr and May, cold-hardy to zone 2.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 4–8 in
- Blooms Apr–May
New Jersey Tea
Ceanothus americanus
Through Colorado's Southern Rockies & High Plains country, built for hummingbirds, with frothy white nectar tubes borne from May to Jul, spreading 2.5–4 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 2–3.5 ft
- Blooms May–Jul
Sourcing
Where to find these in Colorado
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.