Obedient Plant
Physostegia virginiana
Tubular pink flowers shaped for a hummingbird's bill in Aug and Sep, spreading 2–4 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Aug–Sep
Illinois · Zones 5–7
Native Hummingbird Plants in Illinois
Tubular, nectar-heavy native flowers that draw hummingbirds far more reliably — and safely — than any sugar-water feeder. For Illinois, the right natives are shaped by Central Tallgrass Prairie and a humid continental climate. Every species below, from Obedient Plant and Wild Bergamot to the rest of the list, is genuinely native to Illinois and the wider flora of the Midwest and hardy through zones 5–7. 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 Illinois
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 5–7 · see this collection in other states.
Wild Bergamot
Monarda fistulosa
A nectar stop hummingbirds return to, its lavender flowers carried from Jun to Aug, spreading 1.5–2 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Virginia Bluebells
Mertensia virginica
Tubular sky blue flowers shaped for a hummingbird's bill from Mar to May, reaching 1–2 ft.
- Part shade
- Average–wet
- 1–2 ft
- Blooms Mar–May
Foxglove Beardtongue
Penstemon digitalis
A nectar stop hummingbirds return to, its white flowers carried in May and Jun; reaching 2–4 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Great Blue Lobelia
Lobelia siphilitica
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
Trumpet Honeysuckle
Lonicera sempervirens
Tubular coral-red flowers shaped for a hummingbird's bill from Apr to Sep, spreading 3–6 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 8–15 ft
- Blooms Apr–Sep
Woodland Phlox
Phlox divaricata
Hummingbird fuel — slender lavender-blue tubes too deep for most insects in Apr and May; hardy in zones 3–8.
- Part shade
- Average
- 10–15 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Cardinal Flower
Lobelia cardinalis
Draws hummingbirds with electric scarlet nectar tubes from Jul to Sep, reaching 2–4 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jul–Sep
Wild Columbine
Aquilegia canadensis
Built for hummingbirds, with red nectar tubes borne from Apr to Jun — happy in rocky and loam soil.
- 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 — reaching 2.5–4 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2.5–4 ft
- Blooms Jul–Aug
Anise Hyssop
Agastache foeniculum
Built for hummingbirds, with lavender-blue nectar tubes borne from Jun to Sep — spreading 1.5–2 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Buttonbush
Cephalanthus occidentalis
Built for hummingbirds, with white nectar tubes borne from Jun to Aug — 5–10 ft tall.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 5–10 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
New Jersey Tea
Ceanothus americanus
Draws hummingbirds with frothy white nectar tubes from May to Jul — spreading 2.5–4 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 2–3.5 ft
- Blooms May–Jul
Bearberry
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Tubular pink-white flowers shaped for a hummingbird's bill in Apr and May — happy in sand and rocky soil.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 4–8 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Sourcing
Where to find these in Illinois
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.