Tubular, nectar-heavy native flowers that draw hummingbirds far more reliably — and safely — than any sugar-water feeder. Minnesota sits in a landscape of Northern tallgrass prairie & North Woods, and the natives that thrive here are the ones built for its cold continental character. The list below — led by Virginia Bluebells and Anise Hyssop — is filtered to species genuinely native to Minnesota 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.
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 3–5 · see this collection in other states.
Mertensia virginica
Through Minnesota's Northern tallgrass prairie & North Woods country, a magnet for hummingbirds — sky blue blooms held from Mar to May for them to probe, reaching 1–2 ft.
Agastache foeniculum
Through Minnesota's Northern tallgrass prairie & North Woods country, tubular lavender-blue flowers shaped for a hummingbird's bill from Jun to Sep — for sand, rocky, and loam ground.
Monarda fistulosa
Through Minnesota's Northern tallgrass prairie & North Woods country, hummingbirds work its lavender flowers from Jun to Aug — happy in clay, rocky, and loam soil.
Lobelia siphilitica
Through Minnesota's Northern tallgrass prairie & North Woods country, a hummingbird flower — deep blue tubular blooms in Aug and Sep — cold-hardy to zone 4.
Penstemon digitalis
Through Minnesota's Northern tallgrass prairie & North Woods country, hummingbirds work its white flowers in May and Jun, good through zone 8.
Physostegia virginiana
Through Minnesota's Northern tallgrass prairie & North Woods country, built for hummingbirds, with pink nectar tubes borne in Aug and Sep, 2–4 ft wide.
Aquilegia canadensis
Through Minnesota's Northern tallgrass prairie & North Woods country, hummingbirds work its red flowers from Apr to Jun, happy in rocky and loam soil.
Monarda didyma
Through Minnesota's Northern tallgrass prairie & North Woods country, built for hummingbirds, with scarlet red nectar tubes borne in Jul and Aug, for clay and loam ground.
Cephalanthus occidentalis
Through Minnesota's Northern tallgrass prairie & North Woods country, a magnet for hummingbirds — white blooms held from Jun to Aug for them to probe; 5–10 ft tall.
Phlox divaricata
Through Minnesota's Northern tallgrass prairie & North Woods country, a nectar stop hummingbirds return to, its lavender-blue flowers carried in Apr and May — 10–15 in tall.
Lobelia cardinalis
Through Minnesota's Northern tallgrass prairie & North Woods country, a hummingbird flower — electric scarlet tubular blooms from Jul to Sep, cold-hardy to zone 3.
Lonicera sempervirens
Through Minnesota's Northern tallgrass prairie & North Woods country, draws hummingbirds with coral-red nectar tubes from Apr to Sep, spreading 3–6 ft.
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Through Minnesota's Northern tallgrass prairie & North Woods country, hummingbirds work its pink-white flowers in Apr and May; spreading 3–6 ft.
Ceanothus americanus
Through Minnesota's Northern tallgrass prairie & North Woods country, a nectar stop hummingbirds return to, its frothy white flowers carried from May to Jul; happy in sand, rocky, and loam soil.
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.