Wild Columbine
Aquilegia canadensis
Hummingbirds work its red flowers from Apr to Jun; happy in rocky and loam soil.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 1–2.5 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Oklahoma · Zones 6–8
Native Hummingbird Plants in Oklahoma
Tubular, nectar-heavy native flowers that draw hummingbirds far more reliably — and safely — than any sugar-water feeder. Oklahoma sits in a landscape of Cross Timbers & mixedgrass prairie, and the natives that thrive here are the ones built for its continental, hot summers character. The list below — led by Wild Columbine and Woodland Phlox — is filtered to species genuinely native to Oklahoma and the wider flora of the Great Plains and hardy through zones 6–8. 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
16 native species for Oklahoma
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 6–8 · see this collection in other states.
Woodland Phlox
Phlox divaricata
Built for hummingbirds, with lavender-blue nectar tubes borne in Apr and May; good through zone 8.
- Part shade
- Average
- 10–15 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Trumpet Honeysuckle
Lonicera sempervirens
A magnet for hummingbirds — coral-red blooms held from Apr to Sep for them to probe; 3–6 ft wide.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 8–15 ft
- Blooms Apr–Sep
Buttonbush
Cephalanthus occidentalis
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
Obedient Plant
Physostegia virginiana
A nectar stop hummingbirds return to, its pink flowers carried in Aug and Sep — for clay and loam ground.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Aug–Sep
Great Blue Lobelia
Lobelia siphilitica
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
Turk's Cap
Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii
Draws hummingbirds with turban red nectar tubes from May to Oct; spreading 3–5 ft.
- Sun to shade
- Dry–average
- 2–5 ft
- Blooms May–Oct
Foxglove Beardtongue
Penstemon digitalis
A magnet for hummingbirds — white blooms held in May and Jun for them to probe, reaching 2–4 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Crossvine
Bignonia capreolata
Built for hummingbirds, with orange-red nectar tubes borne in Apr and May; 6–10 ft wide.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 25–50 ft
- Blooms Apr–May
Wild Bergamot
Monarda fistulosa
A magnet for hummingbirds — lavender blooms held from Jun to Aug for them to probe, hardy in zones 3–9.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Scarlet Beebalm
Monarda didyma
Built for hummingbirds, with scarlet red nectar tubes borne 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
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
Cardinal Flower
Lobelia cardinalis
Hummingbird fuel — slender electric scarlet tubes too deep for most insects from Jul to Sep — 2–4 ft tall.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jul–Sep
Wild Bleeding Heart
Dicentra eximia
A nectar stop hummingbirds return to, its rose pink flowers carried from Apr to Aug — 12–18 in tall.
- 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
Tubular frothy white flowers shaped for a hummingbird's bill from May to Jul; cold-hardy to zone 3.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 2–3.5 ft
- Blooms May–Jul
Sourcing
Where to find these in Oklahoma
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.