Cardinal Flower
Lobelia cardinalis
Built for hummingbirds, with electric scarlet nectar tubes borne from Jul to Sep — 2–4 ft tall.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jul–Sep
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- Hummingbirds
South Carolina · Zones 7–9
Native Hummingbird Plants in South Carolina
Tubular, nectar-heavy native flowers that draw hummingbirds far more reliably — and safely — than any sugar-water feeder. South Carolina sits in a landscape of Sandhills, Piedmont & Lowcountry, and the natives that thrive here are the ones built for its humid subtropical character. The list below — led by Cardinal Flower and Wild Bleeding Heart — is filtered to species genuinely native to South Carolina 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 South Carolina
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 7–9 · see this collection in other states.
Wild Bleeding Heart
Dicentra eximia
A nectar stop hummingbirds return to, its rose pink flowers carried from Apr to Aug, spreading 12–18 in.
- Part shade
- Average
- 12–18 in
- Blooms Apr–Aug
Trumpet Honeysuckle
Lonicera sempervirens
A magnet for hummingbirds — coral-red blooms held from Apr to Sep for them to probe; spreading 3–6 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 8–15 ft
- Blooms Apr–Sep
Scarlet Beebalm
Monarda didyma
Draws hummingbirds with scarlet red nectar tubes in Jul and Aug, happy in clay and loam soil.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2.5–4 ft
- Blooms Jul–Aug
Wild Columbine
Aquilegia canadensis
Tubular red flowers shaped for a hummingbird's bill from Apr to Jun; happy in rocky and loam soil.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 1–2.5 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Foxglove Beardtongue
Penstemon digitalis
Draws hummingbirds with white nectar tubes in May and Jun — 2–4 ft tall.
- 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 — good through zone 9.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 25–50 ft
- Blooms Apr–May
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
Turk's Cap
Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii
Hummingbird fuel — slender turban red tubes too deep for most insects from May to Oct — spreading 3–5 ft.
- Sun to shade
- Dry–average
- 2–5 ft
- Blooms May–Oct
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
Wild Bergamot
Monarda fistulosa
Hummingbird fuel — slender lavender tubes too deep for most insects from Jun to Aug, good through zone 9.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Obedient Plant
Physostegia virginiana
Hummingbirds work its pink flowers in Aug and Sep — 2–4 ft wide.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Aug–Sep
Great Blue Lobelia
Lobelia siphilitica
A nectar stop hummingbirds return to, its deep blue flowers carried in Aug and Sep — good through zone 9.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2–3 ft
- Blooms Aug–Sep
Woodland Phlox
Phlox divaricata
A nectar stop hummingbirds return to, its lavender-blue flowers carried in Apr and May — 10–15 in tall.
- Part shade
- Average
- 10–15 in
- Blooms Apr–May
New Jersey Tea
Ceanothus americanus
Draws hummingbirds with frothy white nectar tubes from May to Jul — hardy in zones 3–8.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 2–3.5 ft
- Blooms May–Jul
Sourcing
Where to find these in South Carolina
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.