Cardinal Flower
Lobelia cardinalis
In Vermont's Green Mountains & Champlain Valley, 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
Vermont · Zones 3–5
Native Hummingbird Plants in Vermont
Tubular, nectar-heavy native flowers that draw hummingbirds far more reliably — and safely — than any sugar-water feeder. For Vermont, the right natives are shaped by Green Mountains & Champlain Valley and a cold, humid continental climate. Every species below, from Cardinal Flower and Trumpet Honeysuckle to the rest of the list, is genuinely native to Vermont and the wider flora of the Northeast 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.
The plants
15 native species for Vermont
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 3–5 · see this collection in other states.
Trumpet Honeysuckle
Lonicera sempervirens
In Vermont's Green Mountains & Champlain Valley, draws hummingbirds with coral-red nectar tubes from Apr to Sep, 3–6 ft wide.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 8–15 ft
- Blooms Apr–Sep
Wild Bleeding Heart
Dicentra eximia
In Vermont's Green Mountains & Champlain Valley, tubular rose pink flowers shaped for a hummingbird's bill from Apr to Aug, 12–18 in wide.
- Part shade
- Average
- 12–18 in
- Blooms Apr–Aug
Woodland Phlox
Phlox divaricata
In Vermont's Green Mountains & Champlain Valley, a nectar stop hummingbirds return to, its lavender-blue flowers carried in Apr and May; good through zone 8.
- Part shade
- Average
- 10–15 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Great Blue Lobelia
Lobelia siphilitica
In Vermont's Green Mountains & Champlain Valley, tubular deep blue flowers shaped for a hummingbird's bill in Aug and Sep — hardy in zones 4–9.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2–3 ft
- Blooms Aug–Sep
Foxglove Beardtongue
Penstemon digitalis
In Vermont's Green Mountains & Champlain Valley, a magnet for hummingbirds — white blooms held in May and Jun for them to probe — for clay, rocky, and loam ground.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Anise Hyssop
Agastache foeniculum
In Vermont's Green Mountains & Champlain Valley, a nectar stop hummingbirds return to, its lavender-blue flowers carried from Jun to Sep; for sand, rocky, and loam ground.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Wild Bergamot
Monarda fistulosa
In Vermont's Green Mountains & Champlain Valley, built for hummingbirds, with lavender nectar tubes borne from Jun to Aug — cold-hardy to zone 3.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Wild Columbine
Aquilegia canadensis
In Vermont's Green Mountains & Champlain Valley, a magnet for hummingbirds — red blooms held from Apr to Jun for them to probe, good through zone 8.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 1–2.5 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Scarlet Beebalm
Monarda didyma
In Vermont's Green Mountains & Champlain Valley, tubular scarlet red flowers shaped for a hummingbird's bill in Jul and Aug, happy in clay and loam soil.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2.5–4 ft
- Blooms Jul–Aug
Buttonbush
Cephalanthus occidentalis
In Vermont's Green Mountains & Champlain Valley, tubular white flowers shaped for a hummingbird's bill from Jun to Aug — happy in clay and loam soil.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 5–10 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Obedient Plant
Physostegia virginiana
In Vermont's Green Mountains & Champlain Valley, hummingbirds work its pink flowers in Aug and Sep — happy in clay and loam soil.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Aug–Sep
Virginia Bluebells
Mertensia virginica
In Vermont's Green Mountains & Champlain Valley, a magnet for hummingbirds — sky blue blooms held from Mar to May for them to probe; cold-hardy to zone 3.
- Part shade
- Average–wet
- 1–2 ft
- Blooms Mar–May
Bearberry
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
In Vermont's Green Mountains & Champlain Valley, draws hummingbirds with pink-white nectar tubes in Apr and May, 3–6 ft wide.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 4–8 in
- Blooms Apr–May
New Jersey Tea
Ceanothus americanus
In Vermont's Green Mountains & Champlain Valley, tubular frothy white flowers shaped for a hummingbird's bill from May to Jul — happy in sand, rocky, and loam soil.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 2–3.5 ft
- Blooms May–Jul
Sourcing
Where to find these in Vermont
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.