Wild Bleeding Heart
Dicentra eximia
Draws hummingbirds with rose pink nectar tubes from Apr to Aug, for rocky and loam ground.
- Part shade
- Average
- 12–18 in
- Blooms Apr–Aug
Louisiana · Zones 8–9
Native Hummingbird Plants in Louisiana
Tubular, nectar-heavy native flowers that draw hummingbirds far more reliably — and safely — than any sugar-water feeder. For Louisiana, the right natives are shaped by Mississippi Delta & Gulf Coast Prairie and a hot, humid subtropical climate. Every species below, from Wild Bleeding Heart and Scarlet Beebalm to the rest of the list, is genuinely native to Louisiana and the wider flora of the Southeast and hardy through zones 8–9. 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 Louisiana
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 8–9 · see this collection in other states.
Scarlet Beebalm
Monarda didyma
A nectar stop hummingbirds return to, its scarlet red flowers carried in Jul and Aug — happy in clay and loam soil.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2.5–4 ft
- Blooms Jul–Aug
Turk's Cap
Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii
Draws hummingbirds with turban red nectar tubes from May to Oct — 2–5 ft tall.
- Sun to shade
- Dry–average
- 2–5 ft
- Blooms May–Oct
Crossvine
Bignonia capreolata
A magnet for hummingbirds — orange-red blooms held in Apr and May for them to probe; 25–50 ft tall.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 25–50 ft
- Blooms Apr–May
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
Virginia Bluebells
Mertensia virginica
A hummingbird flower — sky blue tubular blooms from Mar to May, hardy in zones 3–8.
- Part shade
- Average–wet
- 1–2 ft
- Blooms Mar–May
Trumpet Honeysuckle
Lonicera sempervirens
A hummingbird flower — coral-red tubular blooms from Apr to Sep, happy in clay and loam soil.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 8–15 ft
- Blooms Apr–Sep
Cardinal Flower
Lobelia cardinalis
Tubular electric scarlet flowers shaped for a hummingbird's bill from Jul to Sep — spreading 1–2 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jul–Sep
Wild Bergamot
Monarda fistulosa
Draws hummingbirds with lavender nectar tubes from Jun to Aug — happy in clay, rocky, and loam soil.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Great Blue Lobelia
Lobelia siphilitica
Tubular deep blue flowers shaped for a hummingbird's bill in Aug and Sep — 2–3 ft tall.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2–3 ft
- Blooms Aug–Sep
Foxglove Beardtongue
Penstemon digitalis
A magnet for hummingbirds — white blooms held in May and Jun for them to probe; spreading 1–2 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Buttonbush
Cephalanthus occidentalis
A nectar stop hummingbirds return to, its white flowers carried from Jun to Aug, happy in clay and loam soil.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 5–10 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Wild Columbine
Aquilegia canadensis
A magnet for hummingbirds — red blooms held from Apr to Jun for them to probe, spreading 12–18 in.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 1–2.5 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Woodland Phlox
Phlox divaricata
Hummingbirds work its lavender-blue flowers in Apr and May; 10–15 in tall.
- Part shade
- Average
- 10–15 in
- Blooms Apr–May
New Jersey Tea
Ceanothus americanus
A magnet for hummingbirds — frothy white blooms held from May to Jul for them to probe, happy in sand, rocky, and loam soil.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 2–3.5 ft
- Blooms May–Jul
Sourcing
Where to find these in Louisiana
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.