Turk's Cap
Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii
Through Mississippi's Gulf Coastal Plain & Black Belt prairie country, draws hummingbirds with turban red nectar tubes from May to Oct, reaching 2–5 ft.
- Sun to shade
- Dry–average
- 2–5 ft
- Blooms May–Oct
Tubular, nectar-heavy native flowers that draw hummingbirds far more reliably — and safely — than any sugar-water feeder. Every species here is genuinely native to Mississippi and the wider flora of the Southeast and hardy through zones 7–9 — proven performers for Mississippi's hot, humid subtropical climate across Gulf Coastal Plain & Black Belt prairie, not a generic list. Local standouts include Turk's Cap and Virginia Bluebells. 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 7–9 · see this collection in other states.
Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii
Through Mississippi's Gulf Coastal Plain & Black Belt prairie country, draws hummingbirds with turban red nectar tubes from May to Oct, reaching 2–5 ft.
Mertensia virginica
Through Mississippi's Gulf Coastal Plain & Black Belt prairie country, hummingbirds work its sky blue flowers from Mar to May; cold-hardy to zone 3.
Physostegia virginiana
Through Mississippi's Gulf Coastal Plain & Black Belt prairie country, tubular pink flowers shaped for a hummingbird's bill in Aug and Sep, 2–4 ft wide.
Bignonia capreolata
Through Mississippi's Gulf Coastal Plain & Black Belt prairie country, draws hummingbirds with orange-red nectar tubes in Apr and May — cold-hardy to zone 6.
Lobelia siphilitica
Through Mississippi's Gulf Coastal Plain & Black Belt prairie country, a nectar stop hummingbirds return to, its deep blue flowers carried in Aug and Sep; happy in clay and loam soil.
Lonicera sempervirens
Through Mississippi's Gulf Coastal Plain & Black Belt prairie country, tubular coral-red flowers shaped for a hummingbird's bill from Apr to Sep; good through zone 9.
Penstemon digitalis
Through Mississippi's Gulf Coastal Plain & Black Belt prairie country, tubular white flowers shaped for a hummingbird's bill in May and Jun, 1–2 ft wide.
Phlox divaricata
Through Mississippi's Gulf Coastal Plain & Black Belt prairie country, hummingbird fuel — slender lavender-blue tubes too deep for most insects in Apr and May — reaching 10–15 in.
Lobelia cardinalis
Through Mississippi's Gulf Coastal Plain & Black Belt prairie country, draws hummingbirds with electric scarlet nectar tubes from Jul to Sep — reaching 2–4 ft.
Monarda fistulosa
Through Mississippi's Gulf Coastal Plain & Black Belt prairie country, built for hummingbirds, with lavender nectar tubes borne from Jun to Aug; 2–4 ft tall.
Monarda didyma
Through Mississippi's Gulf Coastal Plain & Black Belt prairie country, a magnet for hummingbirds — scarlet red blooms held in Jul and Aug for them to probe — 2.5–4 ft tall.
Dicentra eximia
Through Mississippi's Gulf Coastal Plain & Black Belt prairie country, tubular rose pink flowers shaped for a hummingbird's bill from Apr to Aug, 12–18 in tall.
Cephalanthus occidentalis
Through Mississippi's Gulf Coastal Plain & Black Belt prairie country, a nectar stop hummingbirds return to, its white flowers carried from Jun to Aug; good through zone 9.
Aquilegia canadensis
Through Mississippi's Gulf Coastal Plain & Black Belt prairie country, built for hummingbirds, with red nectar tubes borne from Apr to Jun, spreading 12–18 in.
Ceanothus americanus
Through Mississippi's Gulf Coastal Plain & Black Belt prairie country, hummingbirds work its frothy white flowers from May to Jul — for sand, rocky, and loam ground.
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.