Buttonbush
Cephalanthus occidentalis
In Missouri's Ozarks, glades & prairie, a magnet for hummingbirds — white blooms held from Jun to Aug for them to probe; happy in clay and loam soil.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 5–10 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Missouri · Zones 5–7
Native Hummingbird Plants in Missouri
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 Missouri and the wider flora of the Midwest and hardy through zones 5–7 — proven performers for Missouri's humid continental to subtropical climate across Ozarks, glades & prairie, not a generic list. Local standouts include Buttonbush and Wild Columbine. 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
17 native species for Missouri
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 5–7 · see this collection in other states.
Wild Columbine
Aquilegia canadensis
In Missouri's Ozarks, glades & prairie, a nectar stop hummingbirds return to, its red flowers carried from Apr to Jun — 12–18 in wide.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 1–2.5 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Wild Bergamot
Monarda fistulosa
In Missouri's Ozarks, glades & prairie, hummingbirds work its lavender flowers from Jun to Aug — cold-hardy to zone 3.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Turk's Cap
Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii
In Missouri's Ozarks, glades & prairie, a magnet for hummingbirds — turban red blooms held from May to Oct for them to probe; spreading 3–5 ft.
- Sun to shade
- Dry–average
- 2–5 ft
- Blooms May–Oct
Great Blue Lobelia
Lobelia siphilitica
In Missouri's Ozarks, glades & prairie, hummingbird fuel — slender deep blue tubes too deep for most insects in Aug and Sep, cold-hardy to zone 4.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2–3 ft
- Blooms Aug–Sep
Scarlet Beebalm
Monarda didyma
In Missouri's Ozarks, glades & prairie, hummingbird fuel — slender scarlet red tubes too deep for most insects in Jul and Aug — 2.5–4 ft tall.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2.5–4 ft
- Blooms Jul–Aug
Anise Hyssop
Agastache foeniculum
In Missouri's Ozarks, glades & prairie, built for hummingbirds, with lavender-blue nectar tubes borne from Jun to Sep, 1.5–2 ft wide.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Wild Bleeding Heart
Dicentra eximia
In Missouri's Ozarks, glades & prairie, hummingbirds work its rose pink flowers from Apr to Aug — 12–18 in tall.
- Part shade
- Average
- 12–18 in
- Blooms Apr–Aug
Crossvine
Bignonia capreolata
In Missouri's Ozarks, glades & prairie, hummingbird fuel — slender orange-red tubes too deep for most insects in Apr and May — reaching 25–50 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 25–50 ft
- Blooms Apr–May
Woodland Phlox
Phlox divaricata
In Missouri's Ozarks, glades & prairie, hummingbird fuel — slender lavender-blue tubes too deep for most insects in Apr and May; good through zone 8.
- Part shade
- Average
- 10–15 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Trumpet Honeysuckle
Lonicera sempervirens
In Missouri's Ozarks, glades & prairie, a magnet for hummingbirds — coral-red blooms held from Apr to Sep for them to probe — for clay and loam ground.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 8–15 ft
- Blooms Apr–Sep
Virginia Bluebells
Mertensia virginica
In Missouri's Ozarks, glades & prairie, a nectar stop hummingbirds return to, its sky blue flowers carried from Mar to May, spreading 12–18 in.
- Part shade
- Average–wet
- 1–2 ft
- Blooms Mar–May
Cardinal Flower
Lobelia cardinalis
In Missouri's Ozarks, glades & prairie, a hummingbird flower — electric scarlet tubular blooms from Jul to Sep; reaching 2–4 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jul–Sep
Obedient Plant
Physostegia virginiana
In Missouri's Ozarks, glades & prairie, hummingbirds work its pink flowers in Aug and Sep; cold-hardy to zone 3.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Aug–Sep
Foxglove Beardtongue
Penstemon digitalis
In Missouri's Ozarks, glades & prairie, hummingbird fuel — slender white tubes too deep for most insects in May and Jun, happy in clay, rocky, and loam soil.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Bearberry
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
In Missouri's Ozarks, glades & prairie, a hummingbird flower — pink-white tubular blooms in Apr and May; reaching 4–8 in.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 4–8 in
- Blooms Apr–May
New Jersey Tea
Ceanothus americanus
In Missouri's Ozarks, glades & prairie, tubular frothy white flowers shaped for a hummingbird's bill 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 Missouri
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.