Tubular, nectar-heavy native flowers that draw hummingbirds far more reliably — and safely — than any sugar-water feeder. Montana sits in a landscape of Northern Rockies & Great Plains steppe, and the natives that thrive here are the ones built for its cold, semi-arid character. The list below — led by Wild Bergamot and Anise Hyssop — is filtered to species genuinely native to Montana and the wider flora of the Mountain West 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.
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 3–5 · see this collection in other states.
Monarda fistulosa
For Montana gardens in the Northern Rockies & Great Plains steppe, hummingbird fuel — slender lavender tubes too deep for most insects from Jun to Aug; good through zone 9.
Agastache foeniculum
For Montana gardens in the Northern Rockies & Great Plains steppe, hummingbirds work its lavender-blue flowers from Jun to Sep, happy in sand, rocky, and loam soil.
Penstemon strictus
For Montana gardens in the Northern Rockies & Great Plains steppe, draws hummingbirds with deep blue-purple nectar tubes from May to Jul — happy in sand, rocky, and loam soil.
Penstemon digitalis
For Montana gardens in the Northern Rockies & Great Plains steppe, a magnet for hummingbirds — white blooms held in May and Jun for them to probe, for clay, rocky, and loam ground.
Ribes sanguineum
For Montana gardens in the Northern Rockies & Great Plains steppe, hummingbirds work its rose-pink flowers in Mar and Apr — 4–8 ft wide.
Lobelia siphilitica
For Montana gardens in the Northern Rockies & Great Plains steppe, built for hummingbirds, with deep blue nectar tubes borne in Aug and Sep — 12–18 in wide.
Aquilegia canadensis
For Montana gardens in the Northern Rockies & Great Plains steppe, hummingbird fuel — slender red tubes too deep for most insects from Apr to Jun, hardy in zones 3–8.
Cephalanthus occidentalis
For Montana gardens in the Northern Rockies & Great Plains steppe, hummingbird fuel — slender white tubes too deep for most insects from Jun to Aug; hardy in zones 5–9.
Aquilegia formosa
For Montana gardens in the Northern Rockies & Great Plains steppe, draws hummingbirds with red nectar tubes from Apr to Jul — 12–18 in wide.
Penstemon eatonii
For Montana gardens in the Northern Rockies & Great Plains steppe, built for hummingbirds, with scarlet nectar tubes borne from Mar to May — 12–18 in wide.
Physostegia virginiana
For Montana gardens in the Northern Rockies & Great Plains steppe, hummingbird fuel — slender pink tubes too deep for most insects in Aug and Sep — for clay and loam ground.
Berberis aquifolium
For Montana gardens in the Northern Rockies & Great Plains steppe, tubular bright yellow flowers shaped for a hummingbird's bill in Mar and Apr; cold-hardy to zone 5.
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
For Montana gardens in the Northern Rockies & Great Plains steppe, a magnet for hummingbirds — pink-white blooms held in Apr and May for them to probe; 3–6 ft wide.
Ceanothus americanus
For Montana gardens in the Northern Rockies & Great Plains steppe, hummingbirds work its frothy white flowers from May to Jul — reaching 2–3.5 ft.
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.