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Montana · Zones 3–5

Native Hummingbird Plants in Montana

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.

The plants

14 native species for Montana

Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 3–5 · see this collection in other states.

Perennial wildflower

Wild Bergamot

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.

  • Full–part sun
  • Dry–average
  • 2–4 ft
  • Blooms Jun–Aug
Perennial wildflower

Anise Hyssop

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.

  • Full–part sun
  • Dry–average
  • 2–4 ft
  • Blooms Jun–Sep
Perennial wildflower

Rocky Mountain Penstemon

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.

  • Full sun
  • Dry
  • 1.5–2.5 ft
  • Blooms May–Jul
Perennial wildflower

Foxglove Beardtongue

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.

  • Full–part sun
  • Dry–average
  • 2–4 ft
  • Blooms May–Jun
Shrub

Red-Flowering Currant

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.

  • Full–part sun
  • Dry–average
  • 5–9 ft
  • Blooms Mar–Apr
Perennial wildflower

Great Blue Lobelia

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.

  • Full–part sun
  • Average–wet
  • 2–3 ft
  • Blooms Aug–Sep
Perennial wildflower

Wild Columbine

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.

  • Part shade
  • Dry–average
  • 1–2.5 ft
  • Blooms Apr–Jun
Shrub

Buttonbush

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.

  • Full–part sun
  • Average–wet
  • 5–10 ft
  • Blooms Jun–Aug
Perennial wildflower

Western Columbine

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.

  • Part shade
  • Average
  • 1.5–3 ft
  • Blooms Apr–Jul
Perennial wildflower

Firecracker Penstemon

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.

  • Full sun
  • Dry
  • 1.5–3 ft
  • Blooms Mar–May
Perennial wildflower

Obedient Plant

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.

  • Full–part sun
  • Average–wet
  • 2–4 ft
  • Blooms Aug–Sep
Evergreen shrub

Oregon Grape

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.

  • Sun to shade
  • Dry–average
  • 3–6 ft
  • Blooms Mar–Apr
Evergreen groundcover

Bearberry

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.

  • Full–part sun
  • Dry
  • 4–8 in
  • Blooms Apr–May
Shrub

New Jersey Tea

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.

  • Full–part sun
  • Dry
  • 2–3.5 ft
  • Blooms May–Jul
Sourcing

Where to find these in Montana

Seeds & live plants on Amazon

Seed packets, plugs, and starter plants for many of these species ship to your door.

Browse on Amazon

Some 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.