Hummingbirds add a magical touch to any Maryland garden, and the right flowers make all the difference. I’ve noticed that a few special blooms seem to call them in year after year.
These flowers don’t just brighten your yard—they invite lively, fluttering visitors that make your garden feel alive. With the right picks, your outdoor space can become a hummingbird hotspot.
Let’s take a look at the flowers that Maryland hummingbirds love most.
1. Cardinal Flower
Vibrant red spikes create a natural beacon for hummingbirds in Maryland gardens. The tubular shape perfectly matches a hummingbird’s bill, making nectar collection effortless.
Thriving in moist areas throughout the state, this native perennial blooms from mid-summer through fall. Wildlife enthusiasts particularly value its ability to flourish in partial shade while still producing its signature scarlet blooms.
2. Bee Balm
Feathery, crown-like blooms in red, pink, or purple make this plant irresistible to hummingbirds. Native to Maryland, bee balm offers a reliable nectar source when many other flowers have faded.
Growing well in sunny spots across the state, this fragrant perennial also attracts butterflies and beneficial insects. Gardeners love its minty fragrance and the way it spreads to form beautiful clumps without becoming invasive.
3. Trumpet Vine
Sometimes called ‘hummingbird vine’ for good reason! The trumpet-shaped orange-red flowers seem designed specifically for these tiny birds. Many Maryland gardeners report hummingbirds visiting these blooms repeatedly throughout the day.
This vigorous climber needs strong support and regular pruning in Maryland’s growing conditions. Perfect for covering fences or pergolas, it produces dramatic cascades of tubular blooms from June through September.
4. Coral Honeysuckle
Unlike its invasive Japanese cousin, this native vine is perfect for Maryland gardens. The tubular red flowers produce sweet nectar that hummingbirds can’t resist throughout the summer months.
Easily trained on trellises or allowed to ramble as a groundcover in Maryland landscapes. Its semi-evergreen nature provides visual interest nearly year-round, while the red berries that follow the flowers attract other birds too.
5. Salvia
Spikes of tubular flowers in vibrant shades of red, purple, and blue are hummingbird magnets. The nectar-rich blooms of salvias are perfectly shaped for these birds’ specialized feeding habits.
Many varieties thrive in Maryland’s climate, from the native woodland sage to showier garden hybrids. These easy-care perennials offer long-lasting color from early summer through fall, often reblooming if promptly deadheaded.
6. Penstemon
Commonly called beardtongue, these native beauties produce bell-shaped flowers that hummingbirds adore. Their tubular blooms in shades from white to deep purple create a natural feeding station.
Thriving in Maryland’s varied growing conditions, different penstemon species work in both sunny and partially shaded gardens. Their drought tolerance once established makes them excellent choices for low-maintenance wildlife gardens throughout the state.
7. Columbine
Delicate spurred flowers dangle like tiny lanterns, perfectly positioned for hummingbird feeding. The unusual shape allows these birds to hover below while sipping nectar from the distinctive spurs.
Blooming in spring when many Maryland gardens lack color, columbines bridge the gap before summer flowers appear. Their fernlike foliage remains attractive after blooming ends, and they self-seed gently to create naturalized colonies.
8. Foxglove
Tall spires of spotted, tubular blooms create a dramatic vertical element that hummingbirds can’t resist. The flowers open progressively from bottom to top, providing nectar over several weeks.
Thriving in Maryland’s partially shaded gardens, foxgloves add cottage-garden charm while serving as natural feeding stations. Though technically biennial in the state’s climate, they self-seed readily to maintain their presence year after year.
9. Butterfly Bush
Despite its name, this shrub attracts hummingbirds just as readily as butterflies. The long, fragrant flower panicles provide accessible nectar for Maryland’s ruby-throated hummingbirds from summer through fall.
Choose newer, non-invasive varieties approved for Maryland gardens to avoid environmental concerns. With proper deadheading, these drought-tolerant shrubs will produce continuous blooms, creating a reliable nectar source throughout the growing season.
10. Phlox
Sweet fragrance and clusters of star-shaped blooms make garden phlox a summer standout. Hummingbirds particularly favor the bright pink and red varieties that dot Maryland gardens from July through September.
Both the taller garden phlox and the low-growing creeping phlox thrive in Maryland’s climate. Native woodland phlox offers spring blooms, while summer phlox creates impressive stands of color during the height of hummingbird season.
11. Weigela
Trumpet-shaped flowers cover this easy-growing shrub in late spring, creating a hummingbird buffet. The pink to red blooms perfectly match the feeding habits of Maryland’s native ruby-throated hummingbirds.
Many newer varieties offer repeat blooming throughout summer in gardens across the state. With sizes ranging from compact to large, there’s a weigela for every Maryland garden space, providing reliable hummingbird attraction without demanding maintenance.
12. Flowering Tobacco
Evening-blooming varieties release sweet perfume that guides hummingbirds to their tubular flowers. The long, slender blooms in white, pink, or red are perfectly shaped for hummingbird bills.
Easily grown as an annual in Maryland gardens, flowering tobacco provides nectar from summer until frost. Taller varieties create dramatic backdrops, while newer compact forms work beautifully in containers on patios throughout the state.
13. Lantana
Clusters of tiny tubular flowers in changing sunset colors create a kaleidoscope effect. Hummingbirds find these long-blooming plants irresistible in Maryland gardens from late spring until autumn frost.
Though treated as annuals in Maryland’s climate, lantanas reward gardeners with months of continuous bloom. Their heat and drought tolerance makes them perfect for hot summer locations where many other nectar plants might struggle.
14. Agastache
Also called hyssop or hummingbird mint, these aromatic perennials produce spikes of tubular blooms. Their nectar-rich flowers in purple, pink, or orange attract hummingbirds throughout Maryland’s long summer season.
Drought-tolerant once established, agastache thrives in the state’s hot summer conditions. The anise-scented foliage naturally repels deer and rabbits while enticing beneficial insects alongside the hummingbirds that give this plant its common name.
15. Hollyhock
Towering spires create vertical drama while providing accessible nectar for hovering hummingbirds. The open, saucer-shaped blooms in vibrant colors act as natural landing pads for these tiny aerial visitors.
Thriving in Maryland’s full-sun locations, hollyhocks create old-fashioned cottage garden charm. Though short-lived perennials in the state’s climate, they self-seed readily, establishing ongoing colonies that return year after year with minimal care.