Hummingbirds bring magic to Michigan gardens from May to September. These tiny flyers need nectar-rich flowers to fuel their lightning-fast wings and incredible hovering abilities.
While many gardeners know about common hummingbird plants, some lesser-known blooms can transform your yard into a hummingbird paradise without the crowds at popular feeding stations.
1. Cardinal Flower
Standing tall with brilliant red blooms, Cardinal Flower creates a natural runway for hummingbirds. Native to Michigan’s moist areas, this stunning perennial produces trumpet-shaped flowers that perfectly match a hummingbird’s feeding style.
Cardinal Flower thrives in partial shade and wet soil, making it perfect for those tricky damp spots in your garden. The vibrant red color acts like a magnet for ruby-throated hummingbirds, our most common Michigan species.
2. Wild Columbine
Nodding gracefully in spring breezes, Wild Columbine features unusual spurred flowers in red and yellow that dangle like tiny lanterns. Michigan’s native columbine blooms earlier than many hummingbird plants, providing crucial nectar when food sources are scarce.
Hummingbirds love the backward-pointing nectar spurs that seem designed just for their long beaks. Grow this woodland beauty in partial shade and well-drained soil for reliable blooms year after year.
3. Liatris
Reaching skyward with purple bottle-brush blooms, Liatris adds vertical drama that hummingbirds can’t resist. Unlike most flowers that bloom from the bottom up, Liatris flowers open from the top down, creating weeks of feeding opportunities.
Nicknamed Blazing Star for good reason, this prairie native handles Michigan’s hot summers and cold winters with ease. Plant several in groups for maximum impact – both you and the hummingbirds will enjoy the purple spires dancing in summer breezes.
4. Jewelweed
Orange spotted trumpets dangle like tiny jewels on this wildflower, explaining its charming name. Jewelweed grows naturally in Michigan’s damp woodlands and stream edges, often in places where few other plants thrive.
Hummingbirds particularly favor the nectar-rich orange blooms that appear from mid-summer through fall. As a bonus, this native plant is nature’s remedy for poison ivy – crush the stems and apply the juice to relieve the itch of poison ivy rash.
5. Royal Catchfly
Vivid scarlet stars burst from this rare Michigan native, creating an irresistible beacon for hummingbirds. Royal Catchfly earned its unusual name from sticky stems that trap small insects, though hummingbirds easily navigate these natural defenses.
Growing just 1-2 feet tall, this compact perennial works beautifully in smaller gardens or containers. The brilliant red blooms appear in July and August, precisely when hummingbirds are busiest preparing for migration and need abundant nectar sources.
6. Great Blue Lobelia
Intense blue spikes create cool contrast in late summer gardens when many plants have finished blooming. Great Blue Lobelia’s unusual color and tubular shape make it a standout for both gardeners and hummingbirds.
A cousin to the Cardinal Flower, this Michigan native prefers similar growing conditions – moist soil and partial shade. The deep blue-violet flowers bloom from August through September, providing vital late-season nectar just when hummingbirds are building energy reserves for migration.
7. Bee Balm
Shaggy flower heads resembling exploding fireworks crown this aromatic native plant. While the common red varieties are well-known, lesser-known pink, purple and lavender cultivars like ‘Raspberry Wine’ and ‘Purple Rooster’ are equally attractive to hummingbirds.
Bee Balm’s square stems reveal its membership in the mint family, though it’s better behaved than most mints. Plant in full sun with good air circulation to prevent powdery mildew, and watch hummingbirds battle over these nectar-rich blooms all summer.
8. Michigan Lily
Graceful orange turbans with spotted petals curl dramatically backward on this spectacular native lily. Growing up to 5 feet tall, Michigan Lily creates a natural feeding station with its downward-facing flowers that hummingbirds approach from below.
Found naturally in moist meadows and woodland edges across the state, this summer-blooming perennial makes a statement in any garden. The tiger-like spots and recurved petals create a wild elegance that both gardeners and hummingbirds appreciate.
9. Penstemon
Tubular bells line the stems of this underused perennial, creating perfect landing platforms for hovering hummingbirds. Michigan gardeners should look for cold-hardy varieties like ‘Dark Towers’ with pink flowers or the native Hairy Beardtongue with white blooms.
Long-blooming and drought-tolerant once established, Penstemon combines beautifully with ornamental grasses in sunny gardens. The tubular flowers are specifically designed for long-beaked pollinators like hummingbirds, making this plant a guaranteed attraction for these tiny visitors.
10. Scarlet Runner Bean
Climbing vigorously on trellises or poles, Scarlet Runner Bean produces brilliant red flowers that hummingbirds spot from impressive distances. Unlike purely ornamental plants, this beauty offers a triple reward – stunning flowers, tasty beans, and reliable hummingbird visits.
Plant these fast-growing annuals after danger of frost has passed. Within weeks, they’ll transform a trellis into a living wall of green decorated with bright blooms. Hummingbirds particularly appreciate the convenient vertical feeding arrangement these climbing plants provide.
11. Trumpet Honeysuckle
Coral-red tubular flowers seem custom-designed for hummingbird beaks on this well-behaved native vine. Unlike its invasive Japanese cousin, our native Trumpet Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) stays mannerly while providing nectar throughout summer.
Growing up to 15 feet, this semi-evergreen climber works beautifully on fences, arbors, or trellises in full sun to part shade. The trumpet-shaped blooms transition to red berries that attract songbirds, making this plant a wildlife magnet for multiple seasons.
12. Foxglove Beardtongue
Delicate white tubes with purple-striped throats cover this native perennial in early summer, creating a buffet for early-arriving hummingbirds. Foxglove Beardtongue blooms prolifically in June when many hummingbird plants haven’t yet started flowering.
Preferring well-drained soil and full sun, this drought-tolerant native reaches about 3 feet tall. The pristine white flowers with their distinctive purple guidelines stand out beautifully against dark green foliage, guiding both hummingbirds and human eyes to their beauty.
13. Coral Bells
Tiny bell-shaped flowers dance on wiry stems above attractive foliage in this garden favorite. Modern Coral Bells varieties come in an amazing range of leaf colors – from purple to caramel to silver – making them garden stars even when not in bloom.
Hummingbirds especially love red-flowering varieties like ‘Firefly’ and ‘Splendens.’ Plant these versatile perennials in morning sun with afternoon shade and well-drained soil. Their compact size makes them perfect for front borders or containers where you can easily watch hummingbird visits.