Attracting hummingbirds to your yard is easy!
Here's what to expect:
- Hummingbird migration in Missouri
- 12 Flowers in Missouri Hummingbirds Love
- 5 Tips for Attracting Hummingbirds
Hummingbird Migration in Missouri
Hummingbirds migrate from the south up through Missouri as early as January. Their migration peaks in April
Southbound hummingbird migration starts late July and ends in September.
Make sure your flowers are ready for hummingbird migration
Plant your perennials so they bloom at slightly different times.
You want some flowers to bloom in early April & others to bloom in the summer when they start breeding.
This ensures hummingbirds have a steady supply of nectar.
12 Flowers to Attract Hummingbirds in Missouri
Make sure to follow our 5 Tips for Success using plants to attract hummingbirds.
1. Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
- Perennial
The Cardinal Flower depends on hummingbirds since many insects find the flowers difficult to navigate.
Every hummingbird garden must have Cardinal Flower since it’s practically a beacon for hummingbirds!
The bllom time is perfect for peak hummingbird season.
2. Columbine (Aquilegia)
- Perennial
The red, yellow, and tube shape of Red Columbine is a hummingbird favorite.
It blooms late March if there's a mild winter which is ideal for hummingbird migration in Missouri.
It's the perfect flower for hummingbirds in Missouri.
3. Blazing Stars (Liatris)
- Annual
Blazing Stars looks is one of the more fun flowers you can choose for hummingbirds.
Great for for attracting hummingbirds & monarch butterflies!
4. Trumpet Vine (Campsis radicans)
- Perennial
Trumpet vine is a gorgeous orange and peach colored flower.
The tube shape and color make it good for attracting hummingbirds in Missouri.
If you’re looking to channel a warm sunrise vine in your garden, this is the vine-flower to use.
The vine can easily takeover your garden.
5. Hibiscus
- Perennial
Hibiscus are hardy, full sun flowers that offer great options for cooler climates.
Sometimes hummingbirds make nests in or near the dense foliage of hibiscus shrubs.
Turk’s Cap is often cited as the best choice for attracting hummingbirds.
6. Bee Balm (Monarda)
- Perennial
An herbaceous plant in the mint family and native to North America.
Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds and butterflies love this flower!
It’s spreading behavior varies so keep an eye on it making sure it doesn’t take over your garden.
7. Trumpet Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens)
- Perennial
Named for its tubular, trumpet shaped flowers.
These red flowers are ideal for hummingbirds in both shape and color.
Trumpet Honeysuckle is a great native plant for your garden especially in the eastern United States.
8. Firebush (Hamelia patens)
- Perrenial
The ultimate hummingbird flower in Missouri!
It produces orange-red tubular flowers nearly year-round and can grow as a large shrub.
Varieties like Lime Sizzler are popular for their variegated foliage.
9. Coral Bean (Erythrina herbacea)
- Perennial
A striking native flower that sends up spikes of bright red, sword-like flowers in early spring.
It blooms exactly when Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are migrating through!
10. Red Buckeye (Aesculus pavia)
- Perennial
Hummingbirds love the clusters of red flowers in early spring.
It's one of the first nectar sources available for northward-bound hummingbirds.
11. Crossvine (Bignonia capreolata)
- Perennial
A vigorous climber that produces trumpet-shaped flowers (often orange with yellow throats).
It's a great native alternative to Trumpet Vine.
The tube shape and bright colors are irresistible to Missouri in hummingbirds!
12. Foxglove (Digitalis)
- Perennial
Foxglove is known for its purple and pink spire-like flowers.
It’s an ideal hummingbird flower suburban yards as it’s considered deer resistant.
Beware— Foxglove is toxic. All plant parts cause severe poisoning.
- Related: 9 Ways to Attract Hummingbird
5 Tips for Attracting Hummingbirds During Migration
1. Use Red Flowers
Hummingbirds are red sensitive.
They visit many colors but warm reds, yellows, and oranges increase the odds of them picking your flowers.
2. Avoid Invasive Plants
They can displace native vegetation.
- Butterfly Bush: crowds out the native plants that support Missouri's local butterfly population
- Japanese Honeysuckle: prohibited for sale and distribution as of 2026
Check with the Missouri Department of Wildlife and Fisheries before planting.
3. Group Plants Together
Grouping similar plants in clumps makes them easier for hummingbirds to spot.
Use companion planting to make sure your garden thrives!
4. Use Hummingbird Feeders
When in doubt put up nectar feeders.
Hummingbirds will come for easy food. They'll notice your flowers & keep coming back for more.
5. Avoid Pesticides
Insecticides protect plants from destructive insects.
Many store bought pesticides can kill the insects hummingbirds eat and rely on for protein.
This throws off the delicate balance of the ecosystem.
Opt for these eco-friendly insecticide alternatives:
What flowers do your hummingbirds like?
Share them on the Sparkbird App! Where likeminded birders and nature enthusiasts go to share.
Available in the Apple App Store.
