Attracting hummingbirds to your yard is easy!
Fresh nectar and native flowers are the best way to attract hummingbirds.
Here's what to expect:
- Hummingbird migration in Illinois
- 15 plants in Illinois that hummingbirds love
- 5 tips for using flowers to attract hummingbirds
When do hummingbirds come to Illinois?
Hummingbirds migrate to Illinois from mid April to early May. Their peak activity is in the summer.
They start to leave in late August, with their southbound migration wrapping up in early October.
Make sure your flowers are ready for hummingbird migration
Use the tips below for succession planting.
You want some flowers that bloom in early April for hummingbird migration, others to bloom in the summer when they settle and start breeding.
This ensures hummers have a steady supply of nectar!
15 Flowering Plants that Attract Hummingbirds in Idaho
Make sure to follow our 5 Tips for Success for using plants to attract hummingbirds below.
1. 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 hummingbirds.
2. 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 make for the best hummingbird flowers in Illinois
3. Bee Balm (Monarda)
- Perennial
Names: Bergamot, Horesemint, Oswego Tea
An herbaceous plant in the mint family and native to North America.
The vibrant red is a great flower to attract Ruby-Throated hummingbirds. Butterflies, too!
It’s spreading behavior varies so keep an eye on it making sure it doesn’t take over your garden.
4. Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
- Perennial
Names: Scarlet Lobelia, Indian Pink
The Cardinal Flower depends on hummingbirds since many insects find the flowers difficult to navigate.
Cardinal Flower is practically a beacon for hummingbirds!
It's simply one of the best hummingbird flowers in Illinois— no garden is complete without it.
5. Trumpet Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens)
- Perennial
Names: Coral honeysuckle, Scarlet honeysuckle
Named for its tubular, trumpet shaped flowers.
These red flowers are ideal for hummingbirds in both shape and color.
It's one of the best flowers to attract hummingbirds since they bloom mid-summer— peak hummingbird season!
6. Beardtongue (Penstemon)
- Perennial
A drought tolerant delicate flowering plant. The nectar rich tubes attract hummingbirds and other pollinators.
Beardtongue comes in a number of pinks and purples sure to please your hummingbirds.
7. Columbine (Aquilegia)
- Perennial
The red, yellow, and tube shape of Red Columbine is a hummingbird favorite.
It blooms late spring which is ideal for hummingbird migration in Illinois.
Try to use Eastern Columbine which is native to the state.
8. Blazing Stars (Liatris)
- Perenial
Names: Gayfeather
A tall cylindrical cluster of spikes for petals, Blazing Stars is one of the more fun flowers you can choose for hummingbirds in Illinois.
It looks like a pink-purple bottlebrush.
Try Meadow Blazingstar, a monarch favorite, and nectar rich flower for attracting hummingbirds.
9. Trumpet Vine (Campsis radicans)
- Perennial
Names: Yellow trumpet, trumpet creeper, Hellvine or Devil's Shoestring.
Trumpet vine is a gorgeous crawling vine with orange flowers.
If you’re looking to channel a warm sunrise vine in your hummingbird garden, this is *the* hummingbird flower for your Illinois garden.
10. Hibiscus
- Perennial
Names: Rose of Sharon
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.
Choose Midnight Marvel which is a hummingbird favorite in Illinois.
11. Tropical Sage (Salvia coccinea)
- Perennial
Names: Red Sage
The fruity rose, red, and purple hued flowers of hummingbird sage are a staple in any pollinator garden.
Surprisingly, Black & Blue Salvia is a popular choice by birders and gardeners alike.
Salvia is extremely popular in Illinois gardens and attracts many hummingbirds.
12. Foxglove (Digitalis)
- Perennial
Foxglove is known for its purple and pink spire-like flowers.
It’s an ideal flower to attract hummingbirds in suburban yards since it’s considered deer resistant.
Beware— Foxglove is toxic. All plant parts cause severe poisoning.
13. Salvia
- Perennial
Names: California hummingbird sage, pitcher sage
The fruity rose, red, and purple hued flowers of hummingbird sage are a staple in any pollinator garden.
Surprisingly, Black & Blue Salvia is a popular choice by birders and gardeners alike.
14. Fireweed (Chamaenerion angustifolium)
- Perennial
A dominant, bright pink nectar source blooming in mid-to-late summer.
It blooms during peak hummingbird season!
This tall cone shaped flowering plant is easy to see from a distance making it one of the best hummingbird flowers in Illinois
15. Harebell (Campanula rotundifolia)
- Perennial
Illinois hummingbirds love this nectar rich flower!
It blooms early summer to fall which is ideal for succession gardening.
This drought tolerant flower is an hummingbird plant in Illinois or any hummingbird garden.
5 Key Tips for Using Plants to Attract Hummingbirds
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 (Buddleja davidii) colonizes easily & displaces native plants that support local biodiversity.
- Foxglove tends to take over and choke out native wildflowers. Keep this in planters.
Check with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) or the Illinois Exotic Weed Act 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 protien.
This throws off the delicate balance of the ecosystem.
Opt for these eco-friendly insecticide alternatives:
What flowers do your hummingbirds visit ?
Share it on the Sparkbird App! Available in the Apple App Store.
