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 Iowa
- 11 plants in Iowa that hummingbirds love
- 5 tips for using flowers to attract hummingbirds
When do hummingbirds return to Iowa?
Hummingbirds migrate to Iowa 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!
11 Flowers that Attract Hummingbirds in Iowa
Make sure to follow our 5 Tips for Success for using flowers to attract hummingbirds below
1. 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.
2. 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 Iowa— no garden is complete without it.
3. Trumpet Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens)
- Perennial
Names: Coral / 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!
4. 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.
5. Red Columbine (Aquilegia)
- Perennial
The red, yellow, and tube shape of Red Columbine is a short lived perennial.
It blooms late spring which is ideal for hummingbird migration in Iowa.
Columbine is a top performer for pollinators of all kinds, making it one of the best plants for hummingbirds in Iowa.
6. 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 Iowa.
It looks like a pink-purple bottlebrush.
Try Meadow Blazingstar. It's great for for attracting hummingbirds & monarch butterflies!
7. 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 Iowa garden.
8. 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
9. 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 Iowa gardens and attracts many hummingbirds.
10. 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.
11. Harebell (Campanula rotundifolia)
- Perennial
Iowa 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 Iowa 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
Neither of these are flagged as invasive but they can displace native plants.
- Non-Native Butterfly Bush colonizes easily & displaces plants that can support butterfly larvae
- Foxglove tends to take over and choke out native plants. Keep this in planters.
Check with Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship 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 like ?
Share it on the Sparkbird App! Available in the Apple App Store.
