Attracting hummingbirds to your yard is easy!
Fresh nectar from flowers is your best bet.
Here's what to expect:
- Wisconsin hummingbird season
- 10 Flowers in Wisconsin Hummingbirds Love
- 5 Tips for Attracting Hummingbirds
Wisconsin Hummingbird Season
Hummingbirds migrate from the south up through Wisconsin in mid March.
Southbound hummingbird migration wraps up in October.
Make sure your flowers are ready for hummingbird season
Plant your perennials so they bloom at slightly different times.
You want some flowers to bloom in early March, others in the summer when they start breeding.
This ensures hummingbirds have a steady supply of nectar!
10 Flowers to Attract Hummingbirds in Wisconsin
Make sure to follow our 5 Tips for Attracting Hummingbirds.
1. Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
- Perennial
The Cardinal Flower depends on hummingbirds for pollination since many insects find the flowers difficult to navigate.
It's basically a beacon for hummingbirds!
The summer bloom is perfect for fledglings and migration.
2. Lantana
- Annual
This drought resistant flower makes it a great hummingbird plant in Wisconsin.
The rich cluster of tubular flowers of the Lantana plant are a favorite for hummingbird gardens.
Butterflies and bees love them, too, dubbing the plant a pollinator workhorse.
3. Bee Balm (Monarda)
- Perennial
An herbaceous plant in the mint family and native to South America.
The vibrant red is preferred by hummingbirds and many butterflies.
It’s spreading behavior varies so keep an eye on it making sure it doesn’t take over your garden.
4. Foxglove (Digitalis)
- Perennial
Foxglove is great for partially shaded areas.
It’s an ideal hummingbird flower for rural or suburban yards since it’s deer resistant.
Beware— Foxglove is toxic. All plant parts cause severe poisoning.
5. Columbine (Aquilegia)
- Perennial
This drought resistant flower is a hummingbird favorite!
It blooms late spring which is an ideal for hummingbird season in Wisconsin .
6. Fireweed (Chamaenerion angustifolium)
- Perennial
A dominant, bright pink nectar source blooming in mid-to-late summer.
Hummingbirds can see this tall flower from a distance!
It's visibility makes it ideal for hummingbird food.
7. Trumpet Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens)
- Perennial
Named for its tubular, trumpet shaped flowers.
These red and orange flowers are ideal for hummingbirds in Wisconsin in both shape and color.
Trumpet Honeysuckle is a great plant for your pollinator garden.
8. Trumpet Vine (Campsis radicans)
- Perennial
If you’re looking to channel a warm sunrise vine in your garden, this is the flower to use.
This plant is a crawling and climbing vine ideal for fences and trellis.
Be careful in smaller spaces as it can easily overtake your garden.
- Related: 5 Steps to Clean Hummingbird Feeders
9. Salvia
- Perennial
Names: California hummingbird sage, pitcher sage
Hummingbird sage is a staple in any pollinator garden.
Its late spring bloom is perfect for hummingbird migration to Virginia.
Black & Blue Salvia is a popular choice by birders and gardeners alike
10. Common Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)
- Perennial
Common Bearberry has small red berries that bears and birds eat.
The small pink and white flowers are popular and nectar rich for hummingbirds
5 Tips for Attracting 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 not prohibited but crowds out plants that support Wisconsin's butterfly population
- Japanese Honeysuckle is illegal because it decimates native plants
Check with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources before planting.
3. Use Hummingbird Feeders
When in doubt put up nectar feeders.
Hummingbirds will come for your feeder but stay for the flowers!
4. Group Plants Together
Grouping similar plants in clumps makes them easier for hummingbirds to spot.
Use companion planting to make sure your garden thrives!
5. Avoid Pesticides
Insecticides protect plants from destructive insects.
Many store bought pesticides can kill the insects hummingbirds eat and rely on for protein.
Opt for these eco-friendly insecticide alternatives:
What flowers do your hummingbirds like?
Share them on the Sparkbird App! Where like minded birders and nature enthusiasts go to share.
Available in the Apple App Store.
