Mississippi has 48,000 square miles of good hummingbird habitat and, inexplicably, a thriving market for Butterfly Bush, a plant that feeds adult butterflies while doing nothing for their caterpillars. (We'll get to that. Consider this the foreshadowing.)
The best Mississippi hummingbird plants are mostly natives like Red Buckeye, Coral Bean, Cardinal Flower and Trumpet Honeysuckle, plants that evolved alongside the hummingbirds that visit them. Below are 12 picks in rough bloom order, so you can plant for nectar from the first March arrivals through fall migration.
Ruby-throated Hummingbirds reach the Mississippi coast in early March and the north end of the state by early April, then leave in September and October. For arrival dates by region, winter visitors and feeder timing, see Hummingbirds in Mississippi: Species, Migration Dates and Winter Visitors.
1. Red Buckeye (Aesculus pavia)
Red Buckeye is one of the earliest red-flowered natives to bloom in Mississippi, and its March to April flowers line up with the first northbound migrants. MSU Extension notes that hummingbirds follow Red Buckeye and native azalea bloom on their way north.
It's a small understory tree that does well in part shade, which makes it useful for the shady corners most hummingbird plants won't tolerate.
2. Coral Bean (Erythrina herbacea)
Coral Bean (also called Cherokee Bean) blooms in early spring before most of the competition leafs out, with spikes of scarlet, sword-shaped flowers. That's exactly what a hummingbird fresh off the Gulf needs to find.
The bright red seeds are poisonous. Plant it where children and pets won't investigate too closely.
3. Eastern Red Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)
Eastern Red Columbine blooms in early spring, and its nodding red-and-yellow flowers have long nectar spurs built for long bills. It self-seeds modestly once established and does best under deciduous trees, where it gets spring sun before the canopy closes.
4. Crossvine (Bignonia capreolata)
A native vine with orange-red trumpets and yellow throats in spring. Crossvine climbs fast and covers a fence or trellis in a season or two. It's semi-evergreen in Mississippi's mild winters, so it doubles as year-round cover for birds. An underrated plant for the back fence, and a tamer alternative to Trumpet Vine.
5. Trumpet Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens)
Native Trumpet Honeysuckle (sold as Coral Honeysuckle, too) is the vine you want. It's not Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica), which has spread along Mississippi roadsides and forest edges so thoroughly that most people assume it's native.
Japanese Honeysuckle is fragrant with white-yellow flowers. Trumpet Honeysuckle has red-orange tubular flowers and no scent, which suits hummingbirds just fine. Look for Lonicera sempervirens on the tag.
6. Spotted Bee Balm (Monarda punctata)
For Mississippi's heat and humidity, Spotted Bee Balm is a better bet than the showy Monarda didyma cultivars. It's native to the region, more heat-tolerant and less prone to the powdery mildew that plagues showier varieties in humid summers. The pale, spotted flowers are subtler, but hummingbirds don't shop by catalog photo.
7. Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
Cardinal Flower is possibly the single most reliable hummingbird plant in Mississippi. Tall spikes of intense scarlet flowers open in late summer and fall, right on time for southbound migration, and many insects have trouble reaching the nectar, which leaves it to the hummingbirds.
It prefers moist, partly shaded spots like creek edges, rain gardens or low areas where water collects. A hummingbird-friendly bird bath nearby makes that corner very productive.
8. Tropical Sage (Salvia coccinea)
Tropical Sage is a Southeastern native that blooms scarlet from late spring until frost. It's one of the best bridge plants for the summer stretch between migrations, when garden activity slows.
It reseeds freely, shrugs off Mississippi summers and pairs well with a feeder full of homemade hummingbird food.
9. Firebush (Hamelia patens)
Firebush is a workhorse for Gulf Coast gardens, with tubular orange-red flowers from summer through fall that hummingbirds, butterflies and bees work constantly. It isn't native to Mississippi. MSU Extension describes it as a Florida native that suits many Mississippi gardens.
On the coast it can keep blooming late enough to feed winter hummingbirds, as long as there's no freeze. Farther north, expect it to die back in winter or treat it as an annual.
10. Trumpet Vine (Campsis radicans)
Native Trumpet Vine (also called Trumpet Creeper) produces large orange-red flowers whose tubes are almost exactly hummingbird-bill-sized. It's also vigorous to the point of aggression and spreads by underground runners into spaces you didn't intend.
Give it a heavy structure and keep up with the pruning, and it rewards you with one of the most productive hummingbird plants in the region. Don't plant it near anything you value structurally.
11. Blazing Stars (Liatris spp.)
Blazing Stars (also called Gayfeather) bloom in late summer and fall with tall purple spikes that hummingbirds, butterflies and native bees visit. Dense Blazing Star (Liatris spicata) and Pinkscale Blazing Star (Liatris elegans) are good choices. They're drought-tolerant once established and spread slowly by seed without becoming aggressive. Bonus: Clearwing hummingbird moths love Liatris, too.
12. Lantana (Lantana spp.)
Hummingbirds love lantana's clusters of small tubular flowers, and MSU Extension recommends it for attracting migrants. Just pick carefully. Common Lantana (Lantana camara), what most stores sell as plain "Lantana," isn't native to Mississippi, is toxic to livestock and spreads by seed.
You may see Gold Lantana (Lantana depressa) recommended as the native swap, but it's native only to Florida, not Mississippi. Your best option is a sterile cultivar that doesn't set berries, so ask the nursery before you buy.
How to Plan a Garden With Mississippi Hummingbird Plants
- Plant in bloom order. Pick at least one plant from each stretch of the list above (early spring, spring, summer, fall) so there's never a gap in nectar.
- Spread it out. Hummingbirds are territorial, so MSU Extension recommends several flower patches rather than one big bed. One bully can't guard them all.
- Plant in clumps. Groups of the same plant are easier to spot from the air than single specimens.
- Skip the pesticides. Hummingbirds eat insects and spiders too, especially while nesting. Our guide to pesticide alternatives covers safer options.
- Short on yard? The potted plants for hummingbirds guide covers container picks that work on a Mississippi porch.
The Butterfly Bush Problem (Our Strong Opinion)
Butterfly Bush feeds adult butterflies and gives their caterpillars nothing. As University of Maryland Extension puts it, the leaves provide no nutrition for caterpillars, and the plant is invasive enough to crowd out natives along stream banks. It lures adults away from native plants where they'd lay eggs, and contributes nothing to the next generation.
Native alternatives that feed both adult butterflies and their larvae include Joe Pye Weed (Eutrochium spp.), native Milkweeds (Asclepias spp.) and Passionvine (Passiflora incarnata). The Mississippi Native Plant Society lists in-state nurseries that carry them, and a native plant nursery will outperform a hardware-store "pollinator mix" almost every time. For the full habitat picture, see our guide on how to attract hummingbirds.
Mississippi Hummingbird Plants FAQ
What is the best plant for hummingbirds in Mississippi?
There's no single winner, but Cardinal Flower, Trumpet Honeysuckle, Red Buckeye and Tropical Sage are hard to beat. Together they cover early spring through fall migration.
What should I plant for the first hummingbirds in March?
Red Buckeye, Coral Bean and Eastern Red Columbine bloom early enough to feed the first Ruby-throateds. Plant them in fall or winter so they're established before the birds arrive.
What plants feed winter hummingbirds in Mississippi?
On the coast, Firebush, Salvia and Cuphea can bloom into winter as long as there's no freeze. Everywhere else, a clean feeder does most of the work from December through February.
Is lantana good for hummingbirds in Mississippi?
Yes, hummingbirds visit it often. Choose a sterile cultivar over common Lantana camara, which isn't native, is toxic to livestock and spreads by seed.
Why does my Trumpet Vine keep spreading?
It spreads by underground runners. Mowing suckers and pulling new sprouts keeps it manageable, and a large container sunk into the ground can limit root spread if you want the flowers without the sprawl.
Plant It and They Will Come
Start with three plants from different parts of the bloom calendar, put them in before March, and resist the Butterfly Bush on the endcap. The hummingbirds will handle the rest. Spot one working your new Cardinal Flower? Share it on the Sparkbird App and make your neighbors jealous.
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