Hummingbird Nectar Plants for Maine

This list is not exhaustive. You may see ruby-throated hummingbirds feed on flower nectar from many flowering plants not listed here—add to the list based on your own observations. Some of these plants are available at nurseries and garden centers; some may be available only as seed. Some of them may already be growing in your yard!
Northern orioles will also use nectar from many of these flowers, as will butterflies, moths, bees and other pollinators. Many of these plants develop fruits or seeds that are eaten by other birds.

In general, select single flowers rather than doubles, so that hummingbirds will be able to access the nectar.

Common Name

Scientific Name

Flowering
Time

Light

Moisture

Mature
Height

Comments Hardiness
Zone

Hummingbird Nectar Plants—Best
Annuals Fuchsia Spotted jewelweed Blue thimble flower Flowering tobacco Petunia cultivars w/ single blossoms Scarlet runner bean Scarlet sage	Fuchsia x hybrida Impatiens capensis* Gilia capitata Nicotiana alata Petunia x hybrida Phaseolus coccineus Salvia splendens	May–Sept July–Sept June–Sept June–July June–July June–Aug June–Sept	P,S P,S P,F F F F F	M M M M M M M	pendulous 3’ 1’ 1–4’ 4”–1’ Vine 1–3’	May be weedy; requires moist sites. Needs support.	n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Biennials and Perennials Hollyhock Wild or Canada columbine European columbine Delphinium Foxglove Fireweed Dwarf blue gentian Gladiolus (red colors) Daylily Coral bells Hosta Blazing Star Turk’s cap lily Wood lily Cardinal flower Bee balm, Oswego tea Wild bergamot Penstemon Moss Pink Wild Blue Phlox Phlox	# # Alcea rosea Aquilegia canadensis* Aquilegia vulgaris Delphinium x elatum Digitalis purpurea Epilobium angustifolium* Gentiana septemfida var. lagodechiana Gladiolus x hortulanus Hemerocallis cultivars Heuchera sanguinea Hosta cultivars Liatris species Lilium michiganense Lilium philadelphicum* Lobelia cardinalis* Monarda didyma Monarda fistulosa* Penstemon barbatus Phlox subulata Phlox divaricata Phlox paniculata	3 # June–Aug June June July–Aug June–Aug June July July–Sept June–July June July–Aug Aug–Sept July Aug Sept July–Aug July–Aug July May May–June July	# # F P P P,F P,F F F F P,S P,S P,S F P F,P P,S F F F F P,S S	# # M M M M M M,X M M M M M M,X M M H M M M M M M	# # 3–8’ 2’ 1–2’ 3–8’ 2–5’ 3’ 1’ 1–4’ 1–5’ 1–3' 1–4’ 2–4’ 2–3’ 2–3’ 2’ 2–3’ 2’ 2–3’ 6” 1’ 2–4’	# # Tall types need staking. Can be weedy. A tender perennial. Can be weedy.	# # 3 4 4 4 3 3 5 n/a 3 4 3 3 3 4 5 4 4 4 3 3 4
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Common Name	Scientific Name	Flowering Time	Light	Moisture	Mature Height	Comments Hardiness Zone
Hummingbird Nectar Plants—Best
Trees, shrubs and vines Scarlet trumpet vine Northern catalpa Brown’s honeysuckle Fly honeysuckle Coralberry Old–fashioned weigela (Bristol Red, Red Prince)	# Campsis radicans Catalpa speciosa Lonicera x brownii ‘Dropmore Scarlet’ Lonicera canadensis* Symphoricarpos orbiculatus Weigela florida	# June–July June July–Aug May June–July June	# F F F P F F	# M M M M M M	# Vine 75’ Vine 4’ 3’ 5–6’	# Needs support. A native understory shrub.	# 5 3 3 4 3 4
Other Nectar Food Plants Used By Rubythroats
Annuals Geranium Pincushion flower French marigold, singles Mexican sunflower Nasturtium Flame flower Common portulaca Zinnia	# Pelargonium x hortorum Scabiosa atropurpurea Tagetes patula Tithonia rotundifolia Tropaeolum majus Tropaeolum speciosum Portulaca grandiflora Zinnia elegans	# June–Sept June–Sept June–Sept June–Sept June–Sept June–Sept June–Sept June–Sept	# F F F F F F F F	# M M M M,X M M M,X M	# 2’ 3’ 1 1/2’ 2–5’ 10” 10’ 8” 6”–4’	# Vine Light sandy soil.	# n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Biennials and Perennials Butterflyweed Iris Bluebells Showy evening primrose Virginia creeper Cup plant Bugleweed Globe thistle Tulip Maltese cross Japanese bleeding heart	# Asclepias tuberosa* Iris species Mertensia virginica Oenothera speciosa Parthenocissus quinquefolia* Silphium perfoliatum Ajuga reptans Echinops ritro Tulipa species Lychnis chalcedonica Dicentra spectabilis	# July June May July May July May–June July–Aug May June–July May–June	# F F,P P F F,P,S F F,P,S F F,P F F,P	# M,X M M M,X M M,X M M,X M M M	# 3’ 1–4’ 1’ 4’ 30’ 6’ 4–12” 4’ 2’ 2–3’ 2–4’	# # Vine Ground cover. Can be weedy. A short–lived perennial.	# 3 4 5 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 3
Trees, Shrubs, and Vines New Jersey tea Cockspur hawthorn Washington hawthorn Apples and crabapples Rhododendrons and azaleas Shadbush Flowering cherry trees Virginbower Tuliptree Flowering quince Horse chestnut Hybrid clematis Butterfly bush Rose of Sharon Lilacs	# Ceanothus americanus* Crataegus crus–galli* Crataegus phaenopyrum Malus, species & cultivars Rhododendron species & cultivars Amelanchier species* Prunus species Clematis virginiana* Liriodendron tulipifera Chaenomeles japonica Aesculus hippocastanum Clematis x jackmanni Buddleia davidii Hibiscus syriacus Syringa species	# May June June May–June May–July May–June May Aug–Sept June June June June July–Aug July May–June	# F F F F P P,F F P F F F P F F F	# X M M M M M M M M M M M M M M	# 3’ 35’ 20’ 10–40’ 2–15’ 10–30’ 20–40’ 18’ 75’ 3–5’ 75’ 8–10’ 3’ 6–8’ 10–20’	# Many are disease–prone. Vine. Mulch soil to keep cool, avoid hot afternoon sun. Best in alkaline soil. Vine. East exposure. Mulch soil to keep cool, avoid hot afternoon sun. Tender perennial that survives in some sites in southern Maine.	# 4 4 4 4 4–5 4 4–5 4 4 4 4 4 6 5 3
* Plant species native to Maine. No plant considered an invasive exotic species in Maine is included in the list.

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Last Modified: 08/12/08
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