How To Attract Hummingbirds With Native Plants In Oklahoma

Hummingbirds are being spotted across Oklahoma! Everyone loves a visit from these colorful, rapid winged beauties. But if you have a hummingbird feeder and haven't had any visitors, there are several native Oklahoma prairie plants that can attract hummingbirds to your yard.

Hummingbirds are vital pollinators, so it's important people provide multiple food sources for them! Luckily, their food sources as just as pretty as they are. Many people know that you can get a hummingbird feeder and sugar water at the store to hang on your porch to help feed hummingbirds. But there are also some native Oklahoma prairie plants that can be great food sources for hummingbirds.

The Oklahoma State University Natural Resources Extension posted on its Facebook page several Oklahoma prairie plants that are perfect for hummingbirds. They also provided tips for how to promote these native flowers in your yard.

Prairie Plants for Hummingbirds

Beebalm
Butterfly Milkweed
Indian Paintbrush
Compass Plant
Coral Honeysuckle
Trumpet Vine
Prairie Phlox
Prairie Verbena
Swamp Milkweed
Purple Coneflower
Pale Coneflower
Prairie Penstemon

How To Promote Native Flowers

Maintain native prairie pasture
Avoid broadcast herbicide treatment to maximize floral and insect diversity
Thin closed canopy forests
Burn in summer to extend bloom time and increase blooms next season

More details and plant identifications can be found in the Facebook post below from the Oklahoma State University Natural Resources Extension.

When do hummingbirds migrate to Oklahoma?

Hummingbirds begin migrating to Oklahoma from Mexico around February and will remain up north until August or September. Multiple hummingbird sightings have been recorded across Oklahoma for 2025. Most people have seen ruby-throated hummingbirds and black-chinned hummingbirds.

Oklahoma's Beneficial Insects

Not all insects are pests! There are some insects that are beneficial to you and your garden. In a study by the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service on beneficial insects, "most insects found in yards, gardens or crops do not feed on or harm plants. Many are just 'passing through' or have very innocuous habits. Others feed on and destroy pest species. In many cases, the activities of these beneficial species can prevent or greatly limit pest problems."

Gallery Credit: Jeri Anderson