Hummingbirds are amazing little creatures that can liven up any outdoor space with their beauty and energetic movements. These tiny birds are also important pollinators that help support backyard ecosystems. Placing potted flowers that attract hummingbirds on a porch, patio, or in a garden can help provide food for visiting hummingbirds while allowing you to enjoy watching them up close. When selecting potted flowers for hummingbirds, there are some key factors to consider.
What Types of Flowers Do Hummingbirds Like?
Hummingbirds are attracted to flowers with ample nectar that they can easily access. Some of the most popular potted flowers that hummingbirds favor include:
- Fuchsias – These beautiful, hanging flowers have tubes and blossoms perfectly suited for hummingbird beaks. Fuchsias come in a range of colors like pink, purple, red, and white.
- Petunias – A longtime favorite, petunias are a hardy annual that bloom from spring to fall in bright colors like pink, coral, purple, and red. The trumpet-shaped flowers are easily accessed by hummingbirds.
- Begonias – Begonias are a diverse group of flowers that can be grown in pots and hanging baskets. Wax begonias and tuberous begonias have brightly colored, abundant blooms that attract hummingbirds.
- Geraniums – These classic potted plants produce clusters of small, nectar-filled flowers in shades like red, orange, pink, and purple that hummingbirds love.
- Fuchsias – These beautiful, hanging flowers have tubes and blossoms perfectly suited for hummingbird beaks. Fuchsias come in a range of colors like pink, purple, red, and white.
- Zinnias – Known for their diversity, zinnias come in a wide range of colors, shapes, and sizes. The single and double-flowered varieties draw in hummingbirds with their burst of color.
- Salvias – Including species like pineapple sage, hummingbird sage, and scarlet sage, these flowers have tubular blossoms with ample nectar to feed hummingbirds.
- Marigolds – Abundant, brightly colored blooms make marigolds a favorite. French marigolds and signet marigolds are especially attractive to these tiny birds.
- Lantanas – Available in yellow, orange, pink, red, and purple, lantanas produce clusters of small, tubular flowers that hummingbirds love to feed on.
- Nasturtiums – Featuring funnel-shaped, spurred flowers, nasturtiums attract hummingbirds with their red, orange, and yellow blooms and abundant nectar.
The most appealing flowers for hummingbirds are tubular in shape with brightly colored, nectar-rich blooms in shades of red, orange, pink, and purple. Trumpet, funnel-shaped, and clustered flowers allow hummingbirds easy access to nectar.
When and Where to Place Hummingbird Flowers
To get the most enjoyment out of your potted hummingbird flowers, consider when and where you place them:
- Hang or arrange pots near areas where you want to observe hummingbirds like porches, patios, and garden seating areas.
- Situate flowers in a spot with some shade to partial sun to keep potted plants healthy in hot weather.
- Place pots strategically around your yard to create a natural circuit that hummingbirds will repeatedly visit.
- Put out flowers starting in spring when hummingbirds first return through fall when they migrate.
- Supplement with artificial nectar feeders in hot weather when blooms slow down or after frost kills flowers.
- Avoid areas near windows where birds may collide with reflective glass.
- Don’t crowd too many pots together or hummingbird competition and aggression may increase.
- Consider adding some native plants alongside potted flowers to provide shelter and nesting spots.
With some strategic placement and planning, it’s easy to create an irresistible potted flower oasis for hummingbirds right where you can delight in their visits.
Caring for Potted Hummingbird Flowers
In order to keep your potted hummingbird flowers looking their best and producing ample nectar, provide proper care:
- Use a lightweight potting mix and provide drainage holes to prevent root rot.
- Water whenever the top inch of soil is dry to keep flower blooms lush.
- Fertilize every 2-4 weeks during the active growing season with a balanced liquid fertilizer.
- Trim back spent flower blooms to encourage new growth.
- Watch for pests like aphids and caterpillars which can damage plants.
- Move potted plants to a sheltered spot if frost is expected.
- Provide partial shade from hot afternoon sun to prevent wilting.
- Re-pot plants as needed when they become root bound.
- Remove dead or damaged growth to maintain plant health.
With the right care and conditions, potted flowering plants can thrive indoors and out while creating an enticing spot for beautiful hummingbirds to stop by and visit.
12 Best Potted Flowers for Hummingbirds
Here are some of the top potted flower varieties for attracting hummingbirds to your yard:
1. Petunias
A favorite for hanging baskets, containers, and garden beds, petunias produce masses of trumpet-shaped blooms ideal for hummingbirds. Some top varieties include Wave petunias, Supertunia petunias, and Surfinia petunias that bloom nonstop in vibrant colors.
2. Begonias
From robust wax begonias to elegant tuberous begonias, this diverse flower family features colorful clusters of blooms with ample nectar. Plant them in hanging baskets where hummingbirds can spot the vibrant flowers.
3. Fuchsias
With their long tubular flowers in shades like scarlet, purple, and fuchsia, it’s easy to see why these are a favorite. Use them in hanging pots on patios where hummingbirds can access the nectar-filled blooms.
4. Geraniums
Available in a rainbow of colors, tough geraniums produce dense clusters of small, nectar-rich flowers that attract hummingbirds. Zonal geraniums are great for containers and window boxes.
5. Lantana
Lantana puts out a nonstop display of colorful flowers in orange, yellow, pink, purple, and more. The small blossoms packed into flower heads provide plenty of nectar. Grow them in patio pots or garden beds.
6. Marigolds
Flirty French marigolds and petite signet marigolds both produce profuse flowers that hummingbirds love. Plant them in garden beds, window boxes, and mixed containers.
7. Nasturtiums
Edible and ornamental, nasturtiums have funnel-shaped, spurred flowers with ample nectar to share. They come in shade like orange, red, yellow, and cream and thrive in pots and window boxes.
8. Salvia
With its brilliant red blooms on tall spikes, pineapple sage is a hummingbird magnet. Other salvias like the tender perennial Mexican bush sage also attract them with abundant tubular flowers.
9. Verbena
Known for its vibrant colors and long-lasting blooms, verbena is perfect for containers, baskets, and beds. Varieties like Imagination verbena are perennial in warm climates.
10. Fuschia
Fun, frilly flowers make fuchsias a favorite. The dangling tubes and blossoms are perfectly designed for hummingbird beaks. Try them in hanging baskets on patios.
11. Zinnia
These classic, easy-care annuals produce abundant flowers in every color except blue. Dahlia-flowered and hummingbird zinnias are some of the best for attracting hummingbirds.
12. Cardinal Flower
A hummingbird favorite, cardinal flower produces spikes of vivid scarlet blooms. This native perennial thrives along streams and is ideal for shady, moist gardens. Plant it in pots to bring the flowers nearer.
Provide Other Elements That Attract Hummingbirds
While flowers with adequate nectar are critical for attracting hummingbirds, providing some additional elements makes your yard even more appealing:
- Water source – A mister, fountain, or bird bath gives hummingbirds a place to drink and bathe.
- Perches – Twigs, branches, and trellises give hummingbirds a place to conveniently perch near flowers.
- Feeders – Use nectar feeders to supplement flowers, especially during migration.
- Native plants – Milkweeds, columbines, honeysuckles all provide food and shelter.
- Nesting spots – Trees, shrubs, and dead branches provide nesting materials and locations.
- Diversity – Vary heights, colors, and flower shapes to attract more hummingbird species.
In addition to planting the best nectar-producing flowers, consider these extra touches that make your landscape irresistible to hummingbirds. A few small tweaks can transform your yard into a hummingbird paradise.
Choosing the Right Pot for Hummingbird Plants
For the best show of hummingbird-attracting blooms, select the right type of pot:
- Material – Use plastic, ceramic, wood, or metal pots that provide adequate drainage.
- Size – Choose a pot diameter 2 to 4 inches wider than the plant’s root ball.
- Depth – Select a pot that is slightly shallower than the plant’s root mass to prevent excess moisture.
- Drainage – Be sure pots have drainage holes to prevent soggy soil that can rot roots.
- Color – Opt for bright, light, or neutral colored pots that don’t absorb excessive heat.
- Design – Consider self-watering pots or hanging baskets that make care easier.
- Weight – Pick pots that are light enough to move around for optimal enjoyment.
- Saucers – Use saucers to protect surfaces but remove excess water to avoid root rot.
Choosing pots suited for the specific flowers, site conditions, and display needs will help keep your hummingbird plants healthy and flowering.
Using a Drip Irrigation System
A drip irrigation system can make watering hanging baskets and potted plants much simpler while also using water more efficiently. Here are some tips for using drip irrigation with containers:
- Install a timer and control valves to automate watering.
- Use a filter to prevent emitters from clogging.
- Select pressure-compensating emitters that provide consistent flow.
- Use thin microtubing or flexible tubing to run to each container.
- Place short microtubing or emitters in each pot instead of overheads.
- Adjust watering times and frequency for each plant’s needs.
- Periodically flush lines to prevent buildup and blockages.
- Examine plants and soil to tweak watering as needed for optimal growth.
Automated drip irrigation makes caring for numerous potted plants simple and takes the guesswork out of watering. The targeted watering improves plant health by preventing waterlogged or dry soil.
Overwintering Tender Hummingbird Plants
Non-hardy, tender flowering plants that attract hummingbirds will need to be overwintered indoors or replaced each year. Here are some overwintering tips:
- Select plants like fuchsia, lantana, and verbena 6-8 weeks before the first fall frost.
- Inspect plants for pests, prune back long stems, and repot into fresh potting mix if needed.
- Move pots to a sunny indoor location near a window once night temperatures drop below 45° F.
- Continue watering and fertilizing using a diluted houseplant fertilizer.
- Watch for drafts, keep humidity levels around 40-50%, and avoid exposing to temps below 45°.
- Transition plants back outdoors after all danger of frost is past in spring.
- Prune back plants by 1/3 to 1/2 before moving them outside.
- Repot into larger containers if the plants have grown larger over winter.
Advance planning and attentive care allows you to save non-hardy hummingbird plants year after year indoors over the winter.
Creating Stunning Hanging Basket Combinations
For maximum visual impact and endless hummingbird appeal, combine several different flowering plants together in hanging baskets. Here are some striking combinations:
- Lantana, petunia, nasturtium – Mix mounding lantana for the thriller, trailing petunias for the spiller, and nasturtiums for the filler.
- Begonia, fuchsia, bacopa – Use begonias for abundant color, trailing fuchsias for vertical drama, and bacopa for draping greenery.
- Coleus, impatiens, verbena – Combine coleus for foliage contrast, impatiens for volume, and verbena for vivid color.
- Ivy, lobelia, red fountain grass – Trailing ivy as the spiller, lobelia for cascading color, and grass for height.
- Petunia, calibrachoa, scaevola – Mix trailing purple petunias, pink calibrachoa, and fan-shaped scaevola.
Aim for at least 3 complementary plants with different heights, growth habits, and bloom times for stunning, flower-filled baskets that attract quantities of hummingbirds all season long.
Overview of Hummingbird Flowers for Containers
Flower | Colors | Type | Exposure | Care |
---|---|---|---|---|
Petunia | Purple, pink, red, white, yellow | Annual | Full sun | Keep moist, fertilize |
Begonia | White, pink, orange, red | Annual or tender perennial | Part shade | Keep moist, avoid hot sun |
Fuchsia | Pink, red, purple | Tender perennial | Part to full shade | Provide winter protection, keep moist |
Lantana | Yellow, orange, red, pink, purple | Tender perennial | Full sun | Heat and drought tolerant |
Verbena | Red, pink, purple, white | Perennial | Full sun | Heat tolerant, good drainage |
This overview summarizes key factors in selecting and growing different hummingbird-attracting flowers in pots and containers.
Conclusion
With their dazzling colors and energetic activity, hummingbirds are a joy to have visit your yard and gardens. Planting the right nectar-rich, tubular blooms in hanging pots, window boxes, and garden containers is the key to tempting these tiny birds to stop by. Focus on red, orange, and pink flowers with adequate nectar like petunias, fuchsias, and lantana for the best results. Place containers where you can enjoy watching the bird’s antics up close. A little planning and strategic planting can easily transform your outdoor space into a hub of hummingbird activity. The beautiful birds and constant entertainment will add a special touch of wonder to your landscape.