Quick Answer
Yes, it is possible to attract hummingbirds to an apartment balcony with the right combination of flowering plants, feeders, and other strategies to make the space appealing to them. Hummingbirds are found in many urban and suburban areas and can adapt well to balcony gardens and container plants. The key is providing the nectar sources and habitat features they need.
What Attracts Hummingbirds to a Balcony?
There are several key factors that can help attract hummingbirds to visit an apartment balcony:
Flowering Plants
Hummingbirds feed on the nectar from flowers of many plants. Having pots or hanging baskets of flowering plants, trees, and vines on a balcony provides food sources for hummingbirds. Some good options include:
– Fuchsia
– Petunias
– Columbine
– Trumpet vine
– Lantana
– Coral honeysuckle
– Native wildflowers like bee balm and cardinal flower
Choose plants with tubular or trumpet-shaped blooms in reds, oranges, pinks, and other colors that attract hummingbirds. Have a continuous sequence of flowering throughout spring, summer, and fall.
Feeders
It’s important to supplement flowering plants with hummingbird feeders. Use a few feeders around the balcony with a nectar solution of 1 part white sugar to 4 parts water. Do not use honey, artificial sweeteners, or red food coloring. Clean and refill feeders regularly.
Water Feature
A hummingbird bath, mister, or water feature provides a source of water for drinking and bathing. The moving water of fountains and misters particularly appeals to hummingbirds.
Shelter
Hummingbirds will be more likely to visit if there are places to perch and take shelter, especially tall trees, trellises, arbors, and hanging branches. They often perch before visiting feeders and flowers.
Native Plants
Research the flowering plants, trees, and shrubs native to your region that attract hummingbirds and incorporate these into the balcony garden. For example, Penstemon is a native wildflower that attracts hummingbirds in many areas. Local native plants are easier to care for and well-suited to the climate.
Best Balcony Garden Plants for Hummingbirds
Here are some top plant species to include in balcony gardens to attract hummingbirds:
Annuals
– Petunias
– Nasturtium
– Morning glory
– Salvia
– Verbena
– Lobelia
Perennials
– Bee balm
– Butterfly weed
– Cardinal flower
– Columbine
– Coral bells
– Delphinium
– Lavender
Bulbs
– Gladiolus
– Agapanthus
– Crocosmia
– Canna lily
Vines
– Passion flower
– Trumpet vine
– Coral honeysuckle
– Mandevilla
Shrubs and Trees
– Weigela
– Butterfly bush
– Rose of Sharon
– Fuschia
– Bottlebrush
– Mimosa
– Fruit trees like citrus and crabapple
Focus on plants with tubular blooms in the red, orange, pink and purple color range. Have a long flowering season by including early-, mid- and late-blooming varieties.
Where to Place Hummingbird Plants and Feeders
The ideal setup is to have flowering plants and feeders in multiple spots around the balcony to attract the most hummingbird activity. Specific placement tips:
– Hang feeders or position flowering pots and baskets near overhangs, trellises or trees so the birds have foliage to perch before feeding.
– Place feeders and plants away from windows and doors where birds may collide.
– Spot feeders and flowers near trees or structures beyond the balcony rather than directly above open spaces below. This lets the birds fly freely.
– Avoid placing feeders above busy paths or seating areas as falling nectar can be messy.
– Site feeders in shaded spots so the nectar stays fresh longer.
– Place plants and feeders at different heights to appeal to hummingbirds’ favored feeding levels.
Other Tips to Attract Hummingbirds
Here are some other helpful strategies for successfully attracting hummingbirds to an apartment balcony:
Start Early
Put up feeders and have flowering plants ready early in the spring before hummingbirds arrive from migration. This invites them to start frequenting the space.
Be Patient
It can take a couple weeks for hummingbirds to discover new feeders and flowers, so have patience at first. They often spot the bright colors from far away as they establish feeding territories.
Keep Feeders Fresh
Check nectar levels every day and change the solution completely every 2-3 days, more often in hot weather. Rinse feeders with hot water but no soap.
Provide Drippers and Misters
Hummingbirds love moving water, so add drippers, misters or small fountains if possible. Recirculating pumps can create waterfall effects with very little water.
Don’t Use Pesticides
Avoid chemical pesticides and fertilizers, even natural or organic ones, near plants and feeders. These can make the nectar toxic to hummingbirds.
Deter Bees
Use red feeders and add bee guards to limit bees, which can outcompete hummingbirds at feeders. Change the nectar more frequently if bees are a problem.
Supplement in Winter
In cooler regions, keep feeders up year-round so hummingbirds that overwinter have an energy source, and clean feeders more frequently to prevent freezing.
Do Hummingbirds Nest on Balconies?
It’s unlikely hummingbirds will nest directly on an apartment balcony unless there are very suitable protected sites and nearby food sources. Some reasons hummingbird nesting is rare on balconies:
– Their small, fragile nests are vulnerable to disturbance and predators.
– Balconies may lack sufficient trees, shrubs or other sheltered spots hummingbirds favor for nesting.
– Nearby high rises and traffic can deter nesting.
– Lack of adequate food sources close to the nest. Hummingbirds feed frequently when raising chicks.
However, attracting hummingbirds to feed with the flowers and feeders on a balcony can still provide enjoyment and help support your local hummingbird population. The nests are often in nearby parks, gardens and yards.
Common Hummingbird Species in the U.S. and Canada
The main hummingbird species likely to visit balcony gardens include:
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
The most widespread eastern species, found across eastern North America in summer, and along the Gulf Coast in winter. The adult male has an iridescent ruby-red throat.
Rufous Hummingbird
A common western species that breeds in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska and migrates through the West Coast. The adult male has a bright orange throat.
Anna’s Hummingbird
A year-round resident along the Pacific Coast and some inland areas. Adult males have iridescent rose-pink throats and crowns.
Allen’s Hummingbird
Breeds along coastal California and southern Oregon. Tiny and green overall with a red-orange throat and rusty tail spots.
Calliope Hummingbird
The smallest breeding bird in North America. Breeds in the western mountains and migrates through the West Coast. Males have colorful purple throats with white spotting.
| Species | Range | Adult Male Throat Color |
|---|---|---|
| Ruby-throated | Eastern North America | Ruby-red |
| Rufous | Pacific Northwest/West Coast | Orange |
| Anna’s | Pacific Coast | Rose-pink |
| Allen’s | California Coast | Red-orange |
| Calliope | Western Mountains | Purple with white spots |
Conclusion
Balconies and patios can successfully be landscaped to provide everything hummingbirds need, especially with the strategic use of flowering plants, feeders, water features, and native plants. With a little patience, apartment dwellers and homeowners alike can enjoy the beauty of these special birds visiting their outdoor spaces. Attracting hummingbirds also supports conservation of these iconic pollinators and helps provide needed food sources in urban environments. A balcony may offer limited space, but vertical gardening and smart placement of small trees, vines, hanging baskets and window boxes can create an ideal microhabitat to welcome hummingbirds.
