Container gardens are a great way to bring color and life to any outdoor space, and choosing the right plants can make all the difference in attracting local wildlife.
In this post, I’ll share some of the best container plants for attracting hummingbirds, which are not only beautiful to look at but can also help support these important pollinators.
By the end of this post, you’ll have a better understanding of how to create a hummingbird sanctuary on your patio, balcony or garden.
So, let’s explore some of these amazing plants and get started!
Salvia is one of the most popular plants for attracting hummingbirds. I highly recommend this plant to anyone looking to attract these beautiful creatures to their garden. Salvia has a long blooming period, which means you can enjoy it for months at a time. Hummingbirds love the bright flowers and will be drawn to your garden as soon as they see them.
Growing salvia in containers is a great way to attract hummingbirds to your patio or balcony. Salvia prefers full sun and well-draining soil. You should choose a container that is at least 12 inches deep and wide, to give the plant plenty of room to grow.
There are many different varieties of salvia that work well in containers. Some of my favorites include ‘Black and Blue’, ‘Hot Lips’, and ‘Victoria Blue’. ‘Black and Blue’ has deep blue flowers that are a favorite of hummingbirds. ‘Hot Lips’ has red and white flowers that look like they are made for hummingbirds. ‘Victoria Blue’ has deep blue flowers on tall stems that will attract hummingbirds from a distance.
Salvia is a low-maintenance plant that is easy to care for. It only needs to be watered when the soil is dry to the touch. You should also fertilize it once a month during the growing season to help it produce more flowers.
In conclusion, if you want to attract hummingbirds to your garden, you can’t go wrong with salvia. It is easy to grow in containers and hummingbirds love the bright flowers. Just make sure to choose a well-draining container and provide it with plenty of sun and water.
Fuchsia is an excellent choice if you’re looking for a container plant that attracts hummingbirds. These flowers produce long, tubular blooms that are perfect for the hummingbird’s beak. They also have a high nectar content that hummingbirds can’t resist.
To grow fuchsia in containers, you will want to choose a pot that is at least 12 inches in diameter to provide plenty of room for the roots. Fuchsia prefer well-draining soil that is kept consistently moist.
When planting fuchsia in containers, make sure to bury the stem up to its first set of leaves to encourage branching. This will help to create an attractive and bushy plant that will provide even more flowers for the hummingbirds to enjoy.
One variety of fuchsia that works particularly well in containers is the ‘Gartenmeister Bonstedt.’ This variety produces bright orange-red blooms that are especially attractive to hummingbirds, and it is also known for its heat tolerance.
Another good option is the ‘Dark Eyes,’ which produces deep pink and magenta flowers that hummingbirds love. This variety is also well-suited to container growing, and it has a compact growth habit that makes it perfect for smaller spaces.
Overall, Fuchsia is a great choice for container gardening if you want to attract hummingbirds to your outdoor space. With proper care and attention, these plants will produce an abundance of beautiful blooms that will keep hummingbirds coming back year after year.
Bee balm is another plant that is a favorite of hummingbirds. It is also known as Monarda or Bergamot, and it belongs to the mint family. Bee balm has beautiful flowers that are attractive to hummingbirds, as well as bees and butterflies.
When planting bee balm in containers, make sure to choose a pot that is at least 12 inches deep to accommodate its root system. You can plant bee balm in a mixture of garden soil and compost, which provides the necessary nutrients and moisture retention.
Water your bee balm regularly, especially during hot and dry weather. The soil should be kept moderately moist, but not soggy.
Bee balm comes in a variety of colors, including red, pink, purple, and white. Some of the popular varieties that work well in containers include ‘Jacob Cline’ with its striking red flowers, ‘Raspberry Wine’ with its pink flowers, and ‘Blue Stocking’ with its purple flowers.
One of the benefits of growing bee balm in containers is that it can be easily moved around to different locations, depending on where you want to attract hummingbirds. You can place your pots on a balcony, patio, or in a garden bed.
In addition to attracting hummingbirds, bee balm has many benefits. It is a natural antiseptic and can be used to make tea that is said to help with sore throats and digestion. Bee balm oil can also be used to make fragrances and cosmetics.
Overall, planting bee balm in containers is an excellent way to attract hummingbirds to your garden while also adding beauty and interest to your home. Try experimenting with different varieties to find the one that works best for you!
Petunias are another type of flowering plant that hummingbirds find irresistible. They come in a variety of colors, including pink, purple and red. Hummingbirds are attracted to the bright colors and trumpet-like shape of petunias.
To grow petunias in containers, choose a container that is at least 12 inches deep and 14-16 inches wide. Fill it with a high-quality potting mix and position it in a location that gets full sun. Water your petunias regularly, but be careful not to overwater, as too much moisture can lead to root rot.
Some popular petunia varieties for attracting hummingbirds include “Ramblin’ Red,” “Cascadia Rim Magenta,” and “Madness Red.” If you’re looking for a trailing petunia, “Surprise Sparkle” and “Tidal Wave Silver” are good options.
If you do decide to plant petunias to attract hummingbirds, remember to deadhead them regularly. This means removing the spent blossoms to encourage new growth and help sustain the plant’s blooming period.
Lobelia is another lovely container plant that hummingbirds adore. This plant produces trumpet-shaped flowers that hang delicately from its stems, creating the perfect shape and position for the birds’ long beaks to reach in and sip nectar.
Growing lobelia in a container requires a few things for success. Firstly, you will need to choose a container that is deep enough for the plant’s roots to grow, but also has good drainage. Secondly, lobelia grows best in well-draining soil that is moist but not overly wet. This plant will not thrive in dry soil, so be sure to keep the soil consistently moist, but not waterlogged.
When choosing a variety of lobelia, look for trailing or cascading varieties that will drape over the edge of your container. These varieties will look absolutely stunning and provide easy access for hummingbirds. Some excellent varieties to consider include ‘Regatta Mix,’ which produces a range of vibrant colors, and ‘Trailing Sapphire,’ which has striking blue flowers.
If you do decide to include lobelia in your container garden, be prepared for a gorgeous show of color and plenty of visits from hummingbirds.
Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis) is a favorite of hummingbirds because of its bright red flowers and tubular shape. The blooms typically appear in mid-to-late summer and continue through fall, providing a long season of food for your feathered friends.
Growing cardinal flower in containers is relatively easy. You’ll need a container that’s at least 12" deep and wide enough for the plant to spread out. It’s important to keep the soil moist but not waterlogged, so make sure your container has drainage holes.
To make sure your cardinal flower grows strong, you should fertilize with a balanced fertilizer every 2-3 weeks throughout the growing season. Deadhead spent blooms to encourage more flowers to develop.
There are a few different varieties of cardinal flower that work well in containers. ‘Queen Victoria’ is a popular choice, with bright red flowers and dark purple foliage. ‘Black Truffle’ has dark purple flowers and lush dark green foliage. ‘Ruby Slippers’ has ruby-red flowers on compact, bushy plants.
By planting cardinal flower in a container, you can enjoy the beauty of this hummingbird favorite up close and personal. Plus, you’ll be providing an important food source for these incredible creatures!
Hummingbirds love cuphea plants, which are also known as cigar plants due to their narrow, tubular flowers. These flowers are the perfect shape and size for hummingbirds to feed from. If you’re looking to attract these tiny, feathered friends to your garden, growing cuphea in containers is a great option.
To grow cuphea in containers, choose a pot that is at least 10 to 12 inches in diameter and has good drainage. Plant the cuphea in well-draining soil and place it in a location that receives at least six hours of sunlight each day.
One variety of cuphea that works well in containers is the Mexican Heather. This plant grows up to 18 inches tall and produces pink, purple or lavender flowers from early summer into early fall. Another good choice is the David Verity cuphea, which produces bright orange-red flowers and grows up to two feet tall.
When growing cuphea in a container, be sure to water it regularly, especially during periods of hot, dry weather. Fertilize the plant monthly during the growing season to encourage healthy growth and plenty of flowers.
By growing cuphea in a container, you can enjoy the beauty of this hummingbird favorite even if you have limited outdoor space. Try it out and see if you can entice these tiny birds to visit your garden!
In conclusion, container gardening is an incredible way to attract hummingbirds to your outdoor living space.
By choosing the right plants, you can make your yard a paradise for your winged friends.
After reading this post, I hope you have some ideas for the perfect plants to add to your containers.
So, which of these hummingbird favorites are you going to try first?
I’d love to hear from you!
Send me a message and let me know what you think.
And if you found this post helpful, please share it on social media with your family and friends who are also interested in gardening.
Together, we can create a world that is not only beautiful for us but also beneficial for our beloved wildlife.
Author: Scott Sanders
Disclaimers
All the information on this website - https://planet997.com/ - is published in good faith and for general information purpose only. Planet 997 does not make any warranties about the completeness, reliability and accuracy of this information. Any action you take upon the information you find on this website (Planet 997), is strictly at your own risk. Planet 997 will not be liable for any losses and/or damages in connection with the use of our website.
From our website, you can visit other websites by following hyperlinks to such external sites. While we strive to provide only quality links to useful and ethical websites, we have no control over the content and nature of these sites. These links to other websites do not imply a recommendation for all the content found on these sites. Site owners and content may change without notice and may occur before we have the opportunity to remove a link which may have gone 'bad'.
Please be also aware that when you leave our website, other sites may have different privacy policies and terms which are beyond our control. Please be sure to check the Privacy Policies of these sites as well as their "Terms of Service" before engaging in any business or uploading any information.
By using our website, you hereby consent to our disclaimer and agree to its terms.