10 Beautiful Plants for Hanging Baskets that Attract Hummingbirds

Table of Contents

10 Beautiful Plants for Hanging Baskets that Attract Hummingbirds

Hanging baskets are an excellent way to add natural beauty and dimension to your balcony or garden. They can also attract hummingbirds, which are fascinating creatures and a delight to watch. In this post, we will discuss how you can attract hummingbirds to your garden using hanging baskets and which plants are perfect for that purpose.

Why Choose Hanging Baskets?

Hanging baskets are a great option if you want to have some greenery in your small balcony garden or if you want to add height and dimension to your outdoor decor. These baskets can also be hung from trees or placed on window sills. They can also be moved around easily, making them quite versatile.

How Can We Attract Hummingbirds To Our Gardens and Balconies?

Hummingbirds are attracted to bright colors and sweet aromas. Hanging baskets with colorful flowers and herbs with fragrant blooms are perfect for catching the attention of hummingbirds. Having a water source such as a birdbath, bird fountain, or even a shallow dish of water nearby can also encourage hummingbirds to visit.

What Are Some Stunning Options of Plants To Use In Your Hanging Baskets?

1. Fuchsia Plant

   

   • Features: Fuchsia is a stunning plant that produces eye-catching and vibrant flowers. These bell-shaped flowers usually come in shades of pink, purple, and red.
   • Sunlight: Fuchsia prefers mostly shade with some sun exposure. It grows best in areas with morning sun and afternoon shade.
   • Care: Fuchsia needs well-drained soil with regular watering, especially in hot summers.

2. Begonia Plant

   

   • Features: Begonias produce beautiful clusters of flowers and foliage in shades of pink, white, and red. Some varieties can also have variegated or spotted leaves.
   • Sunlight: Begonia prefers partial or full shade with indirect light. Exposure to direct sunlight can damage the leaves and blooms.
   • Care: Begonia needs soil with good drainage and periodic watering. Too much water can cause root rot and kill the plant.

3. Petunia Plant

   

   • Features: Petunias are a popular choice for hanging baskets due to their bright and showy flowers. They usually come in shades of pink, purple, and white.
   • Sunlight: Petunias require at least 5-6 hours of direct sunlight daily for optimal growth and bloom.
   • Care: Petunias thrive in organic, well-draining soil that's watered frequently enough to stay moist throughout the growing season.

4. Salvia Plant

   

   • Features: Salvia produces spikes of stunning blue-violet and purple flowers. These plants can grow up to three feet tall and have elongated leaves.
   • Sunlight: Salvia needs 5-6 hours of direct sunlight every day for optimal growth and blooms.
   • Care: To achieve best results with Salvia, they need well-drained soil moisture, pruning, and a little bit of patience.

5. Lantana Plant

   

   • Features: Lantana is a low-maintenance plant that produces beautiful vibrant flowers in pink, yellow, and orange shades.
   • Sunlight: Lantana prefers full to partial sunlight exposure to become fully functional.
   • Care: These plants need well-draining soil and periodic pruning for better blooming. They thrive best in warm weather.

6. Impatiens Plant

   

   • Features: Impatiens are beautiful flowering plants that produce bright and cheerful blooms in shades of pink, red, and white.
   • Sunlight: Impatiens prefer partial shade to full sun, but they can't tolerate direct sunlight for long periods.
   • Care: They grow best in organic, well-drained soil with adequate moisture for both root and foliage growth.

7. Lobelia Plant

   

   • Features: Lobelia is a stunning plant that produces clusters of delicate blue or purple flowers. They thrive in cool summer nights.
   • Sunlight: Lobelia prefers partial shade or mostly shaded position, it can't withstand the heat of the summer sun.
   • Care: They need good drainage, pine needle mulch to keep the soil cool, and frequent watering to stay healthy.

8. Cuphea Plant

   

   • Features: Cuphea's tubular flowers come in shades of purple, pink and red, Its common name is "bat-faced plant" due to its unusual terminal leaf cluster.
   • Sunlight: Cuphea prefers partial shade or full sunlight exposure, but it needs protection from the afternoon sun.
   • Care: Cupheas need a soil mix that is well-draining, moisture on a weekly basis and trimming of dead flowers and foliage.

9. Larkspur Plant

   

   • Features: Larkspurs have beautiful elongated straight stalks with large masses of blue, red and pink flower spikes, adding vibrant colors to your garden.
   • Sunlight: Larkspur plants require at least 6 hours of direct sunlight.
   • Care: To maintain healthy growth, larkspurs need frequent, regular watering and good drainage of soil.

10. Nemesia Plant

    

    • Features: Nemesia produces lovely tiny clusters of daisy-like blooms in different shades of blues and pinks, making them a popular hanging basket plant.
    • Sunlight: They can grow in full to partial shade, which makes them an excellent option for those with shady balconies or gardens.
    • Care: These plants thrive in organic, well-draining soil, regular moisture, and pruning for continued blooms.

Hanging baskets are a perfect way to add color and dimension to your balcony or garden while attracting hummingbirds. Using Fuchsia, Begonia, Petunia, Salvia, Lantana, Impatiens, Lobelia, Cuphea, Larkspur, and Nemesia in your hanging baskets can make your environment stunning while also providing essential nutrients for hummingbirds.

What other animals do hanging baskets attract?

Hanging baskets can attract many pollinators, such as bees and butterflies, in addition to hummingbirds. Some pests like aphids or spider mites attracted too.

How often should you water your flowering hanging basket plants?

Flowering hanging basket plants need frequent watering, but it depends on the humidity, temperature, amount of wind and sun exposure your plant is getting, so it's important to check the soil frequently to make sure it stays moist.

Do hanging baskets need daily watering?

Generally, hanging baskets require watering every day during hot summer months. But bear in mind, that some plants are sensitive to overwatering, so they need light and appropriate watering amounts at specific intervals.

What is the best way to fertilize your hanging baskets?

Slow-release fertilizer is most effective for hanging baskets. It will supply essential nutrients to your plants throughout the growing season without having to be reapplied regularly.

Which hanging basket plants are best suited for indoor environments?

Hanging plants such as English ivy, pothos, philodendron, spider plants, etc., tend to thrive indoors while also purifying the air.

Can flowering hanging basket plants survive in shaded balcony conditions?

Yes, if you choose shade-loving plants for your hanging baskets, they can thrive in shaded balcony conditions. Begonia, lobelia, impatiens, lantana are ideal options for hanging baskets in shady places.

Is it possible to grow vegetables in hanging baskets that will also attract hummingbirds?

Yes, apart from flowers, small fruits, and vegetables like cherry tomatoes, peppers, strawberries, blackberries, and raspberries are perfect for hanging baskets and can also attract hummingbirds.

How can I prevent insect infestations on my potted plants that attract hummingbirds?

Insect infestations can be prevented by choosing plants that are resistant to pests and diseases or by applying garden insecticides that are safe for hummingbirds.

What climate zone is best suited for growing flowers for hummingbirds?

Hummingbirds love nectar-rich flower plants and thrive in regions with warm summer climates. However, they can be found throughout the United States and southern Canada.

Do hummingbirds stay year-round?

No, most hummingbirds migrate south to Mexico, Central America, or even South America during the winter months. Some species remain in warmer areas of the United States all year round.