If you’ve ever watched hummingbirds zip around, you know they’re drawn to vibrant flowers just as much as feeders. While feeders can be helpful, many hummingbirds actually prefer natural nectar sources.
You can attract more hummingbirds to your outdoor space by choosing the right hanging basket flowers that they love even more than feeders. These plants give your garden color and life while providing a steady food source for these tiny birds.
Fuchsia
If you want a plant that hummingbirds will notice, fuchsia is a great choice. Its bright, trumpet-shaped flowers are perfect for attracting these tiny birds.
Fuchsias do well in hanging baskets, especially in moderate, humid spots. You’ll find they prefer hanging baskets over feeders, making them ideal for your garden or porch. They bloom all summer, adding color while bringing hummingbirds close to your view.
Petunias
If you want easy-to-grow flowers that hummingbirds enjoy, petunias are a great pick. You can hang them in baskets and they’ll add bright color to your space.
Many modern petunia varieties don’t need a lot of deadheading, so they’re pretty low maintenance. Plus, their trumpet-shaped blooms make it easy for hummingbirds to sip nectar.
Impatiens
If you want to attract hummingbirds, impatiens are a great choice. They thrive in shaded areas, so you can hang them where the sun doesn’t hit directly.
These flowers produce bright blooms that hummingbirds love to sip nectar from. Plus, they add a splash of color to your hanging baskets without much fuss.
Begonias
If you want something low-maintenance, begonias are a great choice for your hanging baskets. Their small, colorful flowers attract hummingbirds without much fuss.
Angel Wing Begonias are especially popular because they offer plenty of nectar. Plus, their leaves add a nice touch of greenery to your space. You’ll find these plants keep hummingbirds coming back more than feeders sometimes.
Snapdragons
Snapdragons are a great choice for your hanging baskets if you want to attract hummingbirds. Their tubular flowers make it easy for these birds to sip nectar.
They come in lots of bright colors, so you can pick what fits your style. Plus, snapdragons bloom for a good chunk of the season, keeping hummingbirds coming back.
Lantana
You’ll love how lantana adds bright, cheerful colors to your hanging baskets. It’s super heat-tolerant, so it holds up well even on hot days.
Hummingbirds are naturally drawn to lantana’s clustered flowers because they’re full of nectar. It’s a great way to keep them coming back without needing a feeder. For easy care and a splash of color that hummingbirds enjoy, lantana is a solid choice for your garden.
Bidens
If you want a low-maintenance flower that attracts hummingbirds, bidens is a great pick. Its bright yellow blooms add a cheerful pop of color to your hanging baskets.
Bidens handle heat well, so they’re perfect for sunny spots. Plus, they keep your space lively with pollinators fluttering around.
Trailing Verbena
If you want a flower that spills beautifully over the edges of your hanging basket, trailing verbena is an easy choice. Its small, bright blooms in reds, pinks, and purples grab hummingbirds’ attention without much effort on your part. You’ll love how it fills space and keeps your basket looking full and colorful.
Firecracker Plant (Cuphea)
If you want to attract hummingbirds, the Firecracker Plant is a great pick. It blooms with bright yellow-orange flowers all season long.
This plant really loves heat, so it’ll thrive in warm spots. Hummingbirds often prefer it even over feeders, making it a solid choice for your hanging baskets.
Bat Face Plant (Cuphea)
If you want a unique hanging basket flower, try the Bat Face Plant, also called Cuphea. Its small, tubular flowers are shaped like little bat faces, which hummingbirds really like.
This plant thrives in warm spots and is great for attracting hummingbirds without needing feeders.
Cardinal Flower
If you want to attract hummingbirds, cardinal flowers are a great choice. Their bright red blooms are easy for hummingbirds to spot.
They do well in hanging baskets and bring vibrant color to your space. Plus, hummingbirds seem to love them more than many feeders. You might even see hummingbirds visiting your cardinal flowers regularly.
Salvia
Salvia is a great choice if you want to attract hummingbirds to your hanging baskets. Its tall, colorful spikes provide plenty of nectar that hummingbirds love.
You can mix salvia with trailing plants like verbena or lobelia to create a full, eye-catching basket. It’s low-maintenance and keeps hummingbirds coming back for more. Try the Salvia guaranitica variety, known for its deep blue trumpet flowers—it’s a real favorite for these tiny birds.
Native Honeysuckle
If you want to attract hummingbirds naturally, native honeysuckle is a great pick. Its tubular flowers are perfect for hummingbirds to sip nectar.
You can hang it in baskets around your porch or garden. This plant’s bright colors and sweet scent will draw hummingbirds more than feeders often do. Native honeysuckle also supports local ecosystems, so you’re helping nature while enjoying the show.
Lilacs
If you want to attract hummingbirds, lilacs can be a nice choice for your hanging baskets. Their small, tubular flowers are easy for hummingbirds to sip nectar from.
Lilacs also add a lovely scent to your garden, making your outdoor space more enjoyable while drawing in these tiny birds. They’re pretty low-maintenance too.
Pulmonaria (Lungwort)
If you want a flower that catches hummingbirds’ attention early in spring, Pulmonaria is a great pick. Its vibrant pink, blue, or purple flowers stand out in your hanging basket.
Plus, the interesting spotted leaves add some extra style to your garden. Pulmonaria is an easy way to invite these little birds without needing feeders.