Attracting Hummingbirds

Hummingbirds are attracted to a bird garden habitat:

• Make fresh water available for drinking and bathing. 
• Provide both sun and shade areas. Hummingbirds need shade to perch and to build their tiny nests. 
• Hummingbirds may become reliant on your garden. When there are no blossoms, provide hummingbird feeders hung 30 feet apart throughout your garden. The best color for a feeder is red. 
• Fill feeders with a sugar-water mix of one part sugar to four parts water. 
• Keep feeders clean and filled. 
• Never use honey that can develop a fungus fatal to hummingbirds. 
• Hummingbirds are attracted to flower colors and nectar, not fragrances.

Favorite Flowers—Perennials

Bee balm .................. Monarda didyma 

Butterfly weed......Ascelpias tuberosa 

Columbine........................Aquilegia sp. 

Coral bells ......... Heuchera sanguinea 

Cosmos...............................Cosmos sp. 

Dahlia.....................................Dahlia sp. 

Delphinium...........Delphinium elatum 

Foxglove ................................... Digitalis 

Fuchsia.......................................Fuchsia 

Geranium....................Pelargonium sp. 

Hollyhock........ Althea rosea (biennial) 

Lupine..........................Lupinus hybrids 

Penstemon.................... Penstemon sp. 

Red Hot Poker ........ Kniphofia uvaria 

Sage ..............................Salvia officinalis 

Speedwell...................Veronica hybrids

Favorite Flowers—Annuals

Mountain garland ...... Clarkia elegans 

Touch-me-not ................ Impatiens sp. 

Flowering tobacco .... Nicotiana alata 

Nasturtium............Tropaeolum majus 

Petunia..........................Petunia hybrids 

Spider flower ....... Cleome hasslerana 

Zinnia.....................................Zinnia sp. 

Verbena .............................. Verbena sp.

Bulbs, Corms and Tubers

Tuberous begonia............. Begonia sp. 

Canna.....................................Canna sp. 

Gladiolus .......................... Gladiolus sp. 

Iris.................................................Iris sp. 

Montbretia..................... Crocosmia sp.

Vines

Bougainvillea..............Bougainvillea sp. 

Cardinal climber..Ipomoea quamoclit 

Honeysuckle......................Lonicera sp. 

Lantana...............................Lantana sp. 

Rosary Vine.............. Ceropegia woodii 

Trumpet vines.....Campsis grandiflora

Shrubs and Trees

Abelia........................Abelia grandiflora 

Azalea ...................... Rhododendron sp. 

Bottlebrush....Callistemon lanceolatus 

Butterfly bush ............Buddleia davidii 

Cotoneaster............... Cotoneaster sp. 

Eucalyptus......................Eucalyptus sp. 

Flowering quince.....Chaenomeles sp. 

Fuchsia.................Fuchsia arborescens 

Hibiscus..............................Hiviscus sp. 

Lilac ...................................... Syringa sp. 

Weigela.......................... Weigela rosea

Hanging Baskets - Good Care & Good Grooming

Hanging Baskets for Shade

Begonia-Nonstop 

Begonia-Dragon Wing 

Boston Fern

Fuchsia 

Impatiens 

Lobelia

Hanging Baskets for the Sun

Bacopa 

Black-eyed Susan 

Geranium 

Lantana 

Million Bells

Portulaca 

Scaevola 

Strawflower 

Verbena

Water before wilting

Because they’re exposed to more wind and warmer temperatures, hanging baskets dry out faster than garden bed plants. Check soil daily, using a moisture meter if necessary. Water deeply when the top two inches of soil are dry.

Tip: Adding a moisture retaining product, such as “Soil Moist Spikes” or “Soil Moist Beads” will help to maintain your plant’s water needs.

Fertilizing

If you notice yellowing leaves or poor flowering, the plant is sending a message that it needs more light or some fertilizing. Use a water-soluble fertilizer at half-strength every time you water, or when you first get your hanging basket, sprinkle over the soil one or two tablespoons of slow release fertilizer such as Osmocote. This amount will keep the plant well fed all season. 

Tip: A little fertilizer is good, too much is deadly. Don't overfeed your plants. Excessive fertilizer will burn roots. Follow directions on the label. 

Vacation care

When you leave for vacation, take hanging baskets down and put them on the ground in a shady, protected spot. Water thoroughly before you leave. Trimming your plants back slightly will help reduce the water needs. Better still, ask a friend or neighbor to water while you’re away.

Grooming

For good appearance and to encourage vigorous flowering, remove spent blossoms and seedpods. If plants become overgrown and scraggly, trim them back.