The Easy-To-Grow Hanging Basket Flower That'll Attract Hummingbirds To Your Patio Or Porch

Hummingbirds, the speed demons of the avian world, weigh between two and 20 grams, and can fly 45 mph during mating rituals. These busy birds are prolific pollinators, helping flowers propagate by carrying pollen from one blooming plant to another. The white, bell-shaped flowers of kaleidoscope abelia (Abelia x grandiflora 'Kaleidoscope') attract hummingbirds from July to October. Long-lasting, fragrant blooms on a compact, bushy mound of colorful foliage are hardy in USDA zones 6 through 9. Frequently grown as a shrub in the garden, drought-tolerant, virtually pest- and disease-free, kaleidoscope abelias is easy to grow in hanging baskets.

Most hummer species aren't particular about which flowers they visit. However, some plants are more attractive to hummingbirds than others. Hummingbirds have tubular tongues that they stick into the center of the flower to suck up nectar, a sweet liquid found in kaleidoscope abelia, a member of the honeysuckle family. While hummingbirds prefer brightly-colored flowers, the abundance of blossoms and the long blooming season of abelia ensure hummingbirds return to the hanging basket all summer long. Trailing flowers that hang down from the basket make it easier for the tiny birds to hover next to them as they search for nectar while the long flower stamens dust the bird with pollen. Abelia's foliage changes hue from green and yellow to gold and maroon as the seasons change, sending a colorful message to hummingbirds.

While abelia is drought-tolerant, the plant should be watered when the surface of the soil is dry. The earth in hanging baskets, especially those hung in bright sun, dries out faster than the soil in your garden, and at the height of summer, a hanging basket may need extra watering. Don't worry about overwatering unless the pot has poor drainage — add water until it runs out of the bottom of the basket. Deadhead, or pinch off the blooms when they die to encourage new growth. Don't prune kaleidoscope abelia's woody red stems until the plants are finished flowering at the end of the season. Hang your baskets in full sun, though abelia can take light shade.

Drainage is an important consideration with all hanging baskets, whether you purchase one from the nursery or DIY your own hanging basket. Plastic baskets typically have holes drilled in the bottom, while wire baskets may be pre-lined with coconut fiber or moss. If you're transplanting kaleidoscope abelia to a hanging pot, make sure you don't block the drainage holes.

Hummingbirds are territorial, so consider hanging more than one basket of abelia to increase the number of opportunities for multiple hummers to stake out your yard. It's not difficult to take cuttings from an existing kaleidoscope abelia bush to propagate for hanging baskets, but the new plant may not produce flowers for one to two years. Taking cuttings involves clipping off a healthy piece of the stem, rooting it in soil, and keeping it in humid conditions until it's ready to transplant.