Grow This Fragrant Herb In A Pot To Draw Birds To Your Yard In Summer & Fall

Imagine stepping out into your garden on a balmy morning in summer and enjoying a variety of visiting birds. If you want to attract more birds to your garden, adding the plants they love can be the perfect place to start. And, if you're wanting to lure in more hummingbirds specifically, there are few better plants to grow than a certain container-friendly herb: Russian sage. 

Russian sage (Salvia yangii) is a perennial herb that's as fragrant as it is eye-catching. Hardy in USDA growing zones 5 through 9, this plant bears show-stopping blue and purple flowers through the summer and into fall, creating a garden that offers weeks of blooms. And the best part? Pollinators love this showy flower, especially hummingbirds. Russian sage comes in several varieties, some of which may be better suited for growing in a pot than others. When looking for the right choice for your container garden, pick a Russian sage variety that is compact. 

Overall, Russian sage is considered low-maintenance and easy to care for once it's established, making it the perfect plant for beginning gardeners who are looking for ways to draw more hummingbirds to their yard. Before adding this plant to your garden, keep in mind that it can spread aggressively. This is especially true since it has the ability to self-sow. Fortunately, by choosing to grow Russian sage in a pot rather than directly in the ground, you can limit much of that spread.

One of the most important things to keep in mind with any plant is its sunlight requirements. Without the right amount of sunlight, your plants can experience stunted growth. When your goal is to draw birds to your yard with eye-catching summer and fall florals, the last thing you want is a Russian sage plant that fails to thrive. For the best results, Russian sage needs full sun conditions to grow, which means at least six hours of direct sunlight each day. If your yard doesn't have a spot that receives full sun all season long, don't fret — while it can be more work on your part, having your Russian sage in a pot gives you the freedom to move your plant as needed to get adequate sunlight.

For many potted outdoor plants, water may not be a concern, especially in those regions that receive ample summer showers. Regular water that hydrates your Russian sage without oversaturating the soil to the point of waterlogging can help give your plant the boost it needs to produce those pollinator-friendly flowers. However, Russian sage is also quite drought-tolerant, which means it can hold up well to those drier conditions you may experience in the summer.

If you're growing Russian sage specifically to attract more birds to your yard during the summer and fall, consider incorporating it into a bird-centered garden. This can include establishing the plant near other points of interest for your feathered friends, like a bird bath.