Easily create a butterfly and hummingbird - a wildlife container haven!

The sight of a hummingbird or butterfly visiting a garden is a delightful experience for many. However, if you lack space for a garden that can attract these beautiful creatures, don't worry. Even a small balcony, patio, or windowsill can be transformed into a mini habitat using containers filled with nectar-producing plants. Creating a wildlife container haven can be simple and easily done on any budget. This will surely entice your favorite flying visitors while adding color and beauty to your outdoor space.

The mesmerizing spectacle of hummingbirds buzzing around flowers, showing off their vibrant throat colors, is a joy to behold for those fortunate enough to witness it up close. By including flowering plants that offer sweet nectar, you can easily attract hummingbirds to your surroundings, providing you with a front-row seat to their graceful display.

Picture a Costa's hummingbird gracefully fluttering around the purple blooms of Mexican bush sage at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, creating a picturesque scene. Let's kickstart the process of setting up your container habitat.

When creating a container wildlife habitat, ensure it's placed where you can easily observe your flying guests. Opt for a spot near an entrance, window, or pathway to maximize visibility. Since most flowering plants thrive in sunlight, select a location that receives at least six hours of sunshine daily.

While a single container can attract hummingbirds or butterflies, a cluster of containers provides a more attractive display. The abundance of flowers in grouped containers increases the chances of catching the attention of passing butterflies and hummingbirds.

Containers and Soil

• Opt for larger containers as they provide more room for soil and plants, leading to slower drying and less vulnerability to temperature fluctuations.

• Choose a high-quality planting mix designed for container use, which retains optimal moisture compared to standard potting soil that can become waterlogged.

Plants

• Native plants are ideal for creating wildlife habitats in containers as they attract local butterflies and hummingbirds naturally. They are low maintenance due to their adaptation to the regional climate.

• Consult a local landscape designer to select the most suitable plants for your garden. Your local cooperative extension office or the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center can also assist in identifying the best native species to attract butterflies and hummingbirds.

• When aiming to attract hummingbirds, focus on color and shape. Tubular flowers are perfect for hummingbirds with their long beaks. While red is their preferred color, they feed on flowers of various colors, ranging from red-orange to yellow.

Many flowering plants, including shrubs, perennials and annuals, attract hummingbirds. Here are a few favorites suitable for growing in containers:

• Aloe (Aloe spp.)

• Beebalm (Monarda spp.)

• Dianthus (Dianthus spp.)

• Daylily (Hemerocallis spp.)

• Foxglove (Digitalis spp.)

• Mexican honeysuckle (Justicia spicigera, zones 9 to 11)

• Lantana (Lantana spp.)

• Penstemon (Penstemon spp.)

• Petunia (Petunia spp.)

• Salvia (Salvia spp.)

• Phlox (Phlox spp.)

Incorporating moss and lichen into your wildlife container is another way to attract hummingbirds; they use those materials to build their nests.

Wildlife Habitat Container Ideas

Plants that Attract Butterflies

Butterflies, similar to hummingbirds, are drawn to vibrant, nectar-filled plants. They particularly enjoy clusters of colorful plants as they provide a better attraction. Butterflies prefer plants with open faces to land on, unlike hummingbirds that hover while feeding.

For instance, Monarch butterflies are often seen around containers planted with 'Confetti' bush lantana (Lantana camara 'Confetti', zones 9 to 11).

Here are some flowering plants perfect for attracting butterflies and suitable for a container garden:

• Alyssum (Lobularia maritima, all zones)

• Aster (Symphyotrichum spp.)

• Beebalm (Monarda spp.)

• Daylily (Hemerocallis spp.)

• Lantana (Lantana spp.)

• Lavender (Lavendula spp.)

• Milkweed (Asclepias spp.)

• Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea, zones 3 to 9)

• Salvia (Salvia spp.)

• Verbena (Verbena spp.)

Arranging Plants for Butterflies and Hummingbirds:

While butterflies and hummingbirds are not overly concerned with plant arrangement, for aesthetic purposes, it is advisable to place taller plants in the center of the pot or towards the back of the container.

Surround the taller plants with medium-sized plants and complete the arrangement by adding trailing plants around the outer edges.

Container habitat gardens offer great flexibility, allowing for various options such as a mix of annuals, perennials, a single flowering shrub, or a combination of plants.

When aiming to attract hummingbirds and butterflies, remember that vibrant colors are key to enhancing their appeal.

Wildlife Habitat Container Ideas

Additional Ways to Enhance Your Garden for Hummingbirds

To enhance the appeal of your garden to hummingbirds, consider the following additional elements:

• Incorporate perching areas within the container by adding specific succulent plants or garden art that extends a foot above the container. Alternatively, include a small dead tree branch with multiple perching spots.

• Butterflies and hummingbirds are attracted to water, so placing containers near a water source is advantageous.

Create a buzzing butterfly and hummingbird haven!-bird bath

written Cher Savage