Plant a few of these flowers that attract butterflies and hummingbirds for a beautiful backyard or container garden that the kids will love.
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Butterflies and hummingbirds are beautiful and amazing to watch. My kids love peeking out in the summer mornings to see what’s out in our backyard. Attracting them is surprisingly easy. Just plant a few of these 5 flowers that attract butterflies and hummingbirds.
As a general rule, both butterflies and hummingbirds like big, bold flowers. Of course, these plants also attract bees and other insects. Bees are good, but most kids are a bit afraid of them. (For a while, one of mine was even afraid of ladybugs.)
You might want to plant these where you can see them from a window, but don’t plant them too close to the front door or your pretty visitors (and the not so pretty ones) might come inside.
Butterfly plants
1. Hibiscus
There are dozens of different species of hibiscus. It’s a tropical plant that produces big flowers in red, pink, and other bright colors. I have two different species in my backyard and both attract all kinds of butterflies and hummingbirds.
2. Butterfly bush
This plant gets its name from the fact that it attracts butterflies really well. I think there are several species that have been called butterfly bushes. We purchased one several years ago and throughout the summer, it always had several butterflies.
3. Lantana
In some parts of the US, this is a weed. I know that in the alleys around Fort Worth and Dallas, I see this plant growing like crazy in the summertime. I can also buy it at my local plant nursery. It doesn’t need much water and will last well into winter if it doesn’t freeze. If it does get cold, the plant will go dormant and come right back in the spring.
4. Coneflower
Also called echinacea, these flowers are usually purple, but also come in pink. Stalks can get tall like some types of sunflowers. They are hardy is fairly hot or cold weather. They make good container plants, but also do just fine in the ground.
5. Pentas
We planted these in our front yard last year. They’re bright and pretty. We chose all pink and purple, but these come in a variety of colors. Ours stayed pretty small but some species can get several feet high. They need little water and don’t mind the hot summer sun.
There are lots of other plants that also attract butterflies and hummingbirds. This list includes a few that are easy to find at your local garden store and easy to care for. They can all be planted in pretty small containers if you don’t have much space.
These specific plants are favorites here in Texas. Butterflies, hummingbirds, and most of the plants that attract them usually thrive in warmer climates. Check your local plant nursery to get more specific tips and find out what lives in your area.
What’s next? Try these other fun and creative ideas on One Mama’s Daily Drama:
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