Want to attract hummingbirds to your yard? This is the one flower to add to your hanging basket

Bee hummingbird in flight
(Image credit: Shutterstock)

There are lots of ways you can entice hummingbirds into your yard, from providing a source of energy in the form of homemade nectar to attracting hummingbirds with plants.

And while some of you in the warmer climates of the U.S. will benefit from seeing hummingbirds in your yards year-round, and will want to keep your hummingbird feeders out in winter, others will have to wait for spring to see these migratory birds appear once more.

While there are many flowers that will attract hummingbirds to your yard, there is one particular bloom that’s perfect for hanging baskets and will do the job best. So, while the hummingbirds will benefit from the food, you'll be able to enjoy watching these birds up close.

Attract hummingbirds with the 'Campfire Flame' Biden

'Campfire Flame' Biden

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

Although hummingbirds usually flock to tubular-shaped blooms, Bidens provide these beautiful birds with the rich nectar and pollen they desire. While there are a few to choose from, the ‘Campfire Flame’ Biden is most loved by hummingbirds. It’s not difficult to see why they are attracted to the reddish-orange petals that radiate from the deep yellow centers — resembling a campfire.

What’s more, since the trailing varieties are planted in hanging baskets, it keeps predators at bay, encouraging the hummingbirds to come back for more.

Did you know?
Hummingbirds have a heightened sensitivity to colors in the red and yellow range, and it just so happens that red flowers are a rich source of food for hummingbirds. It’s also the reason why hummingbird feeders are bright red.

FeatherSnap Smart Hummingbird Feeder
FeatherSnap Smart Hummingbird Feeder: was $179 now $119 at Amazon

This smart hummingbird feeder provides a safe space for the birds to feed. You can capture video and photos of the tiny backyard creatures, and it's all powered by solar energy. The app makes it easy to download and share your images and videos with other hummingbird enthusiasts.

How to care for Bidens

The ‘Campfire Flame’ Biden is a long-flowering annual that’s best planted after the last frost. For optimal flowering, it’s best to plant where it can gain six hours of daily sunshine. Although they are drought-tolerant once established, they will benefit from regular watering, especially when grown in hanging baskets. An inch of water a week should be adequate.

However, avoid excessive fertilizing, as it can increase foliage while depleting blooms. It’s also good to know that these blooms are self-cleaning. This means they produce new flowers throughout their growing season, without you needing to deadhead the old ones, as the spent flowers drop off.

This low-maintenance flower will create a stunning hanging basket display, while attracting not only hummingbirds to your yard, but bees and butterflies too.


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Camilla Sharman
Staff Writer, Homes

Camilla is the Homes Staff Writer and covers everything to do with homes and gardens. She has a wealth of editorial experience, mounting over 30 years, and covers news and features, tests products for reviews and compiles buying guides. 


Her work has appeared in business and consumer titles, including Ideal Home, Real Homes, House Beautiful, Homebuilding & Renovation, and Kitchen & Bathroom Business. She’s even appeared on the cover of Your Home, writing about her own house renovation.


Although she’s obsessed with decorating her home, she also enjoys baking and trying out the latest kitchen appliances. But when she’s not inside, you’ll find her pottering about in her yard, tending to her vegetable patch or taking in her prized hydrangeas.

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