If you miss watching hummingbirds darting around your yard or garden but don’t have anywhere to hang a feeder, you’ll be happy to know there’s an easy solution. A A surefire way to attract hummingbirds without a feeder Growing flowers provides a natural food source. Salvia (Salvia spp.) is a popular choice, but it may not be the best fit for you. If you’re not a fan of salvia and are looking for something else, consider planting chocolate cosmos (Cosmos atrosanguineus). Their dark red-purple flowers are not only gorgeous and sweet-smelling, but they can also attract hummingbirds to your garden.
Cosmos attract numerous pollinators, including bees, butterflies and hummingbirds, because of their nectar and pollen. Chocolate Cosmos is no different. Hummingbirds aren’t the only creatures that enjoy these magnificent flowers! During the summer, you can enjoy the richly colored blooms that resemble their name. They even smell like chocolate! Plant them around your outdoor seating areas Make your patio smell good While watching hummingbirds. They are surprisingly tolerant of people, so you can plant them in your backyard without worrying about disturbing them.
Depending on where you live, you can grow your chocolate cosmos in soil or in containers. Hummingbirds visit potted flowers, hanging baskets and garden flowers, so choose the method that works best for you. Chocolate Cosmos are hardy in zones 7 to 10. If you live in a cold climate, you’ll need to grow it as an annual or plant it in an indoor container over the winter.
Attracts more hummingbirds with chocolate cosmos
Hummingbirds and other pollinators will love visiting your chocolate cosmos flowers, but there are a few ways you can improve their effectiveness. To begin with, make sure you are taking good care of them. Plants that are stressed by receiving too much or too little water do not produce as much nectar. Because it’s the sweet nectar that hummingbirds are visiting for, you’ll want to make sure your chocolate cosmos flowers are planted in well-draining soil and watered only when the soil is dry. They are somewhat drought-tolerant, but can develop root rot. Additionally, plant them in full sun with a light fertilizer. Over-fertilizing chocolate cosmos will make them bloom less often, which won’t help attract any hummingbirds! Additionally, you can deadhead the flowers as they fade to encourage repeat blooms throughout the summer.
Help your chocolate cosmos attract more hummingbirds by choosing the right variety or careful companion planting. Bright colors like orange, yellow, and so on Red color attracts hummingbirdsSo plant a variety like cherry chocolate. It has the same sweet scent but a brighter red color, making it potentially more attractive to your feathered friends. However, you can choose other brightly-colored flowers. If you already have some salvias in your garden, you can plant your chocolate cosmos with them without any problems. If you prefer to leave salvia, bee balm (Monarda spp.) is a good choice. Not only is it a great companion plant for chocolate cosmos, but it’s also extremely attractive to hummingbirds!
