This Low-Maintenance Hanging Basket Flower Attracts Hummingbirds All Summer Long

If you're looking to attract hummingbirds to your yard this year but happen to be tight on space, it might be time to put up some hanging baskets filled with sweet alyssum (Lobularia maritima). Hardy in USDA zones 5 to 9, this plant does as well in partial sun as it does in full sun, meaning it'll handle living in a hanging basket under an awning or deck. Plus, its delicate little flowers come in different shades of purple, pink, or white, and they look amazing spilling out of a hanging planter.

Sweet alyssum plants have a fantastic honey-like scent, and their dense clustering of flowers mean easy access to nectar for hummingbirds, turning your front porch into a buffet for these birds and other beneficial insects. But don't worry if you're still breaking in your green thumb — sweet alyssum is an annual that's low maintenance and easy to care for, so your floral display will look lush without a ton of care; you just need to know what your plants need to thrive.

To keep your sweet alyssum happy, you'll first need to decide how to fill the pot. This plant tends to sprawl as ground cover and will spill over in a hanging basket, leaving some room for taller plants if your hanging planter is big enough. Rosemary, another plant that attracts pollinators, works well with alyssum since it tends to grow upward rather than out or down. Daffodils and tulips are also an option, though you might want to use mature plants instead of bulbs so that your alyssum's carpet doesn't prevent them from getting sunlight.

Next, adjust your hanging planter's height to ensure your alyssum gets around six hours of sun each day. Don't worry if your basket's chain isn't very long; there are lots of clever ways to hang planters that let you adjust their height to whatever you need. Your alyssum will need well-draining potting mix and a planter with drainage holes to ensure its shallow roots don't sit in soggy water. If you don't have any potting mix to hand, you could always make your own potting soil. Once it's planted, keep your alyssum watered regularly and deadhead any spent blooms, as this will encourage it to push out new flowers and keep those hummingbirds happy. Finally, make sure to give your baskets a hit of fertilizer once a month to help it thrive.