Outside Potted Flowers That Attract Hummingbirds But Repel Caterpillars

Flowers Hummingbirds Like

• Bright red, pink and orange flowers draw hummingbirds. They also drink nectar from trumpet-shaped flowers, so planting coral bells, four o' clocks or orange morning glories bring these birds to the garden. Vine flowers like morning glories need a small trellis in the pot for climbing upwards.

Plants That Repel Caterpillars

• Flowers that repel caterpillars and other garden pests are geraniums and marigolds. These plants also have attractive, bright colors. Many herbs have scents that caterpillars and other garden pests find distasteful, such as tansy, hyssop, mint, rosemary and thyme.

Flowers That Do Both

• Geraniums and marigolds attract hummingbirds and repel caterpillars. Many flowering herbs attract hummingbirds. Some repel some insects. Lavender is a flowering herb with a pleasant scent that insects don't like, but hummingbirds and butterflies love. Other herbs that do both include flowering thyme, hyssop, lemon catnip, flowering tobacco, rosemary and mint.

Companion Planting

• While there are very few flowers that both attract hummingbirds and repel caterpillars at the same time, you can plant insect-repelling herbs and flowers near your hummingbird flowers. This practice keeps pests away while attracting birds and butterflies. Growing insect-repelling herbs around flowers that attract hummingbirds keeps insects off these flowers. When choosing plants for the same pot, always make sure that both plants require the same conditions for growth.

Container Placement

• Consider placement your plants' placement. Flowers like marigolds that repel caterpillars may be planted in their own pot. Place them around the outside of the garden forming a barrier against insects. Grow insect-repelling flowers in window boxes and place then around the outside of your porch or container garden area.