The Container Garden Combination That Hummingbirds Can't Resist

If hummingbirds have not already arrived in your neck of the woods, they are on the way. And if you want to lure them to your yard without feeders filled with sugar water, your plant selection is key. Generally, there is one color to add to your garden to draw in hummingbirds. These tiny, feathered friends are drawn to red and orange tubular flowers, but if you don't have room to create a hummingbird paradise in your yard, you can supercharge a container by filling it with hummingbird-friendly plants that they can't resist. At the center of it all is cigar plant (Cuphea ignea), which hummingbirds love. The shape and color of the cigar plant's flowers hit hummingbirds' sweet spot, and butterflies love it too. Pair it with three other sun-loving plants, and it will keep your hummingbirds coming back for the blooms all spring and summer. 

Add canna (Canna) and fuschia (Fuchsia) flowers for height and cascading interest. Throw in a specific variety of begonia (Begonia boliviensis), and you will have a container overflowing with color that hummingbirds find irresistible. 'Bonfire' begonias have trumpet-shaped flowers that these birds will love. This combination will not just lure hummingbirds to your yard, but the deep bronze and purple foliage and vibrant blooms will give your container a lush, tropical feel even when the birds aren't around. This combo also follows the simple formula we suggest when designing containers, ensuring they will look as beautiful as they are useful.

Growing a container garden can have many benefits, but using container plants to attract and feed wildlife is important, especially in areas with small or non-existent yards where other food sources might be hard to come by. And it's absolutely possible to fit all of these plants into a large pot of about 14 inches. However, it's probably advisable to plant more than one container with the birds' favorite plants because they are notoriously territorial and will run each other off. So, providing multiple feeding stations is a good idea. You can mix in other hummingbird favorites or even a few plants that are just for you.

These plants thrive in full sun or partial shade, particularly in USDA zone 10. However, they may need some protection during the hottest part of the day in warmer climates. If you place large pots in full sun, consider putting them on wheels to make them easy to move when the afternoon sun hits. Getting the water right will be necessary with this combo, as the plants have differing needs. Begonias and canna prefer moist soil, while cigar plant and fuschia like well-drained soil but still require regular watering during hot, dry weather. Given how quickly containers tend to dry out, you should probably plan on daily watering to meet the needs of all the plants. Keep in mind that cigar plant also tends to need regular fertilizing, but fuschia needs relatively little. So find the right balance for both plants.