Hummingbirds bring a magical touch to any garden, flitting around like tiny jewels full of energy and color. Choosing the right container plants can turn your yard into their favorite hangout spot.
These vibrant flowers don’t just look amazing—they’re like a personal invitation to these little wonders. With a few simple tips, you can keep the hummingbirds coming back season after season.
Let’s explore the best container plants that will have your yard buzzing with their cheerful visits.
1. Salvia
Nothing catches a hummingbird’s attention faster than these tall spikes of tubular blooms. The vibrant red varieties are especially magnetic, though purple and blue cultivars work wonderfully too.
Many salvia varieties thrive in containers and bloom for months with minimal care. Just provide good drainage and full sun, and these drought-tolerant beauties will reward you with constant hummingbird visits all season long.
2. Fuchsia
With their dangling, bell-shaped flowers in stunning color combinations, fuchsias seem custom-designed for hummingbird feeding. These shade-loving plants create the perfect hanging basket display for porches and patios.
The birds can hover beneath the flowers while sipping nectar. Choose varieties like ‘Gartenmeister Bonstedt’ for especially long, tubular blooms that hummingbirds find irresistible. Water consistently and deadhead spent blooms for continuous flowering.
3. Bee Balm
The spiky, firework-like blooms of bee balm create an explosion of color that hummingbirds simply can’t resist. Compact varieties like ‘Petite Delight’ or ‘Balmy Purple’ work beautifully in pots.
Ensure good air circulation to prevent powdery mildew. Bee balm’s aromatic foliage is an added bonus, releasing a pleasant minty-citrus scent when brushed against. Plant in a sunny spot and watch as hummingbirds return day after day.
4. Cardinal Flower
Few plants match the intense scarlet display of cardinal flowers when it comes to attracting hummingbirds. The brilliant red tubular blooms seem to call out to these tiny birds from across the garden.
Unlike many hummingbird favorites, cardinal flowers appreciate consistently moist soil and partial shade, making them perfect for north-facing patios. Their tall, elegant flower spikes add vertical interest to container arrangements and bloom during late summer when many other plants are fading.
5. Penstemon
Tough and drought-tolerant, penstemon produces masses of tubular flowers that hummingbirds love to visit. The ‘Firecracker’ variety, with its bright red blooms, is especially effective at attracting these tiny birds to your containers.
Plant in well-draining soil and place in a sunny location. Penstemons bloom for weeks and require minimal care once established. Their upright growth habit makes them perfect for the center or back of mixed container arrangements.
6. Lantana
The multicolored flower clusters of lantana create a buffet of nectar that keeps hummingbirds coming back. Heat-loving and virtually indestructible, lantana thrives in containers and blooms continuously from spring until frost.
Varieties like ‘Landmark Citrus’ or ‘Bandana Red’ are particularly attractive to hummingbirds. Place containers in full sun and allow soil to dry slightly between waterings. Lantana’s trailing habit makes it perfect for hanging baskets or as a spiller in combination planters.
7. Cuphea
Often called cigar plants or firecracker plants, cupheas produce tiny tubular flowers that are perfectly sized for hummingbird beaks. The ‘Vermillionaire’ variety is especially prolific, covered in orange-red blooms from spring until frost.
These heat-loving plants thrive in containers and require minimal maintenance. Their compact size makes them ideal for small spaces. Plant in well-draining soil, place in full sun, and water when the top inch of soil feels dry.
8. Petunia
While not typically the first plant that comes to mind for hummingbirds, the trumpet-shaped blooms of petunias do attract these tiny visitors, especially the bright red or purple varieties. Their cascading growth habit makes them perfect for hanging baskets and window boxes.
Modern varieties like ‘Supertunia’ bloom prolifically without deadheading. Petunias prefer full sun and regular feeding to maintain their vigorous blooming habit. Their fast growth quickly fills containers with color that will draw hummingbirds throughout the season.
9. Cape Fuchsia
Despite its name, cape fuchsia (Phygelius) isn’t related to true fuchsia but shares its hummingbird-attracting qualities. The tubular, pendulous flowers come in shades of coral, pink, and red that hummingbirds find irresistible.
This somewhat uncommon container plant blooms from early summer through fall. Cape fuchsia prefers morning sun with afternoon shade in hot climates. Its upright growth habit makes it an excellent thriller in container combinations, reaching 2-3 feet tall in pots.
10. Million Bells
These tiny petunia look-alikes (Calibrachoa) produce hundreds of small, trumpet-shaped flowers that provide a nectar bonanza for hummingbirds. Their compact, trailing habit makes them perfect for hanging baskets and window boxes.
Million Bells come in nearly every color imaginable, though the red and purple varieties are most attractive to hummingbirds. They’re self-cleaning (no deadheading needed) and bloom continuously from spring until frost. Provide full sun and don’t let them dry out completely between waterings.
11. Snapdragon
The tubular blooms of snapdragons are perfectly shaped for hummingbird feeding, especially the open-faced varieties. Dwarf types like ‘Snapshot’ or ‘Twinny’ are ideal for containers, creating spikes of colorful blooms.
Snapdragons perform best in cooler weather, making them perfect for spring and fall containers when other plants may not be at their peak. Plant in rich, well-draining soil and deadhead regularly to encourage continuous blooming. Their sweet fragrance is an added bonus for human gardeners.
12. Canna Lily
For dramatic height in container plantings, few plants match the tropical allure of canna lilies. Their large, exotic flowers in shades of red, orange, and yellow are hummingbird magnets, while their bold foliage adds a striking architectural element.
Dwarf varieties like ‘Tropical Rose’ or ‘Cannova’ are perfectly sized for containers. These hungry plants appreciate rich soil and regular feeding. Place in full sun and keep soil consistently moist for best flowering. In colder regions, bring containers indoors for winter.
13. Agastache
Also known as hummingbird mint or hyssop, agastache produces spikes of tubular flowers that hummingbirds find irresistible. Compact varieties like ‘Kudos Coral’ or ‘Little Adder’ are perfect for containers.
The fragrant foliage releases a delightful anise scent when brushed against. These drought-tolerant plants prefer well-draining soil and full sun. Agastache blooms for months with minimal care and attracts butterflies as well as hummingbirds, making it a wildlife gardener’s dream plant.
14. Mandevilla
For a truly spectacular container display that hummingbirds can’t resist, consider a mandevilla vine trained on a trellis. The large, trumpet-shaped flowers in pink, red, or white provide abundant nectar throughout the growing season.
Compact varieties like ‘Sun Parasol’ are perfect for containers. Provide rich, well-draining soil and regular feeding for best flowering. Mandevilla loves heat but appreciates afternoon shade in the hottest climates. In colder regions, bring containers indoors for winter.
15. Pineapple Sage
Late-season hummingbird feeding is crucial, and pineapple sage delivers with brilliant red tubular flowers that bloom in late summer through fall. The fruity-scented foliage is a delightful bonus when brushed against or used in teas.
This culinary herb grows beautifully in containers and can reach 2-3 feet tall. Provide full sun and well-draining soil. Pineapple sage is often still blooming when migrating hummingbirds need fuel for their journey south, making it an especially valuable container plant.
16. Fresh Water Source
Hummingbirds need more than nectar—they love bathing in gentle, moving water. A small solar fountain or bubbler in a shallow dish creates the perfect splash zone for these tiny birds to refresh themselves.
Place your water feature near container plants for a complete hummingbird station. Keep the water clean and fresh, changing it every few days. The sound of moving water also helps attract hummingbirds from a distance, drawing them to your container garden oasis.
17. Staggered Blooming Schedule
Smart container gardeners plan for continuous hummingbird feeding by selecting plants with different bloom times. Early salvias and snapdragons give way to summer lantanas and cupheas, followed by late-season pineapple sage and agastache.
Create a bloom calendar when planning your container garden. Hummingbirds establish feeding routes and will skip yards with gaps in nectar availability. With thoughtful planning, your container garden can be a reliable hummingbird destination from spring through fall.
18. Avoid Pesticides
Chemical pesticides are deadly to hummingbirds, both directly and by killing the tiny insects that provide essential protein in their diet. Opt for natural pest control methods like insecticidal soap, neem oil, or simply hosing off pests.
Encourage beneficial insects by planting herbs like dill and fennel in your container garden. A balanced garden ecosystem helps keep pest problems in check naturally. Remember that a few holes in leaves are a small price to pay for healthy hummingbirds visiting your containers.
19. Strategic Container Placement
Arrange your containers to create a hummingbird-friendly environment that provides both feeding opportunities and security. Place taller plants behind shorter ones, creating tiered feeding stations that hummingbirds can approach from different angles.
Position containers near windows for easy viewing, but include some nearby trees or shrubs as resting spots. Hummingbirds need safe perches between feeding sessions. Avoid placing containers in windy locations, as these tiny birds prefer calm air for their precise hovering.
20. Supplemental Feeders
While plants provide natural nectar, supplemental feeders can help attract hummingbirds initially and keep them coming during bloom gaps. Hang feeders near your container garden to create a complete hummingbird habitat.
Make simple syrup with four parts water to one part white sugar—never use honey or artificial sweeteners. Clean feeders thoroughly every 2-3 days, especially in hot weather. Red feeders attract hummingbirds without needing to add food coloring to the nectar.