10 Container Plants That Will Attract Hummingbirds to Your Patio, Porch, or Garden

If you want to invite hummingbirds into your garden, spring is the perfect time to start. These little birds migrate north as the weather warms, and they love to visit places with lots of nectar-filled flowers. Using container plants is a smart way to attract them—you can place the pots up high to help keep the birds safe from predators.

Besides being fun to watch, hummingbirds are helpful in the garden. They pollinate plants and even eat annoying bugs like mosquitoes. Here are 10 great container plants that experts recommend for attracting these tiny visitors.

1. Red Salvia

Red salvia has bright red flowers and green leaves that hummingbirds can’t resist. It blooms from spring through fall and doesn’t need much maintenance. The “Saucy” variety is especially easy to grow—it doesn’t even need deadheading.

• Zones: 9–10 (grow as an annual in colder areas)
• Soil: Well-drained
• Light: Full sun to part shade
• Size: 2–3 feet tall and wide

2. Butterfly Weed

With its red and orange flowers, butterfly weed is easy for hummingbirds to find. It’s a type of milkweed that stays small and won’t take over your garden. It’s also drought-tolerant and does well in containers.

• Zones: 3–9
• Soil: Well-drained, loamy
• Light: Full sun
• Size: 1–2 feet tall and wide

3. Bee Balm

Bee balm’s red tubular flowers are a favorite for hummingbirds. It spreads quickly and also keeps deer away. It grows well in containers because it likes moist but well-drained soil.

• Zones: 5–9
• Soil: Well-drained
• Light: Full sun
• Size: Up to 5 feet tall

4. Agapanthus

This plant has violet-blue trumpet-shaped flowers that hummingbirds love. It blooms through summer and fall and actually thrives when a little root-bound—perfect for pots.

• Zones: 8–11 (grow as annual elsewhere)
• Soil: Well-drained
• Light: Full sun to part shade
• Size: 20–24 inches tall, 12–18 inches wide

5. Cardinal Flower

Bright red flowers make the cardinal flower a hummingbird magnet. Its long tubular shape is ideal for the birds’ bills. It prefers moist soil, so pick a slightly larger pot.

• Zones: 3–9
• Soil: Moist, loamy or clay
• Light: Full to part sun
• Size: 2–4 feet tall

6. Hyssop

This plant has small lavender-blue flowers and smells great. It’s easy to care for and great for tight spaces. Hummingbirds are big fans of its tubular blooms.

• Zones: 5–9
• Soil: Well-drained
• Light: Full sun
• Size: Up to 5 feet tall

7. Eastern Red Columbine

Red and yellow flowers bloom from early spring through summer. This plant lines up perfectly with hummingbird migration, giving them a food source just when they arrive.

• Zones: 3–8
• Soil: Moist and well-draining
• Light: Full sun to partial shade
• Size: 1–2 feet tall

8. Kaleidoscope Abelia

This evergreen shrub has fragrant tubular flowers from spring to fall. Its compact shape makes it perfect for containers, and it needs little pruning.

• Zones: 6–9
• Soil: Well-drained
• Light: Full sun to part shade
• Size: 2–3 feet tall, up to 4 feet wide

9. Autumn Sage

Autumn sage blooms in pink and red from early spring to late fall. Its long flowering season means it feeds hummingbirds during both migration periods.

• Zones: 6–9
• Soil: Rocky, sandy, or loamy
• Light: Full sun
• Size: 2–3 feet tall and wide

10. Lantana

With hot pink and yellow flowers, lantana adds bright color and is a hummingbird favorite. It loves heat and blooms all summer and fall. This low-maintenance plant works great in containers.

• Zones: 10–11
• Soil: Slightly acidic, well-drained
• Light: Full sun
• Size: Around 1 foot tall and wide

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)