Botanical Name: Cuphea hybrid ‘Hummingbird’s Lunch’

Common Name: Cuphea, Cigar Plant

Hardiness Zone: Perennial in Warm Regions (USDA Zones 8–11); Grown as an Annual Elsewhere

Size: 18–24" Tall × 18–24" Spread

Growth Habit: Upright, Bushy, Well-Branched Habit

Sunlight: Full Sun to Partial Shade (Best Flowering in Full Sun)

Soil: Well-Drained, Average to Fertile Soil

Water Needs: Moderate; Drought Tolerant Once Established

Bloom Season: Late Spring through Frost

Fertilizer: Light Feeding During Active Growth

Features: Bright Red Tubular Flowers, Exceptional Hummingbird Attraction, Continuous Blooming, Excellent Heat Tolerance

Uses: Pollinator Gardens, Containers, Landscape Beds, Accent Plantings, Wildlife Gardens

Patent: ✔ Patented

Propagation: ❌ Propagation Prohibited Without License

See our complete Cuphea Plant Guide for more in depth care details.

More About Cuphea ‘Hummingbird’s Lunch’

Cuphea ‘Hummingbird’s Lunch’ was bred with a very specific purpose: to provide a consistent, high-energy nectar source for hummingbirds. It produces an abundance of bright red, tubular flowers that are perfectly shaped for hummingbird feeding, making it one of the most effective wildlife plants in the summer garden. Unlike varieties that bloom in waves, ‘Hummingbird’s Lunch’ stays in near-constant flower from late spring through frost, ensuring a dependable food supply throughout the entire growing season. The flowers are highly visible and remain prominent even from a distance, adding both function and color to the landscape.

The plant develops into a dense, upright mound with strong, well-branched stems that support heavy flowering without flopping or opening up. Its structure allows it to stay full and attractive even during peak summer heat, when many flowering plants begin to decline. ‘Hummingbird’s Lunch’ thrives in full sun and handles heat and humidity exceptionally well, continuing to bloom when less tolerant varieties slow down. Its clean foliage and steady growth habit make it easy to integrate into both mixed plantings and dedicated pollinator gardens.

Why We Like It (Our Trials)

In our trials, Cuphea ‘Hummingbird’s Lunch’ has proven to be one of the most dependable Cuphea varieties we grow. It establishes quickly after planting, fills in evenly, and maintains a tidy, bushy shape with very little intervention. Flower production remains continuous through the hottest part of summer, with no deadheading required to keep it looking fresh. This reliability makes it especially valuable for gardeners who want strong performance without extra maintenance.

What truly sets this variety apart is its consistency in attracting hummingbirds. Visits are frequent and predictable, often occurring multiple times per hour during peak activity, which is not something we see with most flowering annuals. The plant performs equally well in containers and in-ground plantings, adapting easily to different uses without losing vigor. For anyone looking to combine dependable color with meaningful pollinator value, ‘Hummingbird’s Lunch’ has been one of our most proven performers.

Hummingbird’s Lunch vs. Other Cuphea

‘Hummingbirds Lunch’ is best known for its elongated, nectar-rich flowers, aligning it more closely with Vermillionaire® than with compact selections like Mexican Heather. However, unlike ‘Vermillionaire®’, which produces heavy flower density across the entire plant, ‘Hummingbirds Lunch’ spaces its blooms more openly, giving it a lighter, airier appearance. This looser habit contrasts sharply with FloriGlory® Maria, which maintains tighter branching and a more polished container form. In garden beds, ‘Hummingbirds Lunch’ feels more naturalistic and less engineered.

Compared to ‘Bat Face’, ‘Hummingbirds Lunch’ is more predictable in growth and flowering, making it easier to integrate into standard designs. It also grows taller and less compact than Allyson Heather, which stays relatively restrained and fine-textured. While David Verity excels at uniform bloom coverage, ‘Hummingbirds Lunch’ prioritizes pollinator interaction over visual density. This makes it an excellent choice for wildlife gardens, even if it lacks the clean finish of newer breeding lines.