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’ does exactly what its name promises, and I appreciate a plant that tells you the truth right up front. This one was clearly bred with hummingbirds in mind, and you can see it in the flower shape. The bright red tubular blooms are perfectly sized and positioned for easy feeding, and they are produced in serious numbers from Late Spring through Frost. It is not a plant that blooms in cycles and then takes a break. It stays steadily in flower, which means the hummingbirds learn quickly that it is a reliable stop. Even from across the garden, that red reads clearly, so you get both wildlife value and strong color presence in the landscape.

The plant itself grows into a sturdy, upright mound with solid branching that supports all that bloom without collapsing. I like that it has substance. It does not get thin in the center or flop open once the heat sets in. In Full Sun, even through thick Summer humidity, it keeps pushing growth and flowers without looking stressed. The foliage stays clean and healthy, which helps the red flowers stand out even more. It slides easily into mixed plantings, but it also holds its own in a dedicated pollinator bed where you want it to shine.

Why We Like It (Our Trials)

In our trial gardens, Cuphea ‘Hummingbird’s Lunch’ has been one of the most consistent performers in the entire Cuphea lineup. We plant it, water it in well, and it takes off. It fills out evenly, builds a nice bushy shape, and does not require us to deadhead or constantly trim to keep it looking sharp. During the hottest stretch of Summer, when some annuals clearly start to stall, this one keeps blooming like it is early June.

What I notice most is the traffic. We will see hummingbirds return again and again throughout the day, often hovering in the same rhythm, as if they have mapped it into their daily route. That kind of consistency is rare. It performs just as well in large containers as it does in the ground, and it does not seem to lose vigor when moved into different settings. If someone asks me for a plant that combines dependable color with real, observable pollinator impact, this is one I recommend without hesitation.

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.