How to Create a Hummingbird Haven at Home

Kristina Browning
Mar 12
3 min read

Updated: Apr 8

I’ve seen firsthand how a beautifully staged home can fast-track a sale. But there’s one often-overlooked trick that can take your home’s outdoor vibe from “meh” to “I want this”: attracting hummingbirds.

The tiny, high-energy, drama queens of the bird world can actually help you sell your house faster. Why? Because nothing screams "this is the place to live your best life" like sipping a glass of rosé on the patio while hummingbirds flit around your expertly planted flowers. It’s literally built-in ambiance.

a purple hummingbird — Hummingbirds love Mexican Cigars and they do exceptionally well in the Oregon summer.

Planting for Curb Appeal and Hummingbird Drama

If you’re ready to create a hummingbird haven (and add a layer of irresistible charm to your listing photos), here’s the playbook:

Jasmine – First of all, jasmine smells divine. I have a wall of it. It’s the kind of scent that makes people pause and go, "Did I just walk into a spa?" Bonus points: hummingbirds love it, and it’s low-maintenance.
Mexican Cigar Plant – This one’s basically a hummingbird magnet. Its red, tubular flowers are like a neon sign that says, "Happy Hour: Open All Day." Plus, the bold color adds a pop to your garden and your listing photos. (Cuphea ignea, the cigar plant, cigar flower, firecracker plant, or Mexican cigar, is a species of flowering plant in the genus Cuphea of the family Lythraceae. It is a tropical, sparsely branched shrub that sometimes returns for us in the summer if I cover it's roots over winter or bring it up under shelter.)
Salvia, Bee Balm & Fuchsia – Hummingbirds go wild for these. It’s like planting a buffet for them. And when buyers see all that natural activity, it subconsciously tells them, "This house is alive, vibrant, and welcoming.There is good energy here."
Strategic Placement – Focus on planting these beauties in a triangle or rectangular area around where you’d naturally relax. Hummingbirds move from one food source to the next and if there are several stops in your yard, you'll get even more of a show. Buyers will be able to envision their own nature-filled mornings with coffee and an epic hummingbird show.

Why It Works (For You and Your Future Buyers)

🪴 Creating an outdoor space that feels alive helps buyers imagine themselves living there, not just touring the property. A well-staged living room is great, but a thriving garden filled with happy hummingbirds? That’s emotional marketing gold.

And let’s talk resale value: curb appeal directly impacts your home’s marketability and price. A hummingbird-friendly garden adds charm, color, and a sense of peace—all of which make your home more appealing (and potentially more valuable).

Do you have a Cat?

Here’s the deal: hummingbirds are cautious little things. If your cat is outside frequently, especially near feeders or the flowering plants they like, the birds might avoid that area. Cats are natural predators, and hummingbirds are incredibly fast but also very vulnerable. Even just the presence of a lounging cat can be enough to keep them away. So if you have tried some of these things in this post, but you aren't finding success in attracting hummingbirds, it may be that your cat is too close for comfort.

Let’s Make It Happen

🪴 If you’re thinking about listing your home in Oregon City, I’m here to help. I offer complimentary curb appeal consultations to make sure every inch of your property looks its absolute best—inside and out. I also do light complimentary staging too. We’ll make sure your house is photo-ready, open-house-ready, and yes…hummingbird-ready.

Watching a tiny bird sip nectar from a flower you planted: That’s the good stuff.

Ready to get started? Let’s chat.

🪴 If you enjoyed this, you might also like my weekly (intentionally short) newsletter called "Little Bits of Home Functionality." You’ll see a video with a tip, or a trick and as always, I pose questions for you to think through about your space and your reasons. {Subscribe HERE.}

⚫️ 🎧 I also have a podcast called Home Space and Reason. 👉🏻 Explore an intellectual, uplifting podcast about home functionality, design and automation with a bit of history & psychology; it's kid-friendly and all-positive. I recommend staring at Ep. 1 / available anywhere you listen.