I have grown for it years in a container. I have two going now that are in pots maybe 10 inches across and 12-14 inches deep.

And it only acts as an annual in colder climates. It is really a tender perennial. Mine are 3 and 4 years old and live outside all year round.

Thanks so much gardengal.

Rusty_blackhaw is right. I love to grow batface cuphea for the hummingbirds. The dreaded JBs have to be picked off of it constantly.

Gardengal...do you get JP's on yours?

I have them in 2 gallon pots for hummingbirds every year. They are considered annuals here. I tried to overwinter them, but they came back slow. The ones sold at the garden centers were MUCH bigger and were already flowering. It was better to buy new ones every year.

Sorry @Garden Mist, I did not see your question earlier. Fortunately, so far Japanese beetles are not an issue in the PNW.

However, that doesn't mean they won't be at some point in time. 🙄

Hi garden-gal. That is good to know. I am seeing lots of hummingbirds around them and all around my small yard. I also saw the tiniest baby rabbit feasting on my purple asters. I didn't have the heart to chase him away, so I just told him to go for it. Lol 😀

Be aware that Cupheas are a preferred food of Japanese beetles.

@rusty_blackhaw is correct. Last season our Cuphea was ravaged by JB. I almost threw it out as it lost so much of the foliage. But Amazing it rebounded once the beetle season had passed and did superbly.

This year there have been less beetles although there still are some.

See it smack dab in the middle of the photo below? :(

Here is the same plant in a pot (as of today) (I purchased it in a 4" pot back in May).

As I have done for the last 3 years, I left mine out over winter. But a late December cold snap killed it back to the roots. And a cooler and wetter than normal spring has slowed its development this season. Still looks a little pathetic and hasn't bloomed yet. We are only now starting to get some decent summer weather so I am keeping my fingers crossed :-) Thankfully, I have enough other plants flowering that the hummers visit. And the feeders of course.

A bee burrowing into one of the flowers:

Nice shot! I get a lot of hummingbirds around mine but only when I don't have my camera in my hand. haha