Cuphea 1 to 12 of 12 total
Cuphea 1 to 12 of 12 total
Cuphea
Growing Zones 8-11
Partial Shade to Full Sun
Container Thriller
Pollinator Gardens
Why We Love Cuphea
Cuphea is a heat-loving annual that blooms nonstop and draws in hummingbirds and pollinators. Perfect for sunny pots and beds when you want easy, long-lasting color.
About Cuphea
Genus
Species
Family
Cuphea
Ignea, hyssopifolia, ramosissima, procumbens, micropetala, lanceolata
Lythraceae
Common Names:
Cigar Plant, Hummingbird Plant
Native To:
North America, Central America, and South America
Plant Type:
Annuals
Foliage Type:
Semi-Evergreen, Deciduous, Herbaceous
USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
8 - 11
Flower Color:
Red, Orange, Pink, Purple, White
Flower Bloom Time:
Late spring to fall
Growth Habit:
Clumping, Columnar, Spreading, Upright, Mounded, Trailing
Attracts:
Bees, Hummingbirds, Butterflies
Tolerates:
Drought, Heat, Humidity
Resists:
Deer, Rabbits, Voles, Voles, Moles, Diseases, Pests
How To Use Cuphea In The Garden
Cupheas offer unique, bold blooms in red, orange, purple, and white. These blooms often have unique shapes, with some species resembling tiny bat faces or cigars, adding an element of intrigue to any garden. Beyond their visual appeal, Cupheas are known to attract pollinators such as hummingbirds and butterflies, making them a delightful addition for nature enthusiasts.
Group Cuphea near salvias or lantanas to entice hummingbirds and butterflies in a sunny border or pollinator bed. Pair them with ornamental grasses for textural contrast or tuck them into containers alongside trailing annuals for added color. Lower-growing varieties are great for edging walkways or garden paths to highlight their unique flowers and allow closer viewing. In climates with winter frosts, shift container-grown plants indoors or mix Cuphea into a tropical setting with cannas and elephant ears for a lush, temporary summer display.
Types of Cuphea
| Type | Scientific Name | Flower | Bloom Time | Habit | Uses | Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| False Heather or Mexican Heather | Cuphea hyssopifolia | Lavender-purple (pink & white cultivars) | Free-flowering summer – frost | Rounded, densely-branched evergreen sub-shrub | Borders, path edging, ground-cover, pots/baskets, houseplant | Profuse showy bloom, attracts hummingbirds & butterflies, heat & drought tolerant, low care |
| Creeping Waxweed | Cuphea procumbens | Small purple-pink, 6-lobed tubes | Late spring – summer | Creeping/prostrate annual or tender perennial | Wet-margin ground-cover, summer bedding, potential oil seed crop | Spreads to form dense mats, tolerates moist soils, wildlife flowers, sticky stems deter grazing |
| Pink Shimmer Cuphea | Cuphea ramosissima | Tiny pink-violet starry tubes | Late spring – early fall (reblooming) | Naturally mounded, freely branching | Mass plantings, mixed containers, pollinator beds | No dead-heading, heat-loving, bees & butterflies, tidy compact form |
| Firecracker or Cigar Plant | Cuphea ignea | Bright red tubular “cigar” flowers | Continuous in warm weather | Rounded, bushy evergreen sub-shrub | Annual borders, patio pots, hanging baskets, houseplant | Hummingbird magnet, handles heat & some drought, easy from seed or cuttings |
Cuphea Care
Plant Cuphea in well-draining soil with a neutral pH, ensuring the location receives full sun for optimal growth. Water regularly during establishment; once mature, the plant exhibits drought tolerance. Apply a diluted liquid fertilizer monthly from April to August to support continuous flowering.
Pruning is minimal, as Cuphea is self-cleaning and doesn't require deadheading. To maintain a bushy form, pinch the tips of new branches in early spring. In regions outside its hardiness zone, consider taking softwood cuttings before winter or moving the plant indoors to a bright, indirect light location.
Learn More About Cuphea Care
Cuphea Companion Plants
Companion plants for cuphea need the same recipe of full‑day to dappled sun, sharply drained soil, and only moderate watering. Salvia’s purple wands and lavender’s silvery foliage echo cuphea’s heat‑loving nature while supplying contrasting texture and a long nectar season that keeps pollinators circling the bed. For lower layers, coneflower matches cuphea’s bold summer color in identical soil and light, whereas nemesia threads bright blooms between the mounded shrubs, filling any gaps without crowding their roots.
