AnnualsDiscover the right annual plants for your garden.
Vermillionaire ® orotund cracker industrial plant ( Cupheahybrid ) . Photo by Proven Winners .
Are you stock of plant the same monotony mix of annuals in your garden beds and containers class after year ? If so , Cuphea is just what you need to break out of your rut and rev up your summertime coloration pallet .
Cuphea is gaining far-flung appeal because of its outrageous raiment of flower coloring and profile . Although the flowers are little , they are abundant , and their vivid colouring material and sweet nectar make them dead resistless to hummingbird , butterfly , and other pollinator .
Cuphea bonk summertime sunlight and heat , and when grown as an yearbook , it will bloom nonstop until the first frost . If you live in a hoar - free climate , you’re able to also grow it as an evergreen perennial . In recent years , stock breeder have introduced new cuphea hybrid with showier flower on more heavyset plants , giving you even more option and color combination to choose from .
On this page : Basics|Types|Planting|Care|Cuphea Pictures|Landscaping idea
BASICS
Botanical name:
Cuphea(KOO - fee - ah )
Common names:
cracker plant , cigar flower , Mexican cigar works , at-bat flower , bunny girl ears , false heather
Plant type:
Tender perennial , raise as an yearbook in most climates .
Zone:
8 - 11
Height/spread:
1 to 3 foot
Bloom time:
later spring until frost
Light preference:
Full sun
Flower colors and characteristics:
Both sides of the color wheel are stand for , from fond and spicy reds and oranges to cool off pink , lavender , and purple tones . cultivar with pure clean flower are also available . The efflorescence are typically tubular in anatomy , but some sport auricle - shaped flower petal that give them the impulsive appearance of tiny mice , bats , or bunnies .
Foliage:
Bright green to blue - green , typically shiny and oblong
Special features:
TYPES OF CUPHEA
There are more than 250 coinage ofCuphea , most of them aboriginal to Mexico and Central and South America . However , only a fistful are cultivated for ornamental function . The following types are among the most popular and are usually usable at local nursery or by ring armour - rescript , either as seminal fluid or potted plants .
PLANTING
Where to plant:
In full Sunday or part shade in compost - productive , well - drained soil . Where summers are red-hot and dry , cupheas benefit from a turn of tincture .
When to plant:
In late saltation , after all danger of Robert Lee Frost has clear .
Growing from seed:
you may sow seeds directly in the garden after the soil has warmed in the springtime or start seeds indoors 10 to 12 weeks before the last frost . Seeds need light for germination , so do n’t cover them up with soil ; just constrict them lightly into the surface . Keep the soil moist until sprouting pass , usually within 8 to 10 day .
Although cupheas are comfortable to come out from seed , the seed wo n’t germinate outdoors in temperatures below 70 ° F. Unless you live in a temperate climate , you ’ll have skilful solvent purchasing container - grown plant or starting seeds indoors .
CARE
Watering:
Water on a regular basis until plants become well plant , keeping the soil equally moist but not soggy . Once they take root , plant can tolerate siccative growing condition .
Fertilizing:
To keep your cuphea plant life flowering vigorously all season , feed them regularly with awater - soluble plant food , or once in the spring with aslow - release granular fertiliser . Potted works may necessitate more frequent applications .
Pruning and deadheading:
Cupheas are self - cleaning , so no deadheading is need to ensure uninterrupted prime production . If you want to make your plant life bushy and more compact , you may cut back or crimp them back in later fountain to encourage more branching and , in spell , more heyday .
Common pests and problems:
Although cupheas are broadly speaking pest resistant , they may at times be bothered byJapanese beetle , whiteflies , andaphids .
CUPHEA PICTURES
Photo : Proven Winners
Vermillionaire ® Large Firecracker Plant — Buy now from Proven WinnersCuphea igneahybrid
Height:
18 to 28 inch
Spread:
12 to 24 inches
Similar to ‘ David Verity ’ but with some notable sweetening , including larger , more abundant reddish - orange flowers and a tidier , mound drug abuse , make it a great addition to container .
Photo by : Proven Winners .
' Flamenco Samba'—Buy now from Proven WinnersCuphea llavea
8 to16 column inch
12 to 18 Inches
This show - block bat - confront cuphea feature large flowers with dour royal centers and frilly reddish - cherry petals that look like enormous cricket bat ears . Vigorous and well - branched , with great heat tolerance and a sprawl growth habit . Also tryTiny mouse ® (C. llavea ) , a slightly small plant ( about a animal foot high and full ) with tiny red - eared blooms .
pic by : yakonstant / Shutterstock .
' David Verity’Cuphea igneahybrid
2 to 3 feet ( 4 to 5 feet in mood where it is wintertime hardy )
Hummingbirds flock in swarm to the tubular , fiery orange bloom of youth of this showy cultivar , which is also called cigar efflorescence because of the slightly flare out , yellow crest that resemble a light cigar . Prominent purplish filament and reddish stanch complement the brightly colored flowers . Create a beautiful haven for hummingbird by growing ‘ David Verity ’ with some of their other favorite nectar sources , suchsalvia , agastache , andcrocosmia .
pic by All - America Selections .
FloriGlory ® DianaCuphea hyssopifolia
10 to 12 in
15 to 18 inches
self-praise five times the flower world power of traditional Mexican heathers , this 2018 All - America Selections winner , breed by Westhoff , is cover in intensely colored magenta blooms from outpouring well into twilight . Although not actually a member of the heather family , it bears a faithful resemblance , with its finely textured , glossy unripened leave-taking and rosy pink flowers . Other gloss in the FloriGlory ® series admit white and lavender . Plant a mixture of all three hues in a pot or hanging basket for a looker container arrangement .
Photo by Rock Giguere / Millette Photomedia .
Sriracha ™ VioletCuphea llavea
14 to 18 inches
12 to 14 inch
Bring on the heat ! The capably named Sriracha ™ series of cupheas bring on a profusion of vibrantly colored blooms throughout the dog days of summer on compact plant under 2 base tall . Sriracha ™ Violet boast dazzle flowers . Other chromaticity in the series include pinkish and rose . The container - friendly size is just proper for adding bright pop of semblance to patios , balconies , and smaller garden .
LANDSCAPING IDEAS
If you love warm , citrusy colors , try Vermillionaire ® in thiscontainer recipefrom Proven Winners , along with Superbells ® Dreamsicle ® and Superbells ® Double Amber calibrachoas .
There are many ways to include cuphea in your garden , here are a few hint :
