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Firecracker Plant Cuphea ignea

Other Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
KOO-fee-ah ig-NEE-ah
Description

Mexican Cigar Plant is somewhat drought tolerant but prefers light, well-watered and well-drained soil.  This tender perennial that is grown as an annual can be wintered indoors in a sunny location, making a beautiful houseplant.  It's neat, rounded shape, and year-round flowering also makes this plant suitable for containers.  

Propagation can be accomplished by seed or stem cuttings.  If doing cuttings, it is best to do in the fall and winter indoors.  Watering should also be reduced at this time.

Insects, Diseases and Other plant Problems:  Pinching the stem tips will help if the plant becomes leggy.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Plant Walls and Hedges
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#hummingbird friendly#heat tolerant#houseplant#drought tolerant#red flowers#shade garden#acidic soils tolerant#sandy soils tolerant#loamy soils tolerant#clay soils tolerant#butterfly friendly#container plant#annual
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#hummingbird friendly#heat tolerant#houseplant#drought tolerant#red flowers#shade garden#acidic soils tolerant#sandy soils tolerant#loamy soils tolerant#clay soils tolerant#butterfly friendly#container plant#annual
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Cuphea
    Species:
    ignea
    Family:
    Lythraceae
    Life Cycle:
    Annual
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Stem Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Mexico and Jamaica
    Wildlife Value:
    Very attractive to hummingbirds and butterflies.
    Play Value:
    Attractive Flowers
    Attracts Pollinators
    Easy to Grow
    Textural
    Wildlife Food Source
    Dimensions:
    Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Annual
    Houseplant
    Perennial
    Shrub
    Habit/Form:
    Dense
    Rounded
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Fine
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Alkaline (>8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Available Space To Plant:
    Less than 12 inches
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    10a, 10b, 11a, 11b, 12a, 12b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    1/2 inch dry capsule
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Red/Burgundy
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Solitary
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Long Bloom Season
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Fall
    Spring
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Tubular
    Flower Petals:
    2-3 rays/petals
    Flower Size:
    1-3 inches
    Flower Description:
    The 1.25" flower is a bright red calyx that is tipped with a thin, white rim and two small purple-black petals It will flower year-round and single blooms appear in the leaf axis.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Leaf Shape:
    Lanceolate
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    The 1.5" lance-shape to oval evergreen leaves are dark green.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Red/Burgundy
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    Reddish unbranched thin stems
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Container
    Houseplants
    Patio
    Walkways
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Mass Planting
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Hummingbirds