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Cuphea hyssopifolia

Phonetic Spelling
KOO-fee-ah hiss-sop-ih-FOH-lee-ah
Description

Mexican Heather or False Heather is a small evergreen shrub native to Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras. It has naturalized to Hawaii and is considered weedy there. It is moderately salt-tolerant, adaptable to various soils with good drainage in full sun and tolerates high summer heat and some drought but grows best with regular moisture. It is a perennial in zones 9 and higher but is generally grown as an annual. 

The small lavender-purple flowers appear singly in the leaf axis along the stem and bloom profusely till frost. The plant tends to grow to 2 feet tall and wide in a rounded shape with multiple stems and is evergreen in warm climates or indoors. Use as a border plant, along walkways or as a container plant on patios or indoors.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#purple#hummingbird friendly#full sun tolerant#heat tolerant#drought tolerant#pink flowers#salt tolerant#summer flowers#long bloom time#border planting#spring interest#humidity tolerant#walkway planting#butterfly friendly#container plant#annual#patio
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#purple#hummingbird friendly#full sun tolerant#heat tolerant#drought tolerant#pink flowers#salt tolerant#summer flowers#long bloom time#border planting#spring interest#humidity tolerant#walkway planting#butterfly friendly#container plant#annual#patio
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Cuphea
    Species:
    hyssopifolia
    Family:
    Lythraceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    The leaves and flowers are used as a tonic and in the treatment of fevers and coughs. They are also used as an insecticide
    Life Cycle:
    Annual
    Perennial
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras
    Distribution:
    South America, Hawaii
    Wildlife Value:
    Flowers attract butterflies and hummingbirds.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 1 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 8 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Annual
    Perennial
    Habit/Form:
    Multi-stemmed
    Rounded
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Medium
  • 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 Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Occasionally Dry
    Available Space To Plant:
    12 inches-3 feet
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Pink
    Purple/Lavender
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Solitary
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Trumpet
    Flower Petals:
    6 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Lavender-purple trumpet-shaped flowers with 6 petals and green calx tubes grow singly in the leaf axils. Blooms till frost
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Glossy
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Long-lasting
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Lanceolate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    3/4 inch glossy green leaves are lance-shaped and crowded along the stem. In warm climates or indoors they are evergreen
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Surface:
    Hairy (pubescent)
    Stem Description:
    Green stems with hairs
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Container
    Hanging Baskets
    Houseplants
    Patio
    Walkways
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Hummingbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Heat
    Humidity
    Salt