Bat Flower Cuphea llavea
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- KOO-fee-ah lah-VEE-ah
- Description
-
Bat-faced Cuphea or Red Cuphea is a perennial sub-shrub native to Mexico in the loosestrife family. In NC it can be grown as an annual, container plant or house plant. The name comes from the flower which has a one inch long, hairy purple calyx with two upward facing red petals, resembling a bat face. It begins blooming in late spring and continues until frost, producing clusters of numerous flowers in the leaf axils.
In its native habitat, it may grow 2-3 feet tall but as an annual, it will most likely reach 12-18 inches tall with a similar spread. Plant in well-drained moist soils in full sun in the border, in pots or along pathways. Cut back to prevent legginess. Attracts hummingbirds and other pollinators.
Many cultivars are available.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- ‘Diablo’
Hot red flowers - 'Torpedo’
Larger flowers
- ‘Diablo’
- ‘Diablo’, 'Torpedo’
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- ‘Diablo’
Hot red flowers - 'Torpedo’
Larger flowers
- ‘Diablo’
- ‘Diablo’, 'Torpedo’
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Cuphea
- Species:
- llavea
- Family:
- Lythraceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Mexico
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts hummingbirds and other pollinators
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Perennial
- Habit/Form:
- Mounding
- Multi-stemmed
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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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 Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b, 12a, 12b
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Black
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- 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-inch long dark purple hairy calyx has 2 upward facing red petals and resembles a bat face. Flowers appear in the axils of leaves.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Up to 3 inch long ovate thick dark green hairy leaves with pointed apex.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Reddish green stems
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-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Hanging Baskets
- Small Space
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Pollinators
