Candy Corn Cuphea micropetala
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- KOO-fee-ah my-kro-PET-uh-luh
- Description
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The common name says it all. The candy corn blooms look very similar to the candy we all enjoy in the fall.
Although candy corn is grown as an evergreen shrub in warmer climates, in cooler areas it can be grown as an annual. Depending on the temperatures, it can be evergreen or die back in the winter. When it dies back in the cooler areas of its growing zone, it will not flower again until the next fall. Typically they will die back naturally when temperatures drop into the 20's and will start to recover in late March as temperatures rise.
Growing in full sun will provide the most blooms. New plants will have a better survival rate when planted in the spring, allowing the young plant time to become established. Water young plants regularly. Once established, Candy Corn is more drought-tolerant.
Cutting back the plant in late winter will encourage a new flush of growth in the spring.
This variety is the cold-hardiest in the Cuphea genus.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Cuphea
- Species:
- micropetala
- Family:
- Lythraceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Leaf Cutting
- Root Cutting
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Mexico
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Colorful
- Easy to Grow
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Clumping
- 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 pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Long Bloom Season
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- The 1.5" flowers are bi-colored, orange near the stem, yellow towards the tips.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- 2-5" long, green, narrow leaves. Fall colors include the green leaf tinged with a reddish-purple margin.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Straight
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Meadow
- Patio
- Small Space
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Cutting Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Humidity
- Salt
