Scientific Name:
Cuphea ignea
(incl. hybrid cvs.)
Pronunciation:
KOO-fee-ah ig-NEE-ah
Common Name:
firecracker plant, cigar flower
Family Name:
Lythraceae
Plant Type:
Annual (grown as), Flowering pot plant
Key ID Features:
Leaves opposite, lanceolate, most blades reach 2-3cm long x 1-2cm wide; flowers solitary or 2-3 per axil, tubular, 2-3cm long, perianth bright red to orange with white to purple-black ends, pedicels 1-3cm long.
Habit:
Dense
Form:
Round
Texture:
Medium - fine
Mature Height:
0.2 - 0.4m
Mature Spread:
0.1 - 0.3m
Growth Rate:
Fast
Origin:
Caribbean Island, Mexico (Jamaica)
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 10: (-1 to 4 °C)
Exposure:
Full sun, Part sun/part shade
Soil/Growing Medium:
Well-drained
Water Use:
Moderate
Landscape Uses:
Attract birds, Attract butterflies, Bedding plant, Container planting, Hanging basket, Indoor plant
Additional Info:
Google. Cultivars shown may include C. 'Matches' and C. 'Cupver' Vermillionaire (C. ignea x C. llavea).
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Simple
Arrangement:
Opposite
Texture/Venation:
Soft flexible, Pinnate venation
Surfaces:
Glabrous
Colour in Summer:
Dark-green
Shapes:
Lanceolate
Apices:
Acuminate
Bases:
Cuneate
Margins:
Entire
Inflorescence Type:
Flowers clustered
Flower Morphology:
Flowers perfect
Number Of Petals:
2
Corolla Shape:
Tubular
Ovary Position:
Superior
Colour (petals):
Showy, Orange, Red (Calyx bright red with a thin white rim; two small purple-black petals)
Flower Scent:
None
Flower Time at Peak:
Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
Fruit Type:
Capsule
Fruit Colour:
Brown
Fruiting Time:
Oct, Nov
Additional Info:
Fruit insignificant
Bark or Stem Colour:
Green
Maintenance:
Low
Pest Susceptibility:
(Pest resistant, Disease resistant)
