Cuphea - Cigar Flower

(Cu'phea)

DESCRIPTION: These are tender, herbaceous perennials and subshrubs mainly from Mexico. Their height ranges from 1 to 2 feet and their flowers may be red and black, scarlet or purplish, lavender or dark purple. Cupheas are great for the window garden and greenhouse. C. platycentra, is a pretty summer bedding plant and they all may be grown permanently outside in the far South.

POTTING: Old plants may be cut back in March and repotted in loam leaf mold and sand. Beautiful, healthy plants may be grown in 6-inch pots if fed with liquid fertilizer when the pots are full of roots.

PROPAGATION: Seeds can be sown in pots of sandy soil in a warm greenhouse in February or cuttings may be made from the fresh shoots in the spring.

VARIETIES: C. platycentra; C. Llavea miniata; C. hyssopifolia; C. lanceolata.

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