Cupheas

24.07.2023 - 11:49 / hgic.clemson.edu

Are you tired of planting the same summer annuals over and over? Want to spice up your containers with something different that will attract hummingbirds, butterflies, bees, and other pollinating insects? Then look no further. Cupheas (Cuphea species) love our hot South Carolina summers and will bloom continuously from spring until the first frost. They are native to Central America. Another bonus is the flowers don’t need deadheading as they are self-cleaning. However, you may need to pinch back the stems if the plant gets too leggy. Also, they are insect, disease, and deer resistant.

All cupheas are easy to grow in the sun to partial shade. In our climate, they do best with partial shade during the hottest part of the afternoon. They will not bloom well in deep shade. Plant them in organically rich, well-drained soil. Though somewhat tolerant of drought, it’s best to keep them evenly moist, with care not to keep them too wet. I usually fertilize my container plants at planting, using a slow-release fertilizer, such as Osmocote, which will last all summer. Instead of a slow release, you can use a water-soluble fertilizer every 2 to 4 weeks.

The following cupheas are my favorites to use in containers and hanging baskets:

Bat-face Cuphea (Cuphea llavea) is my absolute favorite cuphea to use in my containers and hanging baskets. The flowers have a purple calyx with two reddish petals or “ears” similar to a bat’s face, making me smile when I look at them. It has the tendency to become leggy, so pinch back the stems to keep the plant more compact. My hummingbirds and butterflies go crazy over this one.

Firecracker or Mexican Cigar Plant (Cuphea ignea) has one-inch bright red tubular flowers tipped with white and two small black