Though the profuse bell-shaped, yellow flowers that adorn the lengthy, twisted vines of Carolina jessamine are truly breathtaking, they conceal a deep, dark secret.They, along with the rest of the plant, are capabl
06.06.2023 - 20:21 / gardenerspath.com / Gretchen Heber
Prettier Than its Namesake: How to Grow Bat-Faced Cuphea Cuphea IlaveaDon’t you just love unusual plant names? There are species with names like turpentine bush, and of course there’s snake plant and Persian shield, too.
Here’s another good one for you: bat-faced cuphea.
As you might guess, this plant’s sweet little flowers resemble bat faces, with two perfectly colored upper petals that pop up like a bat’s ears, and other little petals that are arranged just so and look like a little bat face.
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Grown as an annual in much of the country, bat-faced cuphea is evergreen to the upper 20s°F and root hardy to the lower 20s°F. In some areas, it will die to the ground and – with heavy mulching – grow back from the roots.
This loose shrub is part of a family of about 115 species, some of which have equally interesting names, such as cigar plant.
The open-pollinated form of the plant displays flowers that are deep purple, white, and red, but newer cultivars are available in a variety of colors. More on those shortly.
While bees, butterflies, and birds may not be fans of the flying mammals, they do indeed favor the nectar of the eponymous plant.
This subshrub begins producing clusters of numerous flowers in late spring, and continues to bloom until frost. It’s native to Mexico and Central America.
PropagationBat-faced cuphea can be propagated from seed or via stem cuttings, or you can transplant nursery starts into the garden.
From SeedYou can sow cuphea seeds directly in the garden when all danger of frost has passed, or you can start seeds indoors 10 to 12 weeks before the last spring frost date.
Scatter seeds on top of soil
Though the profuse bell-shaped, yellow flowers that adorn the lengthy, twisted vines of Carolina jessamine are truly breathtaking, they conceal a deep, dark secret.They, along with the rest of the plant, are capabl
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