Misplaced Pages

Cuphea ignea
Conservation status
Secure  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Myrtales
Family:	Lythraceae
Genus:	Cuphea
Species:	C. ignea
Binomial name
Cuphea ignea A.DC.

Cuphea ignea, the cigar plant, cigar flower, firecracker plant, or Mexican cigar, is a species of flowering plant in the genus Cuphea of the family Lythraceae. It is a tropical, densely branched evergreen subshrub. This species, native to Mexico and the West Indies, produces small, tubular, bright red to orange flowers. Each flower is tipped with a thin white rim and two small purple-black petals. The flowers, which are attractive to hummingbirds and butterflies, resemble lit cigars, hence the name ignea, which is Latin for "fiery". The genus name Cuphea comes from the Greek word kyphos which means curved or humped; this is thought to refer to the shape of the seeds. The leaves are small, elliptical and of a bright green colour. It grows to about 60 cm (24 in).

Cultivation

In temperate climates Cuphea ignea requires a warm, sheltered spot, as it does not tolerate frost. Alternately it may be grown under glass or indoors as a houseplant. In the UK this plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit (confirmed 2017).

In the US, Cuphea ignea is winter hardy to USDA zones 10–12. It is somewhat drought tolerant, but prefers well-watered, well-drained soils.

References

1. "NatureServe Explorer". Retrieved 2021-04-14.
2. "ITIS Standard Report Page: Cuphea ignea". Itis.gov. Retrieved 2010-07-30.
3. "Cuphea ignea". Floridata. Retrieved 2010-07-30.
4. ^ "Cuphea ignea". Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder. Archived from the original on 2014-02-24. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
5. ^ "Cuphea ignea (Firecracker Plant, Mexican Cigar Plant) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox". plants.ces.ncsu.edu. Retrieved 2021-02-20.
6. "Cuphea ignea". Mobot.org. Retrieved 2010-07-30.
7. "Cuphea ignea {Lythraceae} Cigar Flower, Cigarette Plant". Titanarum.uconn.edu. Archived from the original on 2010-06-30. Retrieved 2010-07-30.
8. "Cuphea ignea". Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 2020-04-17.
9. "AGM Plants - Ornamental" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 26. Retrieved 24 January 2018.

• Flore des Serres et des Jardins de l'Europe. Ghent (Gand) 5: t. 500c. 1849

External links

• HEAR information

This Myrtales article is a stub. You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it.

• v
• t
• e

• NatureServe secure species
• Cuphea
• Flora of California
• Flora of Florida
• Myrtales stubs