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cigar flower
Scientific Name: Cuphea ignea
Family: Lythraceae
Category: Dicot
Growth: Subshrub, Shrub
Duration: Perennial
Other Names:
Cigar Plant (Cuphea ignea)
The Cigar Plant, scientifically known as Cuphea ignea, is a delightful and easy-to-care-for shrub that brings continuous blooms to gardens and homes. Its distinctive flowers, resembling lit cigars or firecrackers, make it a captivating addition to any plant collection.
Considerations for Pets
- The plant has small parts.
Considerations for Children
- The plant has small parts.
Nomenclature and Taxonomy
- Scientific Name: Cuphea ignea A. DC.
- Family: Lythraceae (Loosestrife family)
- Genus: Cuphea
- Synonyms/Alternative Names:Cuphea platycentra (sometimes confused with Cuphea ignea)
- Common Names: Cigar plant, cigar flower, firecracker plant, Mexican cigar plant, Cigarette Plant.
Distribution and Habitat
- Native to Mexico and the West Indies.
Morphology and Growth Habits
- Evergreen sub-shrub with a neat, round, densely branched, bushy habit.
- Typically grows to 12-24 inches in height and width.
- Leaves are opposite, simple, oblong to lance-shaped, and glossy bright green.
- Flowers are tubular, typically bright orange-red with a white "ashy" tip, resembling a lit cigar. They are approximately 1-1/2 inches long with a pair of small upright petals.
- Blooms profusely from summer to fall, often year-round in suitable climates.
- Flowers are less than 1 inch long.
Quirky Facts
- The flowers are often compared to lit cigars or firecrackers due to their shape and coloration.
- The white tip of the flower is said to resemble the ash on a glowing cigar.
Further Resources
- RHS (Royal Horticultural Society)
- Plants of Hawaii (information and images for Cuphea salvadorensis)