Cuphea llavea
Bat-faced Cuphea
Lythraceae
Evergreen, Perennials, Shrubs, Flowers
CUPHEAThese natives of Mexico and Central America provide color throughout warm months. Use them in small beds, as formal edging for borders, along paths, or in containers. Reliably perennial only in frost-free areas, though they may survive light frosts in Zones 16, 17, 21–23. C. hyssopifolia and C. ignea have both naturalized on Hawaii(Big Island).
Pinch tips of shoots for compactgrowth; severely cut backolder plants in late fall or earlyspring. Easy to grow fromcuttings.
Cuphea llaveaTo 2–3 ft. tall, 3 ft. wide. Leaves to 3 in. long. red-and-purple, 1 1/2-in.-long flowers are said to look like a bat’s face. Occasionally spreads by seed in gardens. Though cultivated in the desert, it is not drought-tolerant—in nature, it grows along stream banks in Mexico. Compact varieties (12–16 in. high, 18 in. wide) include ‘Flamenco Rumba’, coral red flowers; ‘Flamenco Tango’, vibrant pink blooms; and ‘Totally Tempted’, bright red blooms.
Cuphea llavea
To 2–3 ft. tall, 3 ft. wide. Leaves to 3 in. long. red-and-purple, 1 1/2-in.-long flowers are said to ...
Cuphea ignea
Leafy, compact plant to 1 ft. or taller, as wide as tall. Narrowdark green leaves, 1–1 1/2 in.long. Th...
Sphagneticola trilobata
From Central and South America,this trailing evergreen plantgrows to 1 1/2–2 ft. high, spreadingto 6 f...
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