ON THIS PLANT
Cuphea micropetala’s bright orange-red flowers might remind you of a lit cigar or candy corn, earning it the name Mexican cigar plant or candy corn plant.
This small woody shrub thrives in hotter regions like Western and Central Mexico. The tropical climate allows the small, bright flowers to bloom nearly year-round. Candy corn plants are typically perennial, although not very long-lived. However, it can easily be treated as an annual or grown in planters and moved indoors for areas prone to colder climates.
While it grows only 40 inches at most, the candy corn plant is a striking border shrub that attracts hummingbirds and other pollinators when used in landscaping.
CHARACTERISTICS
Botanical profile.
- Plant Type
- Herb
- Life Cycle
- Perennial
- Genus
- Cuphea
- Family
- Lythraceae
- Hardiness Zone
- 9-11
- Mature Height
- 30 cm to 91 cm
- Mature Spread
- 30 cm to 61 cm
- Leaf Color
- Green, Dark Green
- Leaf Type
- Evergreen
- Flower Color
- Red, Orange
- Flower Size
- 2.54 cm to 7.62 cm
- Bloom Time
- Late spring, Summer, Fall, Early winter
- Planting Time
- Spring, Summer, Autumn
- Harvest Time
- Mid summer, Late summer, Fall, Early winter, Mid winter
- Native Area
- Mexico
ALSO KNOWN AS
Other names.
en Candycorn-plant en Cigarplant en Cigarette bush en Candy corn plant en Mexican giant cigar plant
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