Cuphea: Firecrackers for the Birds
It’s mid-May and I can finally see leaves emerging from the middle of a pot on my south-facing deck. I can’t believe that this plant, a Cuphea ‘Vermillionaire’ (LargeFirecracker Plant), actually made it through this past winter. The January freeze killed off or damaged several of my ‘fully hardy’ in-ground ornamentals, so this was an unexpected survival story. I bought this plant six or so years ago (definitely pre-COVID) along with half a dozen other ‘annuals’ to create a colourful summer container. The following spring it surprised me by coming back to life, and it has been doing so each year since.
What makes this plant so appealing, aside from its determination to live? In short, its compact size and fullness, vibrant flower colour, and ease of care. Best of all, it’s an absolute magnet for the hummingbirds!
Cuphea (prounounced kyoo-fee-uh) is a diverse genus of flowering plants native to temperate and tropical regions of the Americas. Species include low-growing herbaceous plants, climbers, and semi-wooded shrubs, many with impressive, uniquely shaped flowers. (Hint: bat face cuphea, cigar plant, tiny mice, bunny ears…) While most varieties will not survive in our climate, a few are listed as root hardy to Zone 8. Even those, however, may still be sold locally as annuals. It turns out that C. 'Vermillionaire' is indeed on the marginal list, which likely accounts for its sluggish start each spring. But once it starts blooming — for me that’s usually in July — it goes non-stop until frost, producing loads of tubular, orange-red flowers with yellow and white tips up and down tightly spaced stems. The leaves are glossy and dark green, making a great backdrop for the bright blooms.
My plant grows about a foot tall, but it would probably be bigger (and perhaps even more floriferous) in a warmer microclimate. Regardless, it’s obvious why this variety is referred to as the firecracker plant. And with each ‘firecracker’ chock full of nectar, it’s equally obvious why hummingbirds and pollinators alike are so attracted to it.
Being a heat lover, C. ‘Vermillionaire’ does best in full sun. All it needs is well-draining soil and an average amount of water. Because it is compact and requires no deadheading, it works especially well as a central or filler plant in a mixed container.
Try growing a cuphea for yourself and say “Hello” to the hummers!