Tip #8: Cigar Plant (Cuphea ignea)
The Cigar Plant, or firecracker plant, is an underutilized annual subshrub that delivers performance in summer heat. Reaching one to two feet in height and width, *Cuphea ignea* produces hundreds of narrow, fiery orange-red tubular blooms with dark purple rims and white-edged tips, resembling the glowing ash of a lit cigar. Cultivars like ‘David Verity’ and ‘Vermillionaire’ are prized by horticulturists for their tolerance of heat and humidity.
Cuphea qualifies as a true nectar factory. A single mature plant produces dozens of fresh blossoms each day, each tube holding a high volume of sweet nectar that hummingbirds visit repeatedly from sunrise to dusk. Because the plant naturally branches out without extensive pinching, it creates a dense dome of color that acts as an unmistakable visual beacon for hummingbirds patrolling your neighborhood.
Plant cuphea in full sun to light afternoon shade in garden beds, window boxes, or patio pots. It prefers fertile, well-draining soil with regular moisture, though established plants withstand short periods of summer drought remarkably well. Cuphea requires very little maintenance; the blossoms drop cleanly when spent, eliminating the chore of deadheading. Apply an organic slow-release fertilizer at planting time to keep foliage lush and green through the hottest summer months.
