Cupheas

Blue waxweed is an herbaceous annual with tiny reddish-purple blooms that are extremely attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds. The stems have a gummy texture, giving it both one of its alternative names, tarweed, and the second part of its Latin name, Cuphea viscosissima, from the Latin *viscidus* (which roughly translates to "sticky").

Bat-faced cuphea is a fast-growing Mexican native, full of red flowers that resemble bat faces (hence its name). This sub-shrub features tender broadleaves, prefers cooler climates, and is a regular fixture in many Mexican homes, where it grows to 76 cm tall.

Bat-faced cuphea 'Torpedo' is a cultivated plant from the loosestrife family. It is bred to produce larger flowers than other plants in the genus. The red tube-shaped blooms measure over 2.5 cm in diameter. The larger-sized blooms are also what make it a popular choice in perennial gardens.

Cuphea ignea, the firecracker plant, cigar flower, firecracker plant, or Mexican cigar, is a species of flowering plant in the genus Cuphea of the family Lythraceae. It is a tropical, densely branched evergreen subshrub. This species, native to Mexico and the West Indies, produces small, tubular, bright red to orange flowers. Each flower is tipped with a thin, white rim and two small purple-black petals. The flower is said to resemble a lit firecracker plant, hence the name ignea, which comes from the Latin for "fire". The leaves are small, elliptical and of a bright green color. It grows to about 61 cm. In temperate regions Cuphea ignea requires a warm, sheltered spot, as it does not tolerate frost. Alternatively, it may be grown under glass or indoors as a houseplant. In the UK, this plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit (confirmed 2017).

A native of Mexico and parts of Central America, false heather is a small unassuming plant that makes a great addition to beds and borders. It has attractive evergreen foliage and when in bloom has lavender, white, or purple flowers. In the state of Hawaii, this naturalized plant is regarded as a weed.

The mass of bright red or orange tubular flowers of the cigar plant (Cuphea hookeriana) make it a popular ornamental plant, suitable for the garden or as a container plant. It is neat, fast-growing, and easy to care for, but it is tender to frost. It attracts hummingbirds and butterflies.

Despite its attractive purple flowers, colombian waxweed (Cuphea carthagenensis) is a fast-spreading invasive plant species that out-competes native species in some locations like Australia. The plant has also been considered a potential oil-bearing seed crop.

The cupheas 'Vermillionaire' are a large and diverse group of flowering, tropical and warm-temperate plants. Many cupheas 'Vermillionaire' are commonly called "cigar plants" because of their long, tubular flowers. Sporting colorful and distinctive blooms, many cupheas 'Vermillionaire' are popular as ornamentals. Some species are grown commercially to produce Cuphea oil, a coconut or palm oil substitute in non-edible products.

The tropical waxweed are a large and diverse group of flowering, tropical and warm-temperate plants. Many tropical waxweed are commonly called "cigar plants" because of their long, tubular flowers. Sporting colorful and distinctive blooms, many tropical waxweed are popular as ornamentals. Some species are grown commercially to produce Cuphea oil, a coconut or palm oil substitute in non-edible products.

The cuphea nitidula are a large and diverse group of flowering, tropical and warm-temperate plants. Many cuphea nitidula are commonly called "cigar plants" because of their long, tubular flowers. Sporting colorful and distinctive blooms, many cuphea nitidula are popular as ornamentals. Some species are grown commercially to produce Cuphea oil, a coconut or palm oil substitute in non-edible products.

The cuphea appendiculata are a large and diverse group of flowering, tropical and warm-temperate plants. Many cuphea appendiculata are commonly called "cigar plants" because of their long, tubular flowers. Sporting colorful and distinctive blooms, many cuphea appendiculata are popular as ornamentals. Some species are grown commercially to produce Cuphea oil, a coconut or palm oil substitute in non-edible products.