#929 Cuphea ignea Common Names: cigar plant, cigarette plant, firecracker plant, cigar flower Family: Lythraceae (loosestrife Family) Get link to this Profile or click for data record #929

Cigars? Cigarettes? I think these hot orange-red tubes look most like firecrackers as they explode with color all summer long in flower beds, borders or container gardens.

Motivated by verbal threats, Susie the puppy unconcernedly retreats from a recent defilement of Jack's cigar plant.

But I digress, cigar plant is a subshrub that grows to about 3 ft (0.9 m) in height with a similar spread. The leaves are lance shaped or narrowly elliptical and dark green measuring 1-1.5 in (2.5-3.8 cm) in length and 0.25-0.5 in (0.6-1.3 cm) wide. They are arranged oppositely on the stems and flowers arise from where the leaves attach. The stems themselves are slender semi-woody, and tend to be brittle. The branching stems impart a dense, compact form that can become leggy late in the season but that barely diminishes its beauty.

Location
The cigar plant is native to Mexico and the islands of the West Indies. In recent years, no doubt due to its many talents, the cigar plant's popularity is on the rise among gardeners everywhere.

Culture
Pinch back the stem tips occassionally to maintain a dense compact shape.
Light: Bright sun but tolerates some shade.
Moisture: Cigar plant likes moisture but will endure short dry spells.
Hardiness: USDA Zones 10 - 12. This frost tender tropical plant is also grown in Zones 8 and 9 where it may be killed back to the roots but usually returns. In other areas this fast grower is grown as an annual.
Propagation: Cigar plant is easily grown from seed. Also from short stem tip cuttings taken in late spring or early summer.

I position my lawn chair so that I can watch the hummingbirds feast on my cigar plant. Apparently this ticks them off and they buzzily divebomb me like hungry mosquitos - it's actually a little creepy...

Features
Cigar plant is a fast grower and requires little attention. But it will command your attention as party place for all manner of butterflies and hummingbirds. Plant a mass of cigar plants near a window or the patio where you can enjoy watching hordes of happy hummingbirds come to feast on the beautiful banquet that you have left for them. It is very tolerant of heat and a summer long bloomer. After enjoying just one cigar plant in your garden or patio you'll be hooked.

Jack Scheper 9/2/01; updated 11/8/03, 7/9/06

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