Cuphea llavea
Tiny Mice Cuphea
'Tiny Mice' fsports its long tubular flowers edged with bright red ruffled petals that gives it the look of a little mouse with bright red 'ears'. Native to tropical climates, it prefers to be planted in full sun and attracts nectar loving insects. It can be planted in open ground or in hanging baskets where it will produce flowers throughout the summer. Height and spread 25-35cm.
Contributed by @enokavfc
-
Full sun
-
Occasional watering
-
A little frost hardy: 32F (0°C)
-
Rich and free draining
Common name
Tiny Mice Cuphea
Latin name
Cuphea llavea
type
Tender perennial
family
Lythraceae
ph
6.0 - 7.5 Acid - Neutral
Plant & bloom calendar
-
Best time to plant
full grown dimensions
Cuphea llavea
'Tiny Mice' fsports its long tubular flowers edged with bright red ruffled petals that gives it the look of a little mouse with bright red 'ears'. Native to tropical climates, it prefers to be planted in full sun and attracts nectar loving insects. It can be planted in open ground or in hanging baskets where it will produce flowers throughout the summer. Height and spread 25-35cm.
Planting young plants
From Early Spring TO Early Spring
Cupheas grow best when they are planted in full, bright sun but are quite happy to have periods of light shade during heat of the afternoon. Plant your Cuphea in light, compost rich, well-drained soil. Water regularly and thoroughly until they are well established, then watering can be reduced somewhat. Alternatively grow in a pot under glass or as a houseplant. Indoors, grow in full light and moderate humidity. Protect from strong sun. Tip prune for bushy growth.
Propagation by cuttings
From Early Spring TO Early Summer
Take soft wood cuttings in spring to early summer. Cleanly cut up to a 10 cm long stems, remove lower leaves and pinch the tip out, dip the stem into rooting hormone, fill a container/pot with suitable compost, make holes around the edge of it and plant the cuttings, water in well, cover with a polythene bag and place somewhere warm, lake the bag off twice a week to air the cuttings. Keep the cuttings moist until well rooted.Harden off when well rooted and pot on into individual pots increasing the airing to let the leaves to develop. Remove rotten, dying or dead cuttings regularly.