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Mexican Giant Cigar Plant in the GardenTags plant encyclopedia

Cuphea micropetala

 

Mexican Giant Cigar Plant

Cuphea micropetala is a small evergreen shrub that grows to 1m tall with narrow penstemon-like foliage and red stems. It blooms from late summer through to late autum. Clumps spread outwards by rhizomes. Plant in light shade to full sun with regular to irrigation. It is hardy and evergreen to about 25-30° F

Contributed by @franshinegee

 
plant Features
  • Mexican Giant Cigar Plant likes full sun

    Full sun

  • Mexican Giant Cigar Plant likes occasional watering

    Occasional watering

  • Mexican Giant Cigar Plant is a little frost hardy: 32f (0°c)

    A little frost hardy: 32F (0°C)

  • Mexican Giant Cigar Plant likes rich and free draining

    Rich and free draining

 
plant information

Common name

Mexican Giant Cigar Plant

Latin name

Cuphea micropetala

type

Tender perennial

family

Lythraceae

ph

6.0 - 7.5 Acid - Neutral

  • Light

    Mexican Giant Cigar Plant likes full sun

    Full sun

  • Frost

    Mexican Giant Cigar Plant is a little frost hardy: 32f (0°c)

    A little frost hardy: 32F (0°C)

  • Soil

    Mexican Giant Cigar Plant likes rich and free draining

    Rich and free draining

  • Water

    Mexican Giant Cigar Plant likes occasional watering

    Occasional watering

Plant & bloom calendar

  •  
    Best time to plant

full grown dimensions

The size of a fully grown Mexican Giant Cigar Plant is 0.45meters x 0.90meters 0.45 M 0.90 M

Cuphea micropetala

Cuphea micropetala is a small evergreen shrub that grows to 1m tall with narrow penstemon-like foliage and red stems. It blooms from late summer through to late autum. Clumps spread outwards by rhizomes. Plant in light shade to full sun with regular to irrigation. It is hardy and evergreen to about 25-30° F


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.

 
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Gardeners who are growing this plant