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Cuphea ignea

Cigar · Cigar Flower · Cigar Plant

Family LythraceaeGenus Cuphea

Two scarlet tubular flowers with a white rim and a dark purple mouth, on a leafy stem
FlowerKurt Stüber [1]CC BY-SA 3.0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
Annual, Houseplant, Perennial, ShrubExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
subshrub or shrubPlants of the World Online
Height
1-3 ft30-90 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
1-3 ft30-90 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Flower
Black, Orange, Red/Burgundy, WhiteExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
Fall, Spring, SummerExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
Mexico Southeast, Mexico SouthwestGBIF Backbone Taxonomy
Hardiness zones
10-12Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sun; Partial ShadeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
Loam (Silt), SandExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Good Drainage, MoistExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

  • The red flowers of the cigar plant, tipped with a white rim, look like lit cigars, hence ignea, Latin for "fiery". Hummingbirds and butterflies are drawn to them. Wikipedia: Cuphea ignea

Protocol

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1998

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

  3. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  4. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

about 9 months from start to step 4. Germination happens during step 4, in 21 days.

100% germination in 21 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Cuphea p. 27Public domain
Show the original text
Cuphea (Lythraceae). C. ignea germ. the same from 55-85 but zero at 50 (HC). C. Ilavea germ. 40-70D-40-70D(6/6 in 3rd w) and 70D-40-70D40-70D(none).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Cuphea p. 27. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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