Cuphea Mexican Heather Plant in 4.5 in. Mexican heathers may appear more vibrant and intense in dappled or filtered sunlight. Soil. Produces short racemes of 1-3 light pink-purple, pink, or white flowers, to 1/2 in long, with 6 spreading petals, from the upper leaf axils, mainly from summer to autumn. It also attracts butterflies with is aroma. In addition to thriving in landscapes, it’s also good for container gardens. Cuphea hyssopifolia -- False Heather Page 3 October 1999 Pest resistance: no serious pests are normally seen on the plant Use and Management Tolerant of many soil types, False Heather needs ample moisture to become established in full sun or partial shade, frequent light fertilizations, and appreciates a thick mulch of organic matter. Culture: Average, well-drained soil with full sun to light shade is fine in most areas. Plant Mexican heather in a sunny or partially sunny spot with well-drained soil and feed with a slow-release granular fertilizer at planting time. Cuphea hyssopifolia is native to Mexico and parts of Guatemala. Cut it back several times a year. Cuphea hyssopifolia - False Heather, Mexican Heather, or Hawaiian Heather Rather slow growing mounding evergreen shrub reaches a height of 12-18 inches. Foliage Color: Green. The mounding, semi-trailing growth habit and colorful blooms makes this a great … Commonly referred to as Mexican Heather or False Heather, it is of no relation to the European family of heathers. In any area, the fine-textured foliage and flowers make it a perfect partner for bolder leaves and blooms. Plant each liriope about one foot apart, keeping in mind that L. spicata will spread, as it's a creeping plant. Choose a location that will get full sun to partial shade. It is a low-maintenance annual that blooms from late spring until frost without needing deadheading. Ruellia simplex can be grown in either the shade or full sun, and is great for edging or mass plantings. This tough, drought-tolerant plant loves direct sunlight and thrives in intense heat. It also makes a lovely houseplant. Mexican heather also tolerates both acid and alkaline soil conditions and most soil types. It’s a perennial in North, Central, and South Florida. Want to know how to grow Mache? This plant not intended for human or animal consumption. It is native to tropical areas and you will get the best results if you can recreate as much of its natural environment as possible. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Water Mexican heather plants deeply about once every week, then allow the soil to dry slightly before watering again. Prefers sun or partial shade and regular water. Heat and drought tolerant Attracts hummingbirds ... Sun/Shade: Full Sun to Part Sun. This evergreen perennial forms into dense and compact flowering shrubs averaging around 12 inches tall, making it a great choice for borders or lining walkways. I cut mine back once they die down (after frost) and they come back each year, but they are an annual in cooler climates. » Upload a photo» Post a comment» Add an event report, © 1972 - 2020 National Gardening Association, Times are presented in US Central Standard Time, Today's site banner is by lauriemorningglory and is called "October Skies". The bold displays of color they provide are much more pleasing than individual plants placed here and there. Once established, it’s quite drought tolerant so you can just about plant it and forget it. They grow and bloom best in full sun, but late afternoon summer shade is preferred, Rodriguez said. Blooms during warm months and grows 2 to 3 feet tall. Successful tips for growing Mexican heather Plant in an area that will receive partial shade; full sun will fade the leaves. They have tiny lavender, purple, or white flowers and small, glossy leaves. The Mexican Heather likes full to part sun and grows to a foot tall. Use these convenient icons to share this page on various social media platforms: can anyone tell me the name of this plant, Zone 8b -9.4 °C (15 °F) to -6.7 °C (20 °F). Terms of Service apply. There are two techniques to master if you want to know how to prune impatiens. Photo by Forest and Kim Starr Botanical name: Cuphea hyssopifolia Common names: False heather, Mexican heather, Hawaiian heather Origin: Native to Mexico and Central America Where it will grow: Hardy to 10 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 12.2 degrees Celsius (USDA Zone 8; find your zone) Water requirement: Moderate Light requirement: Full sun or filtered shade; must have filtered shade in … It can grow in full sun in regions with cooler summers, but strong light may lighten its leaf color. Mexican Heather Mexican heather offers a year-round non-stop show of tiny purple, white or red blooms against lacy dark green foliage. Purple / Violet. It prefers a semi-shady location and minimal pruning. Remember that although Mexican heather plants grow in a wide range of soils, good drainage is critical. This attractive bedding plant will only look its best if you keep it tidy and Frost can damage Mexican heather, but it usually recovers and grows again in the spring. Hardiness Zone: Not Hardy. Grower's Pot (8-Plants) Pure Beauty Farms proudly grows the Cuphea Pure Beauty Farms proudly grows the Cuphea (Mexican Heather) Plant. This plant can grow in full sun or partial shade, and it prefers slightly acidic soil. Sun. Neutral Mexican heather is beloved for its delicate-looking foliage and countless clusters of prettily colored flowers. It's … Always wear gardening gloves and protective eyewear to prevent injury when working with pruning shears or insecticides. A Mexican heather lifespan can be quite long since these plants are able to survive the hottest summers and bounce back from most winter frosts. Some perennials are used to best advantage when they are planted in masses (Figure 2). Care of Mexican Heather. Bloom Color: Pink. Mexican False Heather is not bothered by pests. Choose an area with fertile, well-draining soil. You may want to plant Mexican heather in slightly shaded places in very warm climates to prevent the blooms and foliage from fading. It grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture zones 9 through 11, and it does very well in hot, humid climates. Cultivation. Mexican heather grows well in partial shade, especially in areas with strong summer sun. Grow Mexican heather in full sun or part shade and well-drained soil. The soil should be moist and well-drained. Under glass, grow in soil-based potting mix in full light with shade from hot sun, in moderate humidity. Many other perennials exist, but they may not be suited to Florida's climate and soils. Mexican heather (Cuphea hyssopifolia) may appear to be fragile, with its clusters of tiny pink or white flowers and dainty green leaves, but this plant is actually as sturdy as they come. Her work has been published in Forbes, USA Today, Fodor's, Marriott Traveler, SAS Airlines, the Austin American-Statesman, Austin Monthly, and dozens of other print and online publications. Mexican Heather (Cuphea hyssopifolia) Likes full to part sun and grows to a foot tall. Rose. You will want to plant Mexican heather about 2 … The species name alludes to the similarity of the foliage to that of the European herb, hyssop. Full sun bleaches its foliage’s deep-green color. document.write(''); Mexican False Heather is a tropical evergreen sub-shrub that grows to 24" in height and 36" wide. Mexican Heather- blooms all year long, full sun. This plant often thrives in the hot, humid weather than can be problematic for many other plants. Mexican Heather. Mexican heather varieties. An. Mexican heather likes to be watered whenever the surface of the soil feels dry to the touch. Heather is a relatively low maintenance plant, growing happily in both full sun and part shade, and able to thrive in poor, acid, sandy soils. Mexican heather performs best on a site with filtered shade. But Mexican heather is so darned eager to please that it finally won me over. Will Mexican Heather Return in the Spring? It doesn’t matter if you call it lamb’s lettuce or if you prefer to refer to it as corn salad – Mache thrives pretty well in Soil: Average, medium moist, well-drained. When planting your Mexican heather bush, select a location that has direct sunlight for a few hours and partial shade for the rest of the day. Evergreen and flowering shrubs provide a beautiful backdrop for masses of small perennials, whereas large-growing perennials can be used as … It is quite drought tolerant once established, but benefits from regular moisture during its first year or two. ... Light:Full sun, partial shade. Mexican Heather originated in Mexico and Guatemala. Plant for front of the border, planter boxes, or grow in "drifts." The plant likes consistently moist, well-drained humus- rich soil. Mexican heather is a dwarf shrub also known as false heather it grows natively in Mexico and Guatemala. In cold-winter areas, the plant can be dug up and potted to over-winter indoors, and usually does well in an indoor spot near a south- or west-facing window until the following spring. Strong light may lighten the color of the leaves. I confess: I used to be disdainful of Mexican heather (Cuphea hyssopifolia), that sturdy, prolifically blooming sub-shrub offered on the summer-color tables at the big-box stores and plugged into many a planter at local shopping centers.I often saw plants that were leggy and a bit sun-crisped. Cuphea hybrid 'Floriglory Diana' Home / Our Plants / Cuphea, Mexican Heather . Foliage is hardy to 28F, but will generally grow back from roots if frozen to the ground. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. Mexican heather, also referred to as false heather, is a multi-stemmed annual with an upright, spreading growth habit. Mexican Heather produces a pretty, dark green foliage and adorns itself with an abundance of delicate blooms, ranging in shades of lavender, pink and/or white. YES COMPANION PLANT SUGGESTIONS: Depending on the amount of sun or shade, consider variegated peperomia, dwarf oyster plant, society garlic, Mexican heather, … Interestingly, the stem of this plant becomes more purple when it’s in bright light, as opposed to when it’s grown in a shady area, where the stem stays fairly green. The plants are pretty hardy so it should not be difficult to find a location. Plant Mexican heather in full sun to areas with light shade. Privacy Policy and Plant Mexican heather in full sun or n a partially shaded location. It will also grow well in either sun or shade. Avoid creating waterlogged soil conditions because Mexican heather has good drought tolerance. Mexican heather is attractive in the border as well as in a container looks well with fountain grass, hibiscus, mandeveilla, and phormium. Blooms profusely in summer with flowers in shades of purple, pink, or white. If the plants receive too much sun, you will notice that the foliage will start to fade a bit. Elsewhere, enjoy Mexican heather as an annual, either in the ground or in pots. Flowers usually appear in springtime, and they can last throughout the summer and into the fall. The Lowest Temperature for the Tropical Plant Bougainvillea, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension: Perennial Plants for South Texas Landscapes. It also benefits from a thin layer of mulch that will help keep the moisture in … Heather is frequently called by the names Heather, Scotch heather, ling, or Scottish heather. However, it needs a good deal of watering or the foliage will begin to wither in the sun. Unique golden flower bracts and white blossoms for a part sun or part shade area. The genus name, Cuphea, comes from the Greek word kyphos meaning curved and refers to the curved seed capsule. Plant for front of the border, planter boxes, or grow in "drifts." Cuphea, Mexican Heather. It has highly branched, feathery foliage, with small oblong leaves appearing alternately along the stems. Height: 6 … Although, it has good drought tolerance, make sure to water the plant regularly or when the top layer of the soil feels dry to touch. For it to grow best, make sure to plant your Mexican heather in an area which gets ample or rather full sunlight to partial shade. Both species are tough plants that can grow in sandy or clay soil, as well as in full sun or part-shade. Care Tips. You can propagate Mexican heather by t… In some regions, this plant is known as the "elfin herb" due to its small flowers and foliage. In general, it is mostly found in zones three through eight. Planting Location. Mexican heather seeds are fairly easy to grow, and the plant is low maintenance and easy to care for provided that you adhere to its specific soil, water and light requirements: Justine Harrington is based in Austin, where she writes about current trends in health, wellness, community, gardening and sustainability. Mexican heather bushes look lovely as edging or as a small hedge in tropical gardens, around the corners of paving and sidewalks or as a filler plant in beds and borders with other foliage and flowers. Sun Requirements: Full Sun to Partial Shade Partial or Dappled Shade: Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 8b -9.4 °C (15 °F) to -6.7 °C (20 °F) Plant Height: 18 - 24 inches: ... Mexican False Heather is a tropical evergreen sub-shrub that grows to 24" in height and 36" wide. The perennials listed in Table 1 are good performers in Florida gardens or in containers. When planting your Mexican heather bush, select a location that has, Be sure to stick to a consistent watering schedule to give your Mexican heather bush the best chance for foliage and flower growth once it has been planted. This small, evergreen perennial grows to be just 10 to 18 inches tall, and its flat, feathery leaves spread out and extend from its main stems. The only "must-have" for a liriope plant is well-drained soil.