Lythraceae
Cigar Flower (Cuphea ignea)
Cuphea ignea
An easy plant for a sunny bed or pot. Give it 6 to 8 hours of sun, with some afternoon shade in very hot climates. Use well-drained soil and keep it lightly moist, letting the surface dry between waterings. Feed every two weeks while it is growing. Cut back flowered stems in early spring and pinch the tips to keep it bushy. Bring it inside once nights drop below 5 to 7 °C.
Every 4 days
Bright indirect
5° - °C
% - %
Categories
What is Cigar Flower?
Cigar Flower (Cuphea ignea) is a easy-care plant from the Lythraceae family. Cuphea ignea is a perennial subshrub in the loosestrife family (Lythraceae), native to Mexico. It forms a dense, rounded mound 30 to 90 cm tall, with small, dark green, lance-shaped leaves. The flowers are thin orange-red tubes with a white rim and a dark tip that look like a lit cigar. It blooms fr...
Cigar Flower grows up to 90cm, spread of 90cm, watering every 4 days. It is suitable for indoor environments and safe for pets.
Unlike many tropical plants, Cigar Flower tolerates watering mistakes. Best for beginners. Unlike many popular species, Cigar Flower is safe to keep around pets. Without adequate drainage, root rot can develop within 8 days.
How to Care for Cigar Flower?
TLDR: Cigar Flower needs Bright indirect, watering every 4 days, and temperatures between 5-30°C with 40-70% humidity.
How Often Should You Water Cigar Flower?
Water regularly, letting the surface dry between waterings. It handles some drought but flowers best in lightly moist soil. Water less over winter indoors.
How Much Light Does Cigar Flower Need?
Full sun, 6 to 8 hours a day. In very hot climates it accepts afternoon shade. Indoors, give it your brightest window.
What Is the Best Soil for Cigar Flower?
Well-drained loam or sandy soil with some organic matter. Avoid heavy clay that stays wet.
What Pot Should You Use for Cigar Flower?
Medium pot with drainage holes or a hanging basket, with well-drained mix. In cold climates a pot makes it easy to bring indoors for winter.
Care Schedule
Fertilize
Every 14 days
What Is Cigar Flower and Where Does It Come From?
Cuphea ignea is a perennial subshrub in the loosestrife family (Lythraceae), native to Mexico. It forms a dense, rounded mound 30 to 90 cm tall, with small, dark green, lance-shaped leaves. The flowers are thin orange-red tubes with a white rim and a dark tip that look like a lit cigar. It blooms from late spring until frost and draws hummingbirds, butterflies and bees. It cannot take frost: in cold climates it is grown as an annual or spends winter indoors.
How to Propagate Cigar Flower?
Stem cutting
Cuttings taken indoors in fall and winter root well and give you plants for spring.
- 1 Take 8 to 10 cm tip cuttings without flowers
- 2 Strip the lower leaves
- 3 Insert in light, moist mix
- 4 Keep in bright light out of direct sun until rooted
Materials needed:
Sowing
Sow indoors in late winter to get flowers the same year.
- 1 Sow in a tray of fine mix, barely covering the seed
- 2 Keep moist and warm
- 3 Pot up the seedlings once sturdy
Materials needed:
How Big Does Cigar Flower Grow?
TLDR: Cigar Flower can reach up to 90cm tall with Medium growth rate.
Max height
90cm
Spread
90cm
Growth rate
Medium
Foliage
Evergreen
Plant Uses
Ornamental
Great for decoration
Is your plant showing symptoms?
Click on the symptom to discover possible causes:
What Diseases Commonly Affect Cigar Flower?
TLDR: Cigar Flower is susceptible to 3 known diseases. Monitor regularly for early detection.
Aphids
Aphids are small, soft-bodied, pear-shaped insects (1/16 to 1/8 inch long) that feed by sucking nutrient-rich sap from plants. They reproduce rapidly and can quickly weaken plants, causing distorted growth and transmitting plant viruses. Aphids come in various colors including green, black, red, yellow, brown, and gray. They secrete honeydew, a sticky substance that attracts ants and encourages sooty mold growth.
Whiteflies
Whiteflies are small, soft-bodied, winged insects closely related to aphids and mealybugs. They are moth-like in appearance, about 1/16 inch long, triangular in shape, and gray-white in color. These sap-sucking pests feed on plant tissue, causing yellowing, stunted growth, and wilting. They also excrete honeydew, which attracts ants and promotes sooty mold growth. Whiteflies can transmit serious plant viruses.
Root Rot
Root rot is a serious fungal disease that affects the root system of plants, causing them to decay and die. It is primarily caused by overwatering, poor drainage, or soil-borne fungi such as Pythium, Phytophthora, Rhizoctonia, and Fusarium. The disease thrives in waterlogged conditions where roots are deprived of oxygen, making them susceptible to fungal infection.
Fun Facts
The white and dark tip of each flower looks like the ash on a lit cigar.
Its seeds yield oils similar to palm kernel oil and have been studied as an industrial oil source.
It used to be called Cuphea platycentra.
Frequently asked questions
Is cigar flower cold hardy?
Why is my cigar plant leggy?
When should I prune it?
Does cigar flower attract hummingbirds?
Compare with similar plants
| Attribute | Difficulty | Light | Watering | Pet Safe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Field Maple | Easy | Bright indirect | 14d | ✓ |
| Iberian Houseleek | Easy | Direct sun | 14d | ✓ |
| Silver Birch | Easy | Direct sun | 14d | ✓ |
| Common Blanketflower | Easy | Direct sun | 10d | ✓ |
