Mexican-Heather

Cuphea hyssopifolia Kunth

(with comments on Cuphea ignea, C. llavea, and C. melvilla)

KU-fee-ah his-op-ah-FOAL-ee-ah

Lythraceae

Explanation of name: Generic name from Greek kyphos, curved, referring to the curved floral tube (WAT). Hyssop is a plant in the Mint Family.

Natural range: Mesoamerica (Mexico and Guatemala)

Recognition: Small shrub often about a foot tall with tiny leaves well under an inch long, and small purplish (or white, see ‘Alba’ below) flowers with a long calyx tube and crinkly petals. Alternate leaves along the stems giving them a fernlike appearance. Very popular as a flowering ground cover.  Cultivars include: ‘Alba’ and ‘Allyson’ (comparatively large). Additional species of Cuphea are cultivated locally, especially the following, all of which have predominantly red flowers much different in appearance from C. hyssopifolia:

Cigar Plant (Cuphea ignea):  Flowers shaped like a small scarlet cigarette, the tube reddish or purplish toward the tip. See below.

Cuphea melvilla is similar but the tube is yellow toward the tip.

In Bat Face Flower (C. llavea ‘Bat Face’) the tube ends with two erect red “ears” and a purple bat face.

Landscape uses (C. hyssopifolia): Ground cover valued for toughness, heatherlike appearance, and purple flowers. A miniature flowering shrub