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Cuphea 'David Verity'

Image of Cuphea 'David Verity'

James H. Schutte

Family

Lythraceae

Botanical Name

Cuphea 'David Verity'

Plant Common Name

David Verity Cigar Flower, Hybrid Cigar Plant

General Description

A plethora of orange-red, tubular "cigar-like" flowers with yellow tips clothe ‘David Verity’ through the hottest summer months. Hummingbirds love the bright blooms of this heat and drought tolerant gem and its lush green leaves and red stems provide added beauty and tropical looks. It’s no wonder this tropical subshrub has gained fast popularity as a bedding plant.

Broad and bushy, ‘David Verity’ cigar plant is covered with small, crisp, medium green leaves with lighter midveins. Its numerous small, tubular blooms are fiery orangish red, often with a touch of yellow at the lip. Hummingbirds favor the nectar-filled flowers and will busily buzz from one to the next. The blooms are self-cleaning and do not require deadheading.

Full sun is essential for best growth and flowering as is well-drained soil with average to good fertility. Established plants will withstand periods of drought and thrive in heat. Cigar flower is fully evergreen but will die back to ground like a perennial in subtropical areas where occasional frosts occur. It is a superb bedding plant for sunny gardens, hummingbird borders and lively containers filled with other brightly colored bedding flowers. Trim it occasionally to maintain a more compact habit, if desired.

Characteristics

  • AHS Heat Zone

    12 - 7

  • USDA Hardiness Zone

    8 - 15

  • Sunset Zone

    H1, H2, 11, 12, 13, 21, 22, 23, 24

  • Plant Type

    Tender Perennial

  • Sun Exposure

    Full Sun, Partial Sun

  • Height

    24"-30" / 61.0cm - 76.2cm

  • Width

    20"-24" / 50.8cm - 61.0cm

  • Bloom Time

    Indeterminate

  • Native To

    Hybrid Origin

Growing Conditions

  • Soil pH

    Neutral

  • Soil Drainage

    Well Drained

  • Soil type

    Clay, Loam, Sand

  • Growth Rate

    Fast

  • Water Requirements

    Drought Tolerant, Average Water

  • Habit

    Oval/Rounded

  • Seasonal Interest

    Spring, Summer, Fall

Ornamental Features

  • Flower Interest

    Showy

  • Flower Color

    Yellow, Red, Orange

  • Flower Color Modifier

    Bicolor

  • Foliage Color (Spring)

    Green

  • Foliage Color (Summer)

    Green

  • Foliage Color (Fall)

    Green

  • Foliage Color (Winter)

    Green

  • Fragrant Flowers

    No

  • Fragrant Fruit

    No

  • Fragrant Foliage

    No

  • Bark or Stem Fragrant

    No

  • Flower Petal Number

    Single

  • Repeat Bloomer

    Yes

  • Showy Fruit

    No

  • Edible Fruit

    No

  • Showy Foliage

    No

  • Foliage Texture

    Fine

  • Foliage Sheen

    Glossy

  • Evergreen

    Semi-Evergreen

  • Showy Bark

    No

Special Characteristics

  • Usage

    Bedding Plant, Container, Foundation, Mixed Border, Tropical

  • Sharp or Has Thorns

    No

  • Invasive

    No

  • Attracts

    Hummingbirds

  • Self-Sowing

    No