Life Span
Perennial
  
Annual and Perennial
  
Type
Shrub
  
Shrub
  
Origin
Mexico, Central America
  
Southeastern Asia, India
  
Types
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Habitat
Tropical areas
  
gardens, Homesteads, Urban areas
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-15
  
10-15
  
AHS Heat Zone
12-10
  
10-9
  
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
H1, H2, 24
  
Habit
Cushion/Mound-forming
  
Upright/Erect
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
White, Pink, Light Pink, Lavender, Violet
  
Orange, Light Yellow, Peach, Orange Red
  
Flower Color Modifier
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Fruit Color
Non Fruiting Plant
  
Non Fruiting Plant
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Light Green, Dark Green
  
Green, Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
  
Green, Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
  
Green, Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green
  
Green, Dark Green
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Oblong to lance-shaped
  
Ovate
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Growth Rate
Medium
  
Medium
  
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Loam
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Acidic, Neutral
  
Soil Drainage
Well drained
  
Average
  
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
  
Indeterminate
  
Repeat Bloomer
Yes
  
Yes
  
Tolerances
Drought
  
Not Available
  
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
  
Ground, Pot
  
How to Plant?
Cuttings, Divison, Layering, Seedlings
  
Seedlings
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Needs watering once a week, Requires more often in extreme heat
  
Form a Soil ring to water efficiently, Keep ground moist, Requires watering in the growing season, Water more in summer
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Acidic, Neutral
  
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Loam
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
  
Average
  
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Pruning
Prune if you want to improve plant shape
  
No pruning needed in the early stages, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves, Remove deadheads
  
Fertilizers
14-14-14 Fertilizer
  
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
Pests and Diseases
Free of serious pests and diseases
  
Insects
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought
  
Drought
  
Flowers
Showy
  
Showy
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
No
  
No
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
No
  
Yes
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
Yes
  
No
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Medium
  
Medium
  
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
  
Glossy
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
Yes
  
Yes
  
Attracts
Butterflies
  
Hummingbirds, Butterflies
  
Allergy
no allergic reactions
  
no allergic reactions
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Borders, Ground Cover
  
Beautification, Showy Purposes
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
Yes
  
No
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Dysentry, Eye Infection, Indigestion, Organ Stones
  
Cold, Cough, Wounds
  
Part of Plant Used
Flowering Tips, Flowers, Leaves, Shoots, Stem
  
Flowers
  
Other Uses
Showy Purposes
  
Used as Ornamental plant
  
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Bedding Plant, Container, Edging, Foundation, Groundcover, Hanging Basket, Mixed Border
  
Bedding Plant, Container, Feature Plant, Hedges, Mixed Border, Tropical
  
Botanical Name
CUPHEA hyssopifolia
  
CROSSANDRA infundibuliformis
  
Common Name
False Heather, Mexican Heather, Hawaiian Heather
  
Firecracker Flower
  
In Hindi
Mexican Heather
  
आबोली
  
In German
Mexican Heather
  
Kracher-Blume
  
In French
Mexicaine Heather
  
Firecracker fleur
  
In Spanish
Heather mexicana
  
flor petardo
  
In Greek
Μεξικού Heather
  
πυροτέχνημα λουλούδι
  
In Portuguese
Mexican Heather
  
flor foguete
  
In Polish
Mexican Heather
  
petarda kwiat
  
In Latin
Mexicanus Heather
  
flos Firecracker
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
  
Not Available
  
Class
Magnoliopsida
  
Not Available
  
Order
Myrtales
  
Lamiales
  
Family
Lythraceae
  
Acanthaceae
  
Genus
Cuphea
  
Crossandra
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
  
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
  
Tribe
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Subfamily
Lythroideae
  
Brodiaeoideae
  
Number of Species
Not Available