Vermillionaire Cuphea

Host: Gary Bachman, Ornamental Horticulture Specialist

Transcription:

Vermillionaire cuphea is a gorgeous summer flowering plant that requires little maintenance on Southern Gardening.

So I’m always looking for those plants that can pretty much fend for themselves most of the season and put on a flashy floral show in my garden. One plant that has definitely earned its spot in my landscape is Vermillionaire cuphea. The common name for Vermillionaire is large firecracker plant and I think it’s easy to see where this name comes from. Abundant fiery hot yellow, red and orange tubular flowers are produced up and down the stems and all over the entire plant all summer long. Vermillionaire is a medium sized plant as it reached about three feet tall with an almost equal spread by the end of summer growing in a large container in my landscape. And I have to say it did make for a really nice container plant for the patio. Be sure to plant in the full sun for the best flowering and tighter growth. Though Vermillionaire is tolerant of droughty conditions, it will really put on a show with consistently moist soil and regular feeding, I use water soluble fertilizer about every three weeks.

Vermillionaire cuphea is perennial in zones 8a and warmer, so this covers a large portion of Mississippi. But for those gardeners in north Mississippi go ahead and use this plant as a great flowering annual, you won’t be disappointed. Until next time, I’m horticulturist Gary Bachman enjoying our Southern Gardening.