The Garden Guy

The last few years Vermillionaire cuphea has become a must have plant for several parts of my landscape. I have actually had hummingbirds hitting on them in my driveway as I got them out of the car. Even though it is now late July it is a must have plant for all Central Texas Gardeners.

My plants are about 24 inches tall and 36 inches wide and yours will quickly achieve that in your landscape too. The orange-red tubular flowers are produced non-stop by the hundreds on each plant. Butterflies and hummingbirds will be visiting them all day as if they were the blue plate special.

The bees are there in great numbers too and everyone once in a while appear to challenge a hummingbird. This usually ends up with the hummer quickly showing who's boss. The thing that has surprised me most however are the butterflies. Everyday there are Spicebush swallowtails, Eastern Tiger Swallowtails, and even Pearl Crescents. This is truly a plant for anyone that enjoys the pollinator garden.

I have mine intermingle with Rockin Blue Suede Shoes, and Rockin Deep Purple salvias. The combination has been very pleasing and really successful. My son, who I sometimes consider the ‘Adventurous Color Designer,’ uses them in large containers at shopping centers with lime green ornamental sweet potatoes, and Supertunia petunias. Can you imagine walking past hummingbirds while going to eat or shop?

Botanically speaking Vermillionaire is a Cuphea ignea hybrid. It develops is into a woody-like plant and as I said bearing hundreds of scarlet orange flowers for months. In zones 8 and 9 it will get knocked to the ground by freezes but normally returns faithfully in the spring provided it doesn’t sit in water during the cold winter.

When you locate your Vermillionaire cupheas, buy at least three, select a site in full sun and plant in well-drained soil. Set out plants 24 to 36-inches apart, planting at the same depth they are growing in the container. Apply a good layer of mulch, water to get established and then enjoy.

Feed in mid-summer and again in early fall with a light application of a balanced, slow-released fertilizer. These species are drought tolerant, but watering during prolonged dry periods will pay dividends come fall.

Use them informally in the garden rather than lined up like soldiers. They workwell with other hummingbird plants like the firebush or planted in partnership with Luscious lantanas like the Berry Blend, Citrus Blend and my new favorite Luscious Royal Cosmo. and Gold Star esperanza.

The complementary color for these orange flowers is blue and makes for a dreamy marriage in the landscape. Plants like Blue My Mind evolvulus that has some Texas DNA, Whirlwind Blue scaevola and the Unplugeed So Blue salvia also with Texas genes, would make incredible partners.

A lot of hot weather remains, and Vermillionaire cupheas would make a fine addition to your garden, pick some up at your favorite garden center this weekend. Follow me on Facebook @NormanWinterTheGardenGuy.