Pronounciation: Cu-FEE-a HIGH-bread ver-mill-ion-AIRE

Hardiness zones
Sunset 1-12 (as summer annual), 13 (with shade protection or as summer annual), 16-17, 21-24
USDA 1-8 (as summer annual), 9 (with protection), 10-11

Landscape Use: Partial shade border gardens, tropical gardens, wet borders, accent, border edging, entry or courtyard plant, container plant.

Form & Character: Compact and symmetrical, sensitive, tropical, diminutive, colorful, refined.

Growth Habit: Evergreen, semi-woody, small broadleaf perennial subshrub, moderate growth to 2-feet tall with sowmewhat wider spread.

Foliage/Texture: Small, opposite, dark green lanceolate leaves to 3/4-inch long; fine texture.

Flowers & Fruits: Tiny, axillary flowers, calyx green, tubular in shape and bright orange-red with yellow to white coloration at the tips; fruits are an inconspicuous dry capsule.

Seasonal Color: Light displays of flowers during all year except mid winter.

Temperature: Firecracker plant will not tolerate frost or extreme summer heat when Phoenix temperatures exceed 112^oF. Best growth occurs between 55^o and 95^oF, but will tolerate chilling temperatures down to 35^oF.

Light: Partial to full shade in Phoenix is best, absolutely NO western summer sun.

Soil: Firecracker plant (like other Cuphea species) grows best in a slightly acidic soil (pH between 5.5 and 7). For local culture in Phoenix, this means that it's imperative to amend growing soil with fully composted organic matter and use acid-forming fertilizers containing NH₄⁺ (ammonical nitrogen). If desert garden soils are not amended and fertilized to lower pH, then the likelihood of seeing foliar leaf cholorsis (yellowing) on this delicate plant is high.

Watering: Regular and heavy supplemental waterings are needed in desert landscapes. In Phoenix, firecracker plant is considered a classic "mesic" plant.

Pruning: None

Propagation: Softwood tip cuttings

Disease and Pests: Aphids, whiteflies and spider mites. Also, powdery mildew, leaf spot and root rot might occur.

Additional comments: Firecracker plant (cultivar 'Vermillionaire") is a nice, small plant for those damp, shaded to partially shaded garden locations where the feeling of being in a desert is not wanted. It's a great courtyard or entryway subshrub that offers a long lasting, dense floral display. Flowers attract hummingbirds.