Cigar plant Cuphea ignea
Cigar plant (Cuphea ignea) is an evergreen perennial flowering plant in the Lythraceae family, native to Mexico and the Caribbean. It grows 30–90 cm (12–35 in) tall and 40–90 cm (16–35 in) wide, wants full sun and moderate water, and is hardy to about -2 °C (28 °F). Space plants about 40 cm (16 in) apart.
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Cigar plant at a glance
| Type | Perennial flowering plant, evergreen |
|---|---|
| Family | Lythraceae |
| Mature height | 30–90 cm (12–35 in) |
| Mature spread | 40–90 cm (16–35 in) |
| Spacing | 40 cm (16 in) centre to centre |
| Sun | Full sun, at least 5 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Moderate; drought tolerance moderate, waterlogging tolerance none |
| Soil pH | 5.5–7.5 |
| Cold hardiness | About -2 °C (28 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 9) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 38 °C (100 °F) |
| Flowering | about 9–13 weeks after planting, for 17–34 weeks |
| Wind tolerance | Low |
| Pollinator value | High |
| Edible | Not grown as food |
| Native to | Mexico and the Caribbean |
| Common in gardens of | 🇲🇽 Mexico, 🇺🇸 United States, 🇬🇧 United Kingdom, 🇦🇺 Australia |
Is Cigar plant toxic?
- People: not known to be toxic
- Cats: not known to be toxic
- Dogs: not known to be toxic
No toxicity reported in standard poison references.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Cigar plant
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like full sun and moderate water.
Questions about Cigar plant
- How far apart should I plant Cigar plant?
- About 40 cm (16 in) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 40–90 cm (16–35 in).
- Does Cigar plant need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 5 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Cigar plant need?
- Moderate water. Drought tolerance is moderate and waterlogging tolerance none.
- How cold-hardy is Cigar plant?
- It tolerates about -2 °C (28 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 9.
- When does Cigar plant flower?
- About 9–13 weeks after planting, for 17–34 weeks.
- Is Cigar plant poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is not known to be toxic; for dogs not known to be toxic; for people not known to be toxic. No toxicity reported in standard poison references.
- What grows well with Cigar plant?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Cigar plant. Group it with plants that like the same sun (full sun) and water (moderate).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade B (B: extension service or peer-reviewed).
- RHS Plant Finder, Royal Horticultural Society
- Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder, Missouri Botanical Garden
Notes and assumptions
- Tubular scarlet flowers with a white-and-black “ash” tip; a hummingbird magnet from summer to frost.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
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