Plant of the Week: Cuphea Vermillionaire

Looking for a heat-loving annual that will perform great in Hampton Roads gardens – and attract those beloved hummingbirds? Look no further than Cuphea Vermillionaire, also called a firecracker plant. Enjoy a real show with its abundant yellow orange trumpet-like flowers all summer long. Plant this drought-tolerant bloomer in full sun for best flowering and too avoid it stretching in the shade. You’ll need to keep it moist throughout the growing season with regular fertilizing to keep it full and constantly flowering. Once established Vermillionaire does not require a lot of water, but water regularly until it has grown a bit. Also, for you hummingbird fanatics… this one is a must-have! Tuck this plant around anywhere you want to watch the hummingbirds flutter about. The possibilities are endless for this plant – use it as border plants or in mass plantings in the landscape, and it makes a great thriller plant in container combinations. We especially love pairing it with other sun-loving annuals like petunias and million bells. Plants grow approximately 18-28 inches high and 12 – 24 inches wide.

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