Dynamite Cigar Plant (Cuphea ignea ‘Dynamite’)
Dynamite Cigar Plant is a compact warm-season subshrub that blooms nonstop with orange-red tubular flowers tipped in dark hues, resembling little cigars. Glossy, fine foliage forms a tidy mound that performs in heat and brings season-long color to beds and containers.
Distinctive Features
Self-cleaning, nectar-rich blooms attract hummingbirds from late spring to frost. Heat-tolerant plants maintain a neat outline with steady branching and continuous flowering.
Growing Conditions
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade, with afternoon shade in very hot climates.
- Soil: Well drained, moderately fertile soil or high-quality potting mix.
- Water: Keep evenly moist to establish; moderate water thereafter with brief drought tolerance.
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 9 to 11 outdoors; grow as an annual elsewhere.
- Mature Size: 1 to 2 ft tall and 1 to 2 ft wide.
Ideal Uses
- Focal Point: Vivid tubular blooms provide bright, season-long color.
- Containers: Reliable performance on patios and porches with regular care.
- Edging: Low, mounded plants define paths and borders.
- Hanging Baskets: Lightly cascading tips soften rims and mix well with trailers.
- Pollinator Gardens: Nectar-rich flowers draw hummingbirds and beneficial insects.
Low Maintenance Care
- Watering: Water deeply, then allow the top inch of soil to dry before the next cycle.
- Pruning: Pinch or shear lightly once or twice in summer to refresh shape and encourage more bloom.
- Fertilizing: Feed monthly in spring and summer with a balanced, dilute fertilizer.
- Mulching: Apply a 1 to 2 inch mulch layer in beds to conserve moisture and reduce weeds.
- Notes: Protect from frost and ensure sharp drainage to prevent root stress in wet periods.
Why Choose Dynamite Cigar Plant?
- Long Bloom Season: Flowers steadily from planting to frost.
- Hummingbird Magnet: Tubular blooms are highly attractive to pollinators.
- Heat Ready: Performs reliably through summer conditions.
- Compact Habit: Neat mounds fit containers and small-space borders.
- Low Effort: Minimal grooming needed for continuous display.
Plant in a sunny, well drained spot and give a light midsummer trim to keep plants dense and flowering.
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