(coo-fee' ah)

Common name: Cigar Plant, Cigar Flower

Family: Lythraceae (Loosestrife)

Height x width: 12-24" (generally 12") x 12"

Growth habit: upright, branched, bushy to rounded

Growth rate: moderate to fast

Foliage: opposite, ovate to lanceolate, entire or slightly toothed, mid to dark green, 1-3 inches long

Flowers: narrow tubular, single or in leafy racemes or panicles, various red to dark colors with lighter tips, resembling a lighted cigar and hence the common name

Hardiness: USDA zone 9

Soil: well-drained, moist

Light: full sun north, filtered sun to part shade south

Pests and Problems: aphids and whiteflies, generally indoors; may get spindly in low light and bloom poorly

Landscape habit, uses: containers, massed bedding, edging, indoors

Other interest: species native to S.E. USA, Mexico, and South America; genus name from Greek kyphos meaning curved, referring to the shape of the seed;

Other culture: fertilize at least monthly (preferably weekly) during growth, keep well-watered, shape as needed; vry frost susceptible

Propagation: softwood cuttings, seeds

Species: of the 260 species, the following marked * are the most commonly used ornamentals

• cyanea (sigh-a' knee-ah)--sticky hairy shoots to 3 ft high, long-stalked ovate leaves, terminal racemes of green-tipped orange-red flowers, zone 9
• *hyssopifolia (hi-sop' i-fol' ee-ah)--False Heather, bushy stems becoming woody with age, lanceolate dark green leaves to one inch long; short racemems of few light pink to purplish flowers with spreading petals; RHS award of merit, zone 10
• *ignea (ig' knee-ah)--most common bedding species, lanceolate leaves to 3 inches long, bright green leaves, dark red flowers with dark band and white rim, singly borne in upper leaf axils; RHS award of merit, zone 9
• lanceolata (lan-see-oo-laa' tah)--purple stems, sticky hairy stems and leaves; leaves mid-green, white hairy, deep violet flowers flaring into upper and lower lips, from upper leaf axils
• micropetala (my-crow-pe' tal-ah)--opposite and crowded lanceolate leaves, to 3 feet high, red floral tube shaded green to white, in leaf terminal racemes, zone 10
• x purpurea (pur-purr' ee-ah)--often listed as llavea var. miniata, llavea and procumbens cross, sticky and hairy stems and foliage, dark green leaves to 3 inches long, pink to red petals flaring at the tips, zone 9

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