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Vermillionaire® Large Firecracker Plant Cuphea hybrid

Vermillionaire® - Large Firecracker Plant - Cuphea hybrid
11 Readers Rated This: (4.7)
  • Hardy Zones
    • 8 - 11
  • Exposure
    • Sun
  • Season
    • Spring
    • Summer
  • Mature Size
    • 18 - 28 Inches

Professional Information Professional Growing Information

Proven Winners
Proven Winners
Vermillionaire® Large Firecracker Plant Cuphea hybrid
Sun 18 - 28

Features

Garden VALEDICTORIAN.

Abundant yellow orange flowers all season long; loves the heat and loved by hummingbirds

Continuous Bloom or Rebloomer
Long Blooming
Heat Tolerant
Deadheading Not Necessary
Drought Tolerant
Attracts: 
Hummingbirds

Characteristics

Duration: 
Annual
Height Category: 
Medium
Garden Height: 
18 - 28 Inches
Spacing: 
12 - 18 Inches
Spread: 
12 - 24 Inches
Flower Colors: 
Orange
Flower Colors: 
Red
Flower Colors: 
Yellow
Flower Shade: 
orange with red and yellow highlights
Foliage Colors: 
Green
Foliage Shade: 
Green
Habit: 
Mounded
Container Role: 
Filler

Plant Needs

Light Requirement: 
Sun
Maintenance Category: 
Easy
Bloom Time: 
Planting To Frost
Hardiness Zones: 
8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
Water Category: 
Average
Soil Fertility Requirement: 
Average Soil
Uses: 
Border Plant
Uses: 
Container
Uses: 
Landscape
Uses: 
Mass Planting
Maintenance Notes: 

Vermillionaire™, like all Cuphea is a heat lover and will do best in warm gardens with bright light. Always keep this plant in full sun for best flowering and too avoid it stretching in the shade.

Keep moist throughout the growing season, regular fertilizing will 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.

This plant is a perennial in USDA zones 8 and higher, but should be considered an annual in colder climates.

Great hummingbird attractor! They love this plant, one of their preferred plants in most gardens.

Add your review

  • If you enjoy hummingbirds, you've got to get a few of these. The hummingbirds go to each flower and then start over. A real addiction. I wonder how the plant can keep up with the nectar production with such constant traffic. I grow them in 2 hanging baskets to keep the chipmunks and ground squirrels from eating them. One basket is in full day sun and the other is in half day morning sun. I've found no pests on them as yet. We live at 7800 ft elevation in Colorado and the Cuphea Vermillionaire does fantastic but I do have to treat it as an annual.

    Outstanding My favorite plant, I recommend to others all the time and explain the reasons why I like it so much.
    Kathy King
    Montrose
    Colorado
    United States
    29 weeks ago

  • The ONLY thing hummingbirds like more than this plant is a feeder. I have 2 of these plants on my deck this year and the hummingbirds come within just a few feet of me to get after these plants. Have no idea what's inside those tubular flowers but hummingbirds are addicted to them.

    Cut your water bill in half and buy one or 2 of these plants. Your local hummingbird members will thank you.

    Oh and did I mention low maintenance.

    Beware though...Japanese beetles consider this plant a delicacy as well and will cluster by the dozens on them in a matter of hours. And the damage in their wake is serious if left untreated.

    Cheers

    Outstanding My favorite plant, I recommend to others all the time and explain the reasons why I like it so much.
    Matthew Lamb
    Frederick
    Maryland
    United States
    1 year ago

  • Great hummingbird attractant

    Outstanding My favorite plant, I recommend to others all the time and explain the reasons why I like it so much.
    Bill
    Prince George
    British Columbia
    Canada
    1 year ago

  • I planted this in a hanging basket but unfortunately only got full sun after 1 pm. It did well but not as good as it could have. HOWEVER, my hummingbirds just went crazy over it. They actually went to every single flower on the plant , dipping into it. I will most certainly plant it again.

    Above Average Superior performance, among my favorites, would recommend to others.
    Lorraine Vallint
    Surrey
    British Columbia
    Canada
    1 year ago

  • I am in PA, Zone 6a. This plant grew to the height and width mentioned in the plant description in large containers on my deck. I did fertilize it about once every week or two with a liquid fertilizer. It grew very well and was always in flower with plenty of blooms. It did not need deadheading. It remained upright even through rain showers and wind. The hummingbirds were very attracted to this plant and were seen feeding from it every day. The only downside was that the Japanese beetles skeletonized the leaves in July. However, it still had flowers. The plant did rebound after the beetles finally went away. I plan on buying again this spring and would recommend.

    Above Average Superior performance, among my favorites, would recommend to others.
    Lisa
    Marietta
    Pennsylvania
    United States
    1 year ago

  • Bought a bedraggled, bone dry Vermillionaire (think Charlie Brown Christmas tree) and decided to give it a go. It struggled for weeks, growing only a few flowers and maybe an inch or 2 in height. Once I placed it in a larger pot, it took off. Now it stands over 14 inches tall, has 40-50 orange tubular flowers about it and a very healthy dark green foliage. The plant just seems to get stronger as the summer gets hotter and more humid. Everything about this plant is rather unique and I will look forward to getting one early next year. Only problem...Japanese beetles favor this plant more than any other in my garden. They damaged my Vermillion significantly in July but it is rebounding now. Highly recommend.

    Above Average Superior performance, among my favorites, would recommend to others.
    Matthew Lamb
    Frederick
    Maryland
    United States
    2 years ago

  • First year growing this plant, performing very well as potted plant on my sunny deck. I have a lot of plants for the butterflies and hummingbirds, but this is a favorite with the hummingbirds. I will definitely plant it again next year.

    Outstanding My favorite plant, I recommend to others all the time and explain the reasons why I like it so much.
    Pat
    Cedar Rapids
    Iowa
    United States
    2 years ago

  • Great new variety of Cigar Plant. Blooms are bigger and brighter color than the older varieties. Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies. I only found this variety at one garden center so it appears to be hard to find this year since its a new variety. Suggest it to your local grower or greenhouse so maybe they can carry it next season.

    Outstanding My favorite plant, I recommend to others all the time and explain the reasons why I like it so much.
    Brian Price
    Tiffin
    Ohio
    United States
    2 years ago

  • Wow! Impressive plant. Attracts lots of hummingbirds, blooms well all season in morning sun.

    Outstanding My favorite plant, I recommend to others all the time and explain the reasons why I like it so much.
    Mary Lou
    Colorado
    United States
    2 years ago

  • Absolutely gorgeous plants! Very striking colors. A must have plant in summer!!

    Outstanding My favorite plant, I recommend to others all the time and explain the reasons why I like it so much.
    Gerry
    Anderson
    California
    United States
    2 years ago
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