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One of the most unusual member of theLythraceaefamily , Cuphea llavea(KYOO - fee - uh la - vay - uh ) is known as the vampire ’s favorite flower . It gets its vulgar name of cricket bat face cuphea from the striking resemblance of its blooms to the typeface of a squash racquet .
Other common name calling let in bunny ear , cuphea , red cuphea , St. Peter ’s plant , and tiny mouse .
This broadleaf evergreen sub - shrub is native to Mexico and other parts of Central America . Orange at-bat - front cuphea ( Cuphea oreophila ) is one of several species closely related tollaveawhich be given to share its name .
Bat Face Cuphea Care
Size & Growth
This tight - growing hero - shrub may discover a height of 2 ½ ’ feet tall when grown as a perennial but tends to only reach 12″ to 18″ in grandiloquent if grow as an annual .
The rounded , bushy habit characteristic stems crowded with thick grim green evergreen leaves develop up to 3 ” inches long . These ovate leaves are thick , hirsute , and rough to the touch .
Flowering and Fragrance
Beginning in tardy spring , bat - faced cuphea produce clusters of tubular flowers that last until the first frost . Traditionally , bloom colour are purple , white , and red .
However , new cultivars have greatly extended the orbit of available colour . In all cases , the scent attracts a extensive range of pollinators .
The common name is derived from the 1 ” inch hairy purple calyx draw out upward from each flower , adorned with two upward face petals .
Four petal remnants below produce a brass to go with the developed petal “ ears ” . A few cultivar feature these low leaves in full develop .
As this plant bring forth uninterrupted bloom throughout the time of year , deadheadingisn’t require to defend its flush prison term showing .
The seeds are small , brown , and lentil mould ; and may be detect at the base of spent bloom .
Light & Temperature
Despite what its name suggest , bat - confront cuphea prefers full sun to be at its safe .
Outdoor plants may require partial ghost in desert area . Indoor plants will take at least four hours of full Lord’s Day day by day .
USDA hardiness zone 9 to 11 are best for this industrial plant , remaining evergreen plant in temperatures just under 30 ° degrees Fahrenheit .
However , it ’s best in colder climates to produce cuphea in containers that can be overwintered indoors .
For overwintering , a temperature of around 60 ° degrees Fahrenheit and reduced lacrimation will keep the plant intelligent until the next growing time of year .
Watering and Feeding
Ideally , cuphea fares considerably in evenly moist soil , although it ’s able to handle full point of drought .
For a healthier plant in desert term , water middling . Be heedful not to overwater this works , as it ’s susceptible to root rot .
Garden - base bat face may either be given a dose ofslow - release granulose plant foodin the spring or monthly feedings of an all - purpose liquid fertilizer . Container plants should have monthly feedings .
Soil & Transplanting
Bat face needs a well - enfeeble land , but is n’t finicky about the sourness . As a general ruler , a light , compost - rich portmanteau word works well .
In cases where temperatures drop below what the leafage can handle but stay above 20 ° degrees Fahrenheit , the root may make it . isolate the soil with heavy mulching and the industrial plant may still go back .
transfer cuphea is immediate and gentle . Simply comprehend a trap the size of it of the industrial plant ’s previous container and tuck the root formal in .
When transplanting seedling outdoors , make indisputable they are space 24″ to 36 ” inches apart so they have room to grow .
Grooming And Maintenance
St. Peter ’s flora has low sustainment requirements , although a little pruning in late winter will allow for some stage of defining .
You may also filch or prune when the plant life start to get too leggy .
How To Propagate Bat Face Cuphea
It ’s gentle to propagate this plant from seminal fluid . Simply collect and dry the seeds as flowers fade .
These may then be germinate 10 to 12 week before the final frost is have a bun in the oven or planted directly when the peril of icing has passed .
In both casing , disperse the seeds on top of the soil and add a thin layer of milled peat to protect them without block their access to sunlight .
Cuphea seed should never be buried . sprouting usually takes 7 to 10 days at 70 ° degrees Fahrenheit .
Another well-heeled propagation method is through deal cuttings . These cutting should be 4″ to 6 ” inch long and taken from a healthy works . off the lower leaves anddip the cuttings in root hormone .
Then position in pots filled with an all - purpose soil mix and locate the passel in a safe fix with bright , collateral light until the new root word take cargo area .
You may also take to divide large plants as a third means of multiplication .
Cuphea LlaveaPest or Diseases
Bat - confront cuphea is drouth tolerant and somewhat heat resistant , although it may require part spook on especially cheery days in arid regions . Conversely , overwatering may lead to beginning rot , so it may be best to underwater when in dubiety .
The plant is deer resistant , but may becomeinfested with aphid , mealybugs , and whitefly . It also pull in pollinator , so those with bee allergies may care to savour this works with care .
Suggested Bat Faced Cuphea Uses
One of the best feature of this cuphea is the nectar - fertile flower .
Not only are these a perfect accent for edging paths and borders , the perfumed scent attracts hummingbird , butterflies , and bees for an even more flamboyant presentation . They also shape well among yearly flowerbeds .
As a container plant , piece some attractive urns or pots for a garden accent that may be brought indoors to winter .
They look great on patios and will also take to hanging baskets and flower box for more line - of - sight use .
