Cuphea llavea ~ Bat Faced Cuphea

Brittle and scratchy, but Cuphea llavea puts on a gaudy show. And it does it with almost fluorescent colors. The red and black-purple blooms show up as a beacon. I have had my greatest success with Cuphea llavea growing it in rocks or trailing over a wall. Bat Face Cuphea is frost tender in the high 20°s F, though it will come back from the roots into the low 20°s F. The plants seem to limp for awhile when this happens. Cuphea llavea loves heat and great drainage. The plant pictured is hanging over a south facing rock in well composted gravelly soil. Cuphea llavea is growing robustly. The original Bat Face died during the winter but several seedlings or runners have taken its place. I have managed to keep it going at my house as well in considerably worse conditions and with far less attention on my part.