Home Flower Identifier Flower Details
Cuphea Cigar
🌸

Cuphea Cigar

Cuphea ignea

Basic Details
Description
Floral Formula
Features
Translations
Related

Basic Details

NameCuphea Cigar
DescriptionCharming compact shrub featuring unique tubular flowers that resemble tiny lit cigars, complete with red-orange 'body' and dark purple-black 'ash' tip. These cheerful blooms appear continuously throughout warm months, creating a vibrant display that attracts hummingbirds and butterflies. Perfect for borders, containers, and mass plantings, this easy-care Mexican native thrives in heat and blooms reliably with minimal maintenance.
FamilyLythraceae
GenusCuphea
TribeN/A

Floral Formula & Features

Floral Formula% ⚥ K(6) C6 A11 G(2)

Bilaterally symmetrical, bisexual, 6 fused sepals forming tubular calyx, 6 small free petals (often inconspicuous), 11 stamens, 2 fused carpels with superior ovary typical of Lythraceae

Features
  • Name 'Cuphea' derives from Greek 'kyphos' meaning curved or humped, referring to the curved seed capsule. 'Ignea' means fiery, describing the bright red-orange flower color. Common name 'Cigar Flower' describes the tubular shape with dark tip
  • Distinctive tubular flowers measure 0.75-1 inch long, bright red-orange with dark purple-black ring and white tip, resembling a lit cigar with ash. Flowers appear singly from leaf axils continuously from spring through fall, or year-round in frost-free climates
  • Tender perennial shrub grown as annual in cold climates. Blooms continuously in warm weather without deadheading. Forms compact, bushy mound of small, lance-shaped leaves. Can bloom year-round in tropical and subtropical regions
  • Grows 12-18 inches (30-45 cm) tall and wide, forming neat, rounded mound. Lifespan of 2-3 years as perennial in frost-free zones. Propagated easily from stem cuttings or seed
  • Native to Mexico and Guatemala, found in warm, sunny areas with well-drained soil. Now widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide as ornamental bedding plant
  • Thrives in full sun to partial shade with at least 6 hours of sunlight. Prefers well-drained soil and moderate water. Heat and drought tolerant once established. Frost-sensitive, damaged below 32°F (0°C)
  • Excellent hummingbird and butterfly attractor due to tubular flowers rich in nectar. Requires no deadheading as flowers self-clean. Deer resistant. Perfect for low-maintenance gardens and containers

Names in Different Languages

Latin / ScientificCuphea ignea
English (Alternate)Cigar Plant, Firecracker Plant, Cigarette Plant, and Mexican Cigar
Hindiसिगार फूल (Sigār Phūl)
Tamilசுருட்டு பூ (Curuṭṭu Pū)
Teluguసిగార్ పువ్వు (Sigār Puvvu)
Malayalamസിഗാർ പൂവ് (Sigār Pūv)
Kannadaಸಿಗಾರ್ ಹೂವು (Sigār Hūvu)
Sanskritधूमपुष्पम् (Dhūmapuṣpam)
Bengaliসিগার ফুল (Sigāra Phula)
Frenchcuphéa cigare
Russianкуфея огненная (kufeya ognennaya)
Spanishplanta cigarro, cuphea
GermanZigarettenblümchen

What is Floral Formula?

A floral formula is a symbolic representation of a flower's structure using letters, numbers, and special symbols. It provides a concise way to describe the arrangement and number of floral parts.

Example Formula
% K(6) C1+2+(2) A(9) G2

This formula describes the flower's symmetry, sepals, petals, stamens, and carpels in a standardized format.

Formula Sequence

  • Bract: Br or Ebr
  • Bracteole: Brl or Ebrl
  • Symmetry: % (Radial) or ⊕ (Bilateral)
  • Sex: ♀ (Female), ♂ (Male), or ⚥ (Bisexual)
  • Calyx/Sepal: K<number> (Free or Fused)
  • Corolla/Petal: C<number> (Free or Fused)
  • Androecium: A<number> (Free or Fused)
  • Gynaecium: G<number> (Superior or Inferior Ovary)

Symbol Meanings

  • Numbers: Indicate quantity of parts
  • Parentheses (): Parts are fused together
  • Plus (+): Parts in different whorls
  • Underline: Superior ovary position
  • Overline: Inferior ovary position
  • ∞: Numerous parts (too many to count)

Understanding floral formulas helps botanists quickly identify and classify flowers based on their structural characteristics.