General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Shrub
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Water Preferences: Mesic
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 8a -12.2 °C (10 °F) to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
Plant Height: 2 - 3 feet
Plant Spread: 2 - 3 feet
Leaves: Evergreen
Broadleaf
Flowers: Showy
Flower Color: Multi-Color: Pinkish-red, white and violet
Flower Time: Spring
Late spring or early summer
Summer
Late summer or early fall
Fall
Other: Deadheading flowers ensures more flowering throughout the season. Blooms year-round in frost-free climates.
Uses: Suitable as Annual
Wildlife Attractant: Hummingbirds
Resistances: Deer Resistant
Drought tolerant
Propagation: Seeds: Will not come true from seed
Other info: Sterile
Propagation: Other methods: Cuttings: Stem
Layering
Containers: Suitable in 3 gallon or larger
Needs excellent drainage in pots
Parentage: Cuphea ignea x Cuphea angustifolia

Image
Common names
  • Cigar Plant
  • Cigar Bush
Also sold as:
  • Cuphea lanceolata 'Starfire'
  • Cuphea x ignea 'Starfire'
  • 'Starfire'

Photo Gallery
Location: Hamilton Square Garden, Historic City Cemetery, Sacramento CA.
Date: 2017-11-13

Photo courtesy of Annie's Annuals and Perennials

Photo courtesy of Annie's Annuals and Perennials
Location: Laura's garden
Location: My garden in Kentucky
Date: 2010-06-16
Location: Hamilton Square Perennial Garden, Historic City Cemetery, Sacramento CA.
Date: 2014-05-20
Zone 9b. Always blooming!
Location: all photos from my garden
Date: 2015-06-17
Location: Fountain, Florida
Date: 2011-10-23
Location: Orlando Florida
Date: 2011-05-05
close up Cuphea lanceolata 'Starfire'
Location: Laura's garden
Location: Hamilton Square Garden, Historic City Cemetery, Sacramento CA.
Date: 2018-02-19
Has bloomed continuously since planting fall 2016 but with a hard
Location: My garden in Kentucky
Date: 2010-06-16
Location: My garden in Kentucky
Date: 2010-06-16
Location: Laura garden 
Date: 2017-05-09
Location: Fountain,Florida
Date: 2011-10-23
Location: My garden in Kentucky
Date: 2010-06-08
Location: My garden in Kentucky
Date: 2010-06-16
Location: My garden in Kentucky
Date: 2010-06-16
Location: My garden in Kentucky
Date: 2010-06-16
Location: My garden in Kentucky
Date: 2010-06-16

Photo courtesy of Annie's Annuals and Perennials
  • Uploaded by Joy

Photo courtesy of Annie's Annuals and Perennials
  • Uploaded by Joy
Comments:
  • Posted by Danita (GA - Zone 7b) on Jan 8, 2016 4:51 AM concerning plant:
    Quote from - http://handle.nal.usda.gov/101...

    Abstract:
    Starfire is a sterile F1 hybrid resulting from a cross between Cuphea ignea (PI534899) and C. angustifolia (PI534892). The C. ignea parent was derived from a commercial cultivar while C. angustifolia originated from a wild population from Oaxaca, Mexico. Starfire is intermediate in size between its parents, (50-75 cm tall, 60-70 cm wide) with the spreading subshape of C. ignea. Flowering is continuous once cuttings are established. Calyx tubes are striped pink (RHS 63B) on white, dorsally tipped in white and are 10-15 mm long, with a pronounced spur. There are six petals, two dorsal and four ventral. Dorsal petals are white with a purple (RHS 75A) vein ~5 mm long. Ventral petals are purple (RHS 75A) to almost white (RHS 75D) and are ~3 mm long. Starfire is recommended for use as a pot plant and would prove useful for hanging baskets. It has potential as a bedding plant but has not been evaluated for this purpose.

    Author(s): Thompson, A.E. , Roath, W.W. , Widrlechner, M.P.
    Source: HortScience : a publication of the American Society for Horticultural Science Feb 1995. v. 30 (1)
    Language: English
    Year: 1995
    Collection: Journal Articles, USDA Authors, Peer-Reviewed
    Rights: Works produced by employees of the U.S. Government as part of their official duties are not copyrighted within the U.S. The content of this document is not copyrighted.

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