Cuphea ignea A.DC.

Firecracker Plant

The spectacular and unusual long-lasting flowers on this plant have attracted names like Crackers and Dynamite.

Plants sold as C. llavea Llave & Lex from Mexico are probably C. × purpurea Lem. (C. llavea × C. procumbens), available as the cultivars 'Georgia Scarlet' and 'Tiny Mice'.

Mexico, Jamaica.

Source: Spencer, R. (2002). Lythraceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 3. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 2. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.

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Distribution map

Cuphea ignea 'Variegata'

Leaves mottled with cream and pale green. [c. platycentra 'Variegated']

kingdom Plantae
phylum   Tracheophyta
class    Magnoliopsida
superorder     Rosanae
order      Myrtales
family       Lythraceae
genus        Cuphea P.Browne