Professional Growing Information Zone 7 here. Discovered this plant several years ago and the hummingbirds are daily visitors every summer now. I put them in hanging baskets around the yard and watch for the hummingbirds. A few times I have been able to over winter the plants, but they need a good south facing window for light. I love this plant. It’s changed my gardening and birdwatching for the better!
Vermillionaire® Large Firecracker Plant Cuphea hybrid
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Details
Features
Garden VALEDICTORIAN.Abundant yellow orange flowers all season long; loves the heat and loved by hummingbirds
Award WinnerContinuous Bloom or RebloomerLong BloomingHeat TolerantDeadheading Not NecessaryDrought TolerantAttracts:HummingbirdsCharacteristics
Plant Type:AnnualHeight Category:MediumGarden Height:18 - 28 InchesSpacing:12 - 18 InchesSpread:12 - 24 InchesFlower Colors:OrangeFlower Colors:RedFlower Colors:YellowFlower Shade:orange with red and yellow highlightsFoliage Colors:GreenFoliage Shade:GreenHabit:MoundedContainer Role:FillerPlant Needs
Light Requirement:SunThe optimum amount of sun or shade each plant needs to thrive: Full Sun (6+ hours), Part Sun (4-6 hours), Full Shade (up to 4 hours).
Maintenance Category:EasyBloom Time:Planting To FrostHardiness Zones:8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11bWater Category:AverageSoil Fertility Requirement:Average SoilUses:Border PlantUses:ContainerUses:LandscapeUses:Mass PlantingMaintenance Notes:Vermillionaire®, like all Cuphea is a heat lover and will do best in warm gardens with bright light. Always keep this plant in full sun for best flowering and to avoid it stretching in the shade.
Keep moist throughout the growing season, regular fertilizing will keep it full and constantly flowering. Once established Vermillionaire™ does not require a lot of water, but water regularly until it has grown a bit.
This plant is a perennial in USDA zones 8 and higher, but should be considered an annual in colder climates. If you are in a marginally hardy area, an application of light mulch (like pine needles) about 6 inches deep and a foot wide. When the threat of frost is past, remove the layer of mulch. The plant should not be cut back in the winter. If it has dead plant material or is leggy in spring, you can trim it back once new growth begins.
Great hummingbird attractor! They love this plant, one of their preferred plants in most gardens.
Vermillionaire® Cuphea hybrid 'cupver' -
42 Reviews
5334731211Browse reviews from people who have grown this plant.-
J. Kirsch, New York, United States, 5 weeks ago
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Proven Winners - Vermillionaire - Cuphea is a GREAT plant, especially for the hummingbirds. It has excellent mounding properties and is very easy to take care of in the flower bed. Just give it four to six of full sun, bi-weekly fertilizing for the blooms and regular watering. It that EASY!!! Happy Gardening!!!
Wiz Kid, Maryland, United States, 43 weeks ago -
I absolutely adore this plant. Not only does it look healthy, and nice and abundant; but my hummingbirds love it and visit it daily. We live in zone 6A, so this is an annual for us. By the end of the season it grows into a bush from just a small plant. It does like more water than most, but that might be because we plant four of them in a very large pot. You can always tell if it’s not getting enough water because it will let you know. But once you water it, it bounces right back.
Monica, Indiana, United States, 1 year ago -
Vermillionaire® Large Firecracker Plant just blooms and blooms, hummingbirds love it. It received more compliments than any other plant in my yard. Will buy it again!
Jacob Palmer, Oklahoma, United States, 1 year ago -
Have been growing this plant for years as a 24' border for my deck. Plant 15 and they fill it out completely. It's September 30th and the hummingbirds are swarming over them, preferring them over my feeders in preparation for their migration south. Highly recommended!
Michael Borkowski, New York, United States, 1 year ago -
I planted Vermillionaire in the spring of ‘21. It has grown about 3’ tall and is treated like a border wall in my flower beds. I have some awesome pictures and videos of the hummingbirds that have been attracted by the blooms. Highly recommend this if you are looking to attract hummingbirds! Fingers crossed it makes it through the winter (North AL).
Hunter Coggins, Alabama, United States, 1 year ago -
I bought this plant in 2019 and getting hummingbirds ever since in my zone 6B garden. It easily overwinters as an indoor plant in my dining room (by a SE facing window). Love this easy care and beautiful plant. Highly recommended for the uniqueness and ability to attract hummingbirds. This year it started blooming from early June…right now covered in flowers. Lots of buds still in making. I wanted to add a picture of my blooming plant but not able to see an option.
MD, New Jersey, United States, 1 year ago -
For some reason, I had avoided this plant for several years. I think I found its blooms too small and not showy enough for my tastes. This past spring, I began paying attention to foliage in addition to blooms. The shape, color, and texture of the foliage on this plant is wonderful. After growing this plant this past year, I would definitely grow it again.
ElsieLila, Michigan, United States, 2 years ago -
Bloomed all summer but the hummers stayed away because of the VERY large number of honeybees. The bees just swarm this plant. When I water it the bees are so intent on feeding they don't come near me even though I am only 2 feet away placing the hose at the roots. I will plant more of them next year in different areas of the yard to see if I can attract hummingbirds and the bees.
Roy S, Indiana, United States, 2 years ago -
I bought these flowers for the first time this year and I was skeptical as to how nice they would turn out. Unfortunately, I bought them too late in the season to attract Hummingbirds but they turned out amazing. I am definitely going to get them again next year.
Stacy, New Jersey, United States, 2 years ago
7 Awards
Award Year Award Plant Trial 2020 Top Performer University of Georgia 2020 Top Performer Mississippi State University - Crystal Springs 2020 Top Performer North Carolina State, JC Raulston Arboretum 2020 Top 12 Performer University of Florida - Fort Lauderdale 2020 Top 10 - Beds North Carolina State, JC Raulston Arboretum 2020 Perfect Score Mississippi State University - Poplarville 2018 Top Performer Penn State 12 Recipes
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