Professional Growing Information 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.
Vermillionaire® Large Firecracker Plant Cuphea hybrid
Exposure
- Sun
The 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).
Flower Season
- Spring
- Summer
Mature Size
Height
18 - 28"
Spread
12 - 24"
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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:SunMaintenance 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' -
25 Reviews
5174631211-
ElsieLila, Michigan, United States, 10 weeks ago
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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, 29 weeks 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, 31 weeks ago -
Hummingbirds loved the vermillionaire but BEWARE so do the Japanese Beetles!They totally destroyed my plant. Japanese beetle magnet.!!!
Sally, 32 weeks ago -
I succeeded in keeping it alive, and for part of the winter it thrived, in the spare bedroom, south window. It even came into healthy bloom! Then whiteflies woke up and found it, and it was in trouble. Before taking it outside this season I cut off most of the branches (leaves were mostly dead anyway) and the whiteflies were evidently without food, so they mostly disappeared. It's recovering outside now, in June. The night temps have finally stopped falling into the 40's, so I am not hauling it inside the garage at night. (Don't know how much cold it can take.) But it's on track to have a good season! I had tried Neem oil on it, but that doesn't last, and I don't trust it to be good for the plant.
Sharon Sivertsen, Illinois, United States, 43 weeks ago -
So I grow this plant Vermillionaire or David Verity every year. This one is more available. I think David Verity is larger and more vigorous for me but they are both beautiful plants. I grow this in large containers for hummingbirds. It is one of the top hummingbird plants in my yard during fall migration. It is a reliable and easy plant to grow that is always full of flowers. Also as long as you do not let it go bone dry it is reasonably easy to overwinter small plants.
Randall Benson, Minnesota, United States, 48 weeks ago -
Great for large containers or landscape border. Good pollinator plant, lots of bright flowers, works on drip in xeriscape.
Sue Metzner, Arizona, United States, 1 year ago -
I planted this in a raised bed, a planter and a windowbox. They grew okay but didn't draw as much attention as my salvias. I also planted them in my son's garden in Maryland with the same results. I'll plant just a couple this year as a novelty.
Anna Gadd, Pennsylvania, United States, 1 year ago -
I use a lot of different plants to attract hummingbirds that are high in nectar. This plant is their favorite ... which makes it one of my favorites!!! So easy to grow ~ flowers all season continuing on past migration. I am adding this plant to my planning board for next year and every year!!!!!! <3 !!!!
Mary Nass, Wisconsin, United States, 1 year ago -
I live in NH and we had a cooler but dry summer. I had put the plants in both 12 " hanging planters and 24 "" wide 24" deep pots. The ones in the planters hardly grew but the ones in pots are about 30" tall in a very full bush with loads of flowers. Bother the Hummingbirds and Hummingbird moths like them. I will get more next year but stick with either raised planting beds or large pots.
Don Armstrong, New Hampshire, United States, 1 year ago
8 Awards
Award Year Award Plant Trial 2020 Top 12 Performer University of Florida - Fort Lauderdale 2020 Top Performer Mississippi State University - Crystal Springs 2020 Top Performer North Carolina State, JC Raulston Arboretum 2020 Top Performer University of Georgia 2020 Top Performer Biltmore Estate 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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