Fauna
Flower

Cigar Plant

Cuphea ignea

Also known as Firecracker Plant, Mexican Cigar, Cigar Flower, Cigarette Bush

Cigar plants produce a continuous succession of fiery, tubular calyces tipped with ash-white rims and dark purple petals that closely resemble glowing cigars. These vibrant blossoms lack conspicuous true petals, relying instead on an elongated, nectar-rich floral tube adapted specifically to attract feeding hummingbirds. Native to tropical slopes and forest margins in Mexico and the West Indies, this compact evergreen subshrub thrives in warm sunshine and has naturalized in tropical climates worldwide.

FloweringSubshrubPollinator Magnet
Cigar Plant reference1 / 7
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Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preySunlight, Water, Soil nutrients
Predators
  • Aphids
  • Spider mites
  • Whiteflies
ThreatsSevere freezing temperatures and land clearing
HabitatsTropical scrub, forest margins, rocky slopes, and cultivated gardens
Life span3–5 years (grown as an annual in cold climates)
Classification
  1. OrderMyrtales
  2. FamilyLythraceae
  3. GenusCuphea
  4. SpeciesCuphea ignea
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
  • Garden Placement: Plant in full sun and well-draining soil to maximize blooming density.
  • Pollinator Watching: Monitor quiet patches during morning light to spot feeding hummingbirds.
  • Pruning: Pinch back young stems occasionally to encourage bushier branch architecture.
Related species
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