Date: Wed, 10 Apr 2002 23:17:42 -0500
From: Nancy L Newfield <colibri@WEBDSI.COM>
Reply-To: BB for Hummingbirds and Gardening for them in the Southeast
<HUMNET-L@listserv.lsu.edu>
To: HUMNET-L@listserv.lsu.edu
Subject: Re: [HUMNET-L] Cuphea ignea

At 01:11 PM 4/10/02 -0500, Miriam Davey wrote:

>Years ago my husband and I ordered & grew seed of Cuphea ignea, I think
>from Park's. Also, we grew some C.igneas from seed at the nursery where I
>used to work. In both cases, we found the plants exceptionally easy to
>germinate and grow in seed trays and pots under cool winter greenhouse and
>flourescent light/soil heating mat conditions.
>
>Using them outdoors in landscapes and in containers was not as successful.
>They seem to enjoy cool, moist, well-drained roots, resent humid and hot
>conditions, yet need at least some filtered light to bloom. They are
>succeptible to fungus. They were roughly in the same growing category as
>garden Fuschias, but maybe a little easier.
>
>By spraying for both fungus and BT and mulching well, we did get one or two
>to live in a shady landscape bed for three summers, but 90% of the C.ignea
>planting bit the dust before their first summer ended. Sometimes we could
>also make them do fairly well in large size CLAY pot hanging baskets, but
>summer conditions were again a problem. Spray, spray, spray---if we forgot
>to spray, it was a goner.

I have had somewhat better luck with the species Cuphea ignea. Back in the
1970s, I ordered some seeds of "Cuphea platycentra" from Park Seeds. The
seeds germinated well and the little plants lasted a few months - long
enough to flower, but not long enough to see any hummers using
it. Remembering what those plants looked like, I am sure they were Cuphea
ignea. They tended to flop over and sprawl, but the flowers were quite
attractive.

In the mid-1990s, I saw one growing in a large, clay pot in Scott Knaus's
yard and filched a few seeds. [Scott wasn't home to ask permission, and I
knew he wouldn't mind.] Those seeds produced a few nice plants, which I
planted in a large, clay pot with a sandy soil mix. These plants tended to
flop over and sprawl just like the erstwhile "Cuphea platycentra". The plants lasted a couple of years, but tended to dry out too quickly in hot
summer weather. One day I forgot to water and that was the end of those
plants. I did get to see them flowering for a long time. Ruby-throats
went to them occasionally, but the birds appeared to have a difficult time
inserting their bills into the floral tubes. The tubes seemed to be too
narrow for the thickness of their bills.

In August 2000, Margaret Owens and I observed tiny Booted Racket-tails
using the flowers of some small, erect Cuphea shrubs that we found growing
at the Tandayapa Bird Lodge in Ecuador. This same garden also had some
very nice Fuchsias, which the birds also used.

I collected seed and grew several plants, most of which were shared with
other Humnetters. I have a single plant growing an a large, clay pot in
rich soil. It flowered nicely last year and then seemed to quit for the
winter. It always had a few flowers, but not many. Now, though, the plant
is really spectacular for a small plant. Unlike the parent plant however, this plant sprawls just like other members of the species I've
grown. Hummers have gone to it occasionally, but I doubt it will ever be a
hummer magnet. I can only guess that the difference in bill thickness
between the Booted Racket-tail and our hummers makes this plant less useful
for us than it is in Ecuador.

Nancy L Newfield

================================

Date: Thu, 18 Apr 2002 23:36:31 -0500
From: Nancy L Newfield <colibri@WEBDSI.COM>
Reply-To: BB for Hummingbirds and Gardening for them in the Southeast
<HUMNET-L@listserv.lsu.edu>
To: HUMNET-L@listserv.lsu.edu
Subject: Re: [HUMNET-L] Cuphea ignea

At 08:29 PM 4/18/02 -0500, Stan wrote:

>During my reviewing various plants for hummingbirds, I note
>that Cuphea ignea keeps popping up.
>
>If I may inquire, is this the "common" or botanical name for
>this plant? Then, perhaps armed with this knowledge, I may
>appear "more intelligent" when inquiring at our local
>Nursery about its availability in Minnesota.

Actually, Cuphea ignea is the scientific name of a plant that is commonly
called Mexican Cigar. However, Cuphea ignea 'David Verity' and Cuphea
micropetala are also called Mexican Cigar - and other plants may carry the
same common name as well. If you go to the nursery and ask for Mexican
Cigar, you may get any of the three very different plants that carry the
common name.

NLN