How to identify False heather (Cuphea hyssopifolia)

How to identify False heather (Cuphea hyssopifolia)

False heather, also known as Elfin herb

False heather is recognized by its compact evergreen shrub form, typically reaching heights of up to 2 feet (60 cm). The foliage is dense with small, lanceolate leaves that are glossy and exhibit a delicate, fine texture. Clusters of petite, trumpet-shaped flowers adorn the plant, which bloom in various shades of lavender, pink, or white. Its continuous flowering adds to its ornamental appeal. False heather's growth habit and foliage resemble that of heathers, contributing to its common misidentification.

Lifespan: Perennial

Plant Type: Shrub

Leaf Type: Evergreen

Quickly Identify False heather

Compact shrub reaching up to 2 feet (60 cm) in height.

Lance-shaped glossy leaves with fine texture and pubescent undersides.

Trumpet-shaped lavender flowers with six petals and crinkled sepals.

Dehiscent capsules with reddish-brown seeds and pitted texture.

Green stems covered with puberulent and strigose hairs, slightly reddish in hue.

Detailed Traits of False heather

Leaf Features

The leaves of false heather are lance-shaped and measure 0.4 to 1.2 inches (10 to 30 mm) in length and 0.06 to 0.16 inches (1.5 to 4 mm) in width. They are arranged oppositely along the stem and are glossy medium to dark green. The leaves are simple, subsessile, pinnately-veined, and oblong or sometimes elliptic in shape. Notably, the undersides are covered with fine hairs, giving them a pubescent texture.

Leaf Margin

Entire

Learn About the Leaf Glossary

Flower Features

The flowers of false heather are lavender-purple, trumpet-shaped, and grow singly in the leaf axils. They have six petals, each 3-3.5 mm (0.12-0.14 inches) long, and crinkled sepals. The floral tube is pale green, measuring 5-8 mm (0.2-0.3 inches) in length, sometimes turning purplish near the apex. The flowers are supported by pedicels that are 2-7 mm (0.08-0.28 inches) long and appear glabrous or slightly pubescent. They bloom until frost.

Learn About the Flower Glossary

Stem Features

The stems of false heather are green and covered with a mix of soft, fine hairs (puberulent) and stiff, appressed reddish hairs (strigose). These multi-branched stems exhibit a slightly reddish hue, giving them a distinct appearance. Typically, the stems are slender, measuring approximately 0.1 inches (2.5 mm) in thickness. The combination of puberulent and strigose hairs provides a unique texture crucial for plant identification.

Learn About the Stem Glossary

Fruit Features

The fruit of false heather is a dehiscent capsule that appears leathery or berrylike, boasting an oblong-ovoid shape. Each capsule reaches up to about 3.5 mm (0.14 inches) in length and harbors numerous seeds within its single chamber. The seeds themselves are reddish-brown, nearly circular in form, and measure between 1 to 1.5 mm (0.04 to 0.06 inches) in diameter. They are characterized by their pitted surface texture, adding a distinct touch to the small stature of the fruit.

Learn About the Fruit Glossary

A Botanist in Your Pocket

Scan QR code to download

More Plants You May Like and How to Identify Them

Cape jasmine

Gardenia jasminoides is an evergreen shrub with unique, glossy evergreen leaves and stunning flowers. The sophisticated, matte white flowers are often used in bouquets. The exceptional beauty of this ornamental plant has made it a popular and highly appreciated plant amongst gardeners and horticulturalists.

Golden pothos

The golden pothos (Epipremnum aureum) is a popular houseplant that is commonly seen in Australia, Asia, and the West Indies. It goes by many nicknames, including "devil's ivy", because it is so hard to kill and can even grow in low light conditions. Golden pothos has poisonous sap, so it should be kept away from pets and children.

Tomato

Solanum lycopersicum is an annual or perennial herbaceous vine native to Central and South America that produces a large, juicy, edible fruit known as tomato. Today there are over 10000 cultivated varieties. Although tomato is the world’s most popular vegetable, botanically it is a fruit.

Pepper

The pepper are commonly used for cooking in places such as the Southern U.S. and Central America. Most are moderately spicy, though because there are so many variants, the spice level can vary dramatically. Cayenne powder is also a popular seasoning product made from pepper plants.

Swiss cheese plant

The swiss cheese plant (Monstera deliciosa) produces bright, glossy leaves and makes a popular houseplant. It is originally native to tropical forest regions in Central America. The nickname swiss cheese plant refers to the small holes that develop in the plant's leaves. The long fruits resemble corncobs and smell sweet and fragrant when ripe.

Bigleaf hydrangea

The bigleaf hydrangea is a deciduous shrub native to Japan, and is known for its lush, oval, colorful inflorescence. The two types of Hydrangea macrophylla are mopheads - with large, ball-shaped, sterile flower clusters, and lace capes - with small round fertile flowers in the center, and sterile flowers on the outer side of each inflorescence. Depending on soil pH, blooms can change color from pink to blue.

False heather and Their Similar Plants

Cigar plant vs. False heather: What's The Difference?

Cuphea ignea, the cigar plant, cigar flower, firecracker plant, or Mexican cigar, is a species of flowering plant in the genus Cuphea of the family Lythraceae. It is a tropical, densely branched evergreen subshrub. This species, native to Mexico and the West Indies, produces small, tubular, bright red to orange flowers. Each flower is tipped with a thin, white rim and two small purple-black petals. The flower is said to resemble a lit cigar plant, hence the name ignea, which comes from the Latin for "fire". The leaves are small, elliptical and of a bright green color. It grows to about 61 cm. In temperate regions Cuphea ignea requires a warm, sheltered spot, as it does not tolerate frost. Alternatively, it may be grown under glass or indoors as a houseplant. In the UK, this plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit (confirmed 2017).

Bat-faced cuphea vs. False heather: What's The Difference?

Bat-faced cuphea is a fast-growing Mexican native, full of red flowers that resemble bat faces (hence its name). This sub-shrub features tender broadleaves, prefers cooler climates, and is a regular fixture in many Mexican homes, where it grows to 76 cm tall.

Mexican giant cigar plant vs. False heather: What's The Difference?

Mexican giant cigar plant is also commonly called the “Candy corn” plant because its flowers resemble candy corns. Mexican giant cigar plant is an evergreen shrub that prefers warmer climates but can be grown as an annual plant in colder climates, it just won’t flower in winter. The flowers bloom best when grown in full sunlight.

Identify False heather easily and quickly

We're also capable of identifying over 12,000 types of plants, flowers, succulents, and trees in your surroundings.

Identify a Plant Online

Key Facts About False heather

Attributes of False heather

Lifespan

Perennial

Plant Type

Shrub

Plant Height

60 cm

Spread

90 cm

Leaf Color

Green

Flower Size

1 cm

Flower Color

Purple

White

Pink

Lavender

Fruit Color

Brown

Stem Color

Green

White

Purple

Pink

Leaf type

Evergreen

Identify plants with a snap

Instantly identify plants with AI: Snap a photo, and get accurate results within seconds.

Download the App for Free

Scientific Classification of False heather

Phylum

Class

Order

Family

Genus

Species

False heather (Cuphea hyssopifolia)

Learn More About the False heather

Distribution Map of False heather

False heather is native in the region from Mexico to Central USA, where it grows in warm, temperate conditions at medium elevations above sea level (500 to 2240 meters). It's been introduced to areas of South America and Southeast Asia predominantly but is believed to be a transformative invasive in Cuba and a weed in Hawaii.

Native

Cultivated

Invasive

Potentially invasive

Exotic

No species reported

Learn More About the False heather

A Comprehensive Guide to False heather How to Grow and Care for False heather