How to identify Cigar plant (Cuphea ignea)

How to identify Cigar plant (Cuphea ignea)

Cigar plant, also known as Cigar flower, Vegetable firecracker, Mexican cigar plant

Cigar plant displays an intriguing rounded form with bushy foliage. Typically cultivated as an annual, this plant can reach a height of 18-24 inches (45-60 cm) with an equal spread. Its foliage consists of small, lance-shaped green leaves that provide a dense backdrop to a profusion of slender, tubular flowers. The flowers, which bloom throughout the year, are characterized by their bright red-orange hue, resembling miniature cigars with distinctively flared tips. Cigar plant's flower display is highly ornamental, making it an attractive option for container gardening or as a vibrant houseplant.

Lifespan: Perennial

Plant Type: Shrub

Leaf Type: Evergreen

Quickly Identify Cigar plant

Bright red-orange tubular flowers with distinctively flared tips.

Explosive dehiscence capsules with dark brown seeds for effective distribution.

Opposite pairs of small, lance-shaped dark green leaves with subtle veins.

Reddish, unbranched stems under 0.25 inches (0.64 cm) in diameter.

Year-round, 1.25-inch (2.5 cm) long flowers with thin white rims.

Detailed Traits of Cigar plant

Leaf Features

Cigar plant features dark green, lance-shaped to oval leaves that reach up to 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) in length. The leaves are small and evergreen, arranged in dense, opposite pairs or whorls around the stems. They are smooth in texture, with a prominent midrib and secondary veins that are subtly visible. These leaves create a lush, verdant appearance important for identifying the plant.

Leaf Arrangement

Opposite

Leaf Margin

Entire

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Flower Features

The flowers of cigar plant are 1.25 inches (2.5 cm) long, bright red with a tubular shape formed by fused sepals (calyxes). Each flower is longitudinally grooved and features a thin white rim and two small purple-black tips. These blooms appear singly in leaf axils and have a basal hypanthium. Flowering occurs year-round, producing rich nectar that attracts hummingbirds, butterflies, bees, and ants.

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Stem Features

The stems of cigar plant are thin and somewhat brittle, typically growing unbranched. They are characterized by a reddish hue, particularly in younger stems. These stems can reach a moderate height, maintaining a slender profile with a diameter usually under 0.25 inches (0.64 cm). The reddish coloration and smooth texture of the young stems are distinguishing features that make identification easier for plant enthusiasts.

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Fruit Features

The fruit of cigar plant is a diminutive, dry capsule measuring about 1/2 inch (approximately 1.3 cm) in length. These capsules exhibit a papery texture and are known for their explosive dehiscence, wherein they burst open to disperse the tiny, dark brown seeds contained within. The fruit is adapted to ensure effective seed distribution, a key factor for the propagation of cigar plant. Despite its small size, the delicate, yet dynamic nature of the fruit is a noteworthy feature for those learning to identify and understand cigar plant.

Learn About the Fruit Glossary

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Cigar plant and Their Similar Plants

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

A native of Mexico and parts of Central America, false heather is a small unassuming plant that makes a great addition to beds and borders. It has attractive evergreen foliage and when in bloom has lavender, white, or purple flowers. In the state of Hawaii, this naturalized plant is regarded as a weed.

Bat-faced cuphea vs. Cigar plant: 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. Cigar plant: 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.

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Key Facts About Cigar plant

Attributes of Cigar plant

Lifespan

Perennial

Plant Type

Shrub

Plant Height

46 cm to 61 cm

Spread

45 cm to 60 cm

Fruit Color

Brown

Stem Color

Red

Leaf type

Evergreen

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Scientific Classification of Cigar plant

Phylum

Class

Order

Family

Genus

Species

Cigar plant (Cuphea ignea)

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Distribution Map of Cigar plant

Cigar plant, a plant species, is indigenous to the warm climates of a major region in North America. It has since spread, either through natural dispersal or human introduction, to parts of South America, Southeast Asia, Australia, and several Pacific islands. Additionally, cigar plant has made its way into cultivation in various regions, showcasing its adaptability beyond its native range.

Native

Cultivated

Invasive

Potentially invasive

Exotic

No species reported

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A Comprehensive Guide to Cigar plant How to Grow and Care for Cigar plant