Botanical Name: Cuphea hyssopifolia ‘Allyson Heather’

Common Name: Cuphea, Mexican Heather

Hardiness Zone: Perennial in Warm Regions (USDA Zones 9–11); Grown as an Annual Elsewhere

Size: 12–18" Tall × 12–18" Spread

Growth Habit: Compact, Mounding, Well-Branched Habit

Sunlight: Full Sun to Partial Shade

Soil: Well-Drained, Average to Fertile Soil

Water Needs: Moderate; Drought Tolerant Once Established

Bloom Season: Late Spring through Frost

Fertilizer: Light Feeding During Active Growth

Features: Soft Lavender-Purple Flowers, Fine-Textured Foliage, Continuous Blooming, Excellent Heat Tolerance

Uses: Containers, Edging, Borders, Mass Plantings, Pollinator Gardens

Patent: ❌ Not Patented

Propagation: ✔ Propagation Allowed

See our complete Cuphea Plant Guide for more in depth care details.

More About Cuphea ‘Allyson Heather’

Cuphea ‘Allyson Heather’ is a refined selection of Cuphea prized for its airy texture and steady display of small lavender-purple flowers. From late Spring through frost, it produces countless delicate blooms along slender, well-branched stems, creating more of a soft, cloud-like wash of color. ‘Allyson Heather’ has a way of weaving itself beautifully into mixed plantings, adding lightness and movement without competing with stronger colors. The blooms really shine up close, which makes it one I especially like near paths, patios, and containers where you can appreciate the detail.

The foliage is fine, dense, and almost evergreen, so the plant keeps a clean appearance even if flowering slows for a moment in peak heat. Its compact, mounding habit stays tidy, making it easy to tuck alongside other plants without things feeling crowded. Unlike some of the more aggressive Mexican heathers, ‘Allyson Heather’ holds its shape without constant trimming. That balance of softness and structure makes it one of those dependable “glue” plants that I use again and again in both containers and garden beds.

Why We Like It (Our Trials)

In our trial beds here in the South Carolina heat, Cuphea ‘Allyson Heather’ has earned my respect by performing when everything else is melting. I remember one July in particular, when the humidity felt like you could wring it out of the air, and several newer introductions started to stretch and sulk. ‘Allyson Heather’ just kept blooming like nothing was wrong. It roots in quickly, settles in without drama, and keeps that neat, rounded shape without me having to chase it with pruners every two weeks. I also love its consistency. When we plant a flat of it, they grow evenly, bloom evenly, and look uniform from one end of the bed to the other.

I’ve used it as the “glue” plant in mixed containers when the bold thriller and spiller needed something soft in between, and it doesn’t steal the show, but rather it makes everything else look better. We’ve edged it along a brick walkway near the courtyard, and the fine texture softens the hard lines in a way that feels intentional but never fussy. I’ve even mass planted it in a sunny bed where that airy lavender haze reads almost like a watercolor from a distance. Bees, especially the tiny native ones, visit it steadily all summer long. It adds life and movement without disrupting that refined, understated look, which is a balance I’m always chasing in the garden.

Allyson Heather vs. Other Cuphea

‘Allyson Heather’ is one of the more restrained varieties in this group, offering smaller flowers and a subtler overall presence. Compared to Vermillionaire® or FloriGlory® Maria, it is less showy and better suited to blending rather than standing out. Its habit is tighter than Bat Face and less sprawling than Hummingbirds Lunch, giving it a quieter role in mixed plantings. It functions well as a filler rather than a focal plant.

When set beside Mexican Heather, ‘Allyson Heather’ appears slightly bolder in bloom size but less dense in texture. Compared to David Verity, it offers fewer flowers and a smaller overall footprint. It lacks the refined breeding advantages of the FloriGlory® series but remains dependable in low-key designs. ‘Allyson Heather’ is best used where subtle color and controlled growth are preferred over impact.