Botanical Name: Cuphea llavea ‘Bat Face’ Common Name: Bat-Faced Cuphea Hardiness Zone: Perennial in Warm Regions (USDA Zones 9–11); Grown as an Annual Elsewhere Size: 18–24" Tall × 18–24" Spread Growth Habit: Upright, Bushy, 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: Unique Bat-Shaped Purple and Red Flowers, Continuous Blooming, Excellent Heat Tolerance, Hummingbird Friendly Uses: Containers, Landscape Beds, Pollinator Gardens, Accent Plantings, Patio Displays

Patent: ❌ Not Patented Propagation: ✔ Propagation Allowed

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

More About Cuphea ‘Bat Face’

Cuphea ‘Bat Face’ is most recognizable for its truly unique flowers, which resemble tiny bat faces with deep purple, wing-like lobes and a bright red, tubular center. This distinctive bloom structure is unlike most flowering annuals, giving the plant a playful, almost whimsical appearance that immediately draws attention. Unlike mass-flowering Cuphea varieties that rely on sheer volume, ‘Bat Face’ stands out through individual flower detail and character. It works especially well in containers, mixed planters, and front-of-the-border plantings where its blooms can be appreciated up close.

The plant blooms continuously from late spring through frost, producing fresh flowers steadily without the need for deadheading. Its growth habit is upright and bushy, typically forming a well-branched plant that fills in evenly rather than becoming leggy. While it maintains a manageable size, it still has enough height and presence to anchor container combinations or act as a focal point in garden beds. The foliage remains clean and healthy throughout the season, providing a strong backdrop for the colorful blooms even during peak summer heat.

Why We Like It (Our Trials)

In our trials, Cuphea ‘Bat Face’ has proven to be a reliable performer in full sun, handling high temperatures and intense summer conditions without slowing down. It maintains good branching and consistent flowering even during extended heat, when many novelty-type annuals tend to stall. We’ve found it performs equally well in containers and in-ground plantings, adapting easily without requiring special care or frequent maintenance. Its steady growth habit also makes it predictable for design planning.

We especially value ‘Bat Face’ for its strong pollinator appeal. Hummingbirds are frequent visitors, drawn to the tubular red flowers, and the extended bloom season ensures a constant food source well into late summer and early fall. The combination of visual interest, wildlife value, and dependable performance makes it more than just a novelty. In mixed plantings, it brings personality and motion while still functioning as a durable, hard-working annual.

Cuphea ‘Bat Face’ vs. Other Cuphea

Cuphea ‘Bat Face’ is immediately distinguished by its unique flower shape, which sets it apart from more traditional, tube-flowered Cuphea varieties like Vermillionaire® and FloriGlory® Diana. While those cultivars focus on dense flowering and color saturation, ‘Bat Face’ offers fewer but more expressive blooms that function as visual conversation pieces. Compared to Mexican Heather, which forms a fine-textured, shrub-like mound, ‘Bat Face’ has a looser, more open habit that feels less formal in the landscape. Its novelty-driven appeal makes it better suited for mixed containers or accent plantings rather than mass bedding.

When placed alongside Hummingbirds Lunch, the contrast becomes more about personality than performance. Both attract pollinators, but ‘Bat Face’ leans whimsical while ‘Hummingbirds Lunch’ reads more traditional in form. Compared to David Verity, which produces abundant small blooms and a fuller silhouette, ‘Bat Face’ sacrifices volume for individuality. It’s the least uniform of the group, but also the most distinctive, making it ideal where uniqueness matters more than coverage.