Botanical Name: Cuphea hybrid ‘Vermillionaire®’

Common Name: Cuphea, Cigar Plant

Hardiness Zone: Perennial in Warm Regions (USDA Zones 8–11); Grown as an Annual Elsewhere

Size: 12–24" Tall × 12–24" Spread

Growth Habit: Compact, Mounding, Well-Branched Habit

Sunlight: Full Sun to Partial Shade (Best Flowering in Full Sun)

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: Bright Vermilion-Orange Tubular Flowers, Exceptional Hummingbird Attraction, Continuous Blooming, Excellent Heat Tolerance

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

Patent: ✔ Patented

Propagation: ❌ Propagation Prohibited Without License

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

More About Cuphea Vermillionaire®

Vermillionaire® is a Cuphea I recommend without hesitation because I know exactly what it is going to do. From Late Spring all the way through Frost, it stays covered in vivid vermilion orange tubular blooms that practically glow in the garden. The flowers are perfectly shaped for hummingbirds, and I have watched them spot this plant from across the courtyard and make a direct line straight to it. What I appreciate most is the consistency. It does not bloom in big waves and then rest. It stays evenly covered in color, which gives you steady impact without having to fuss over it.

Unlike some of the larger, looser Cuphea types, Vermillionaire® keeps a dense, rounded shape that feels controlled and intentional. It forms a compact mound that fits beautifully into containers, window boxes, and smaller beds without crowding its neighbors. Even though it stays on the tidier side, it produces an impressive number of blooms. You get all the pollinator power of a big plant, but in a size that is much easier to work into everyday designs.

Why We Like It (Our Trials)

In our Upstate South Carolina trial beds, Cuphea Vermillionaire® has been incredibly steady in Full Sun and high Summer heat. We plant it, water it in, and it establishes quickly without any drama. It keeps flowering without deadheading, and even during long stretches of hot weather, the color stays saturated and strong. I rarely see it stretch or lose its shape, which tells me the genetics are solid.

We use it in just about every

Why We Like It (Our Trials)

In our trials, Cuphea Vermillionaire® has proven to be an exceptionally reliable performer in full sun and high summer heat. It establishes quickly after planting, flowers continuously without deadheading, and maintains strong color saturation even during prolonged periods of hot weather. The plant holds its shape well, showing minimal stretching or decline as the season progresses. Its ability to stay attractive with minimal maintenance makes it one of the easiest Cuphea varieties to recommend.

We especially value its versatility across different planting applications. Vermillionaire® performs equally well as a container focal plant, a low border accent, or in mass plantings where hummingbird activity becomes immediately noticeable. In addition to hummingbirds, bees and butterflies visit regularly, adding layered wildlife interest. Few compact flowering plants combine nonstop bloom, tidy form, and high pollinator value as effectively as Vermillionaire®.

Vermillionaire® vs. Other Cuphea

‘Vermillionaire®’ is the performance benchmark among these varieties, bred specifically for nonstop flowering and strong heat tolerance. Compared to ‘Bat Face’ and Hummingbirds Lunch, it produces far greater bloom density and a more uniform plant shape. Its vivid orange-red flowers are more visually dominant than those of David Verity, which tend to read softer and more dispersed. In large beds or mass plantings, ‘Vermillionaire®’ delivers unmatched color impact.

Against FloriGlory® Maria and FloriGlory® Diana, ‘Vermillionaire®’ generally grows larger and slightly looser, favoring landscape scale over container refinement. It lacks the fine texture of Mexican Heather, but compensates with sheer flower volume and visibility from a distance. While it may not have the novelty appeal of ‘Bat Face’, it outperforms nearly all others in sustained bloom and heat resilience. This makes it the most reliable choice for high-exposure sites.