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®

Cuphea Vermillionaire® is widely regarded as one of the most dependable compact hummingbird plants available, delivering an uninterrupted display of vivid vermilion-orange, tubular flowers from late spring through frost. The blooms are perfectly shaped for hummingbird feeding, and their bright, high-contrast color makes them easy for pollinators to locate even in mixed plantings. Unlike some Cuphea that flower in flushes, Vermillionaire® maintains steady, uniform bloom coverage across the entire plant. This consistency gives it strong visual impact throughout the growing season without requiring special care.

What sets Vermillionaire® apart from larger or looser-growing Cuphea varieties is its dense, well-balanced growth habit. The plant forms a tidy, rounded mound that stays compact while still supporting an impressive number of blooms. This controlled structure makes it especially easy to use in containers, window boxes, and smaller garden beds where space is limited. Despite its smaller stature, Vermillionaire® delivers the same level of pollinator activity typically associated with much larger plants.

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.