This Cuphea…

Short version of this post if you are pressed for time…

PanAmerican Seed sent me several new annuals that are coming out in 2024 to trial in my garden this summer.

I’m giving at leat one of them, the Cuphea Sweet Talk™ Deep Pink (Cuphea procumbens), a green thumbs up. It has big pink flowers, and if I sat quietly nearby, no doubt, I would see hummingbirds appear to sip the nectar.

I should note I have it growing in a container that is getting some shade through the day. I think it would have more flowers in full sun.

And that’s the end of the short version.

For the longer version of this post…

I was going to talk about how I’ve purchased cupheas in the past that have teeny-tiny flowers and used them more as filler plants in containers. This new-to-me cuphea has much bigger flowers which are nice to see.

Then I was going to look for a picture of one of them in flower last year. I didn’t find the picture I was looking for at first, but I found this one. (I do a poor job of labeling photos to make them easier to find later.)

I think this variety is ‘Honeybells’ but don’t quote me on that. (If I did a better job of labeling photos…)

There are several named varieties of cuphea with this shape and color of flower. If you look closely, you can see a pollinator on it.

Most cupheas will attract pollinators which makes them a great flower for containers on patios and decks if you, like me, think watching pollinators amongst your flowers is relaxing.

I went looking one more time for a picture of the cuphea I was really looking for and found it!

It’s a variety of Cuphea ramosissima.

I didn’t buy it this year, though I’m not sure why I didn’t. Maybe others beat me to it at the greenhouse. There were lots of people buying lots of plants every time I went there all spring, which is always good to see, though it does mean that you have to “grab ’em when you see ’em” or miss out.

As you can see, there’s quite a bit of variety among the flowers of plants in the Cuphea genus. I’m pleased to add Cuphea Sweet Talk™ Deep Pink to my list of “Cuphea I Have Grown.”

I’m also adding it to my list of “Flowers I Want My Local Greenhouse Owner to Grow For Me For Next Year,” which I will share with them this week. It’s time for another trip to the greenhouse, anyway. I need to ask them for some information to help me investigate the Great Zinnia Theft of Summer 2023.