Cuphea

Cuphea - Pretty plants, of which C. platycentra (Cigar-plant) is useful for the summer flower garden. It is a dwarf plant, about 12 inches high, with vermilion tube-shaped blossoms. Easily propagated by cuttings taken in September or April, and put in slight heat, and also raised from seed sown in heat in spring. C. strigulosa is a pretty variety, useful for planting out as single plants in the mixed border for cutting from, but chiefly used as a pot plant for the autumn greenhouse. C. Zimapani is a most useful annual, growing about 1 1/2 feet high, with flowers of a rich deep purple bordered with a lighter hue, resembling those of a Sweet Pea, and of about the same size. They are well fitted for cutting, as the branches lengthen and the flowers expand a long time in water. Other kinds are C. eminens, Galeottiana, miniata, ocymoides, purpurea, Roezli, and silenoides, all of less importance for the flower garden than those before named.