Bat-faced Cuphea or Red Cuphea is a perennial, evergreen sub-shrub native to Mexico in the loosestrife family. In North Carolina, it can be grown as an annual, container plant or house plant. The name comes from the flower which has a one inch long, hairy purple calyx with two upward facing red petals, resembling a bat face. It begins blooming in late spring and continues until frost, producing clusters of numerous flowers in the leaf axils. The genus name comes from the Greek kyphos meaning curved or humped, referring to the shape of its seed capsules. In its native habitat, it may grow 2 to 3 feet tall, but as an annual, it will most likely reach 12 to 18 inches tall with a similar spread. When planted outside, it does best in well-drained moist soils in full sun. It will tolerate hot summers and partial shade and does well along a border or pathways. It is sensitive to cool temperatures, but you can grow the plant in containers and bring the plant in during the winter. If indoors, place in a sunny location and reduce watering. You can cut the plant back to prevent legginess. Bat-faced Cuphea attracts hummingbirds and other pollinators. Many cultivars are available. Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No known diseases or insect pests.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 6 in. | Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Mounding; Multi-stemmed; Rounded
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Ovate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Up to 3 inch long ovate, thick, dark green hairy leaves with pointed apex.
Flower color
Black; Purple/Lavender; Red/Burgundy
Flower value
Long Bloom Season; Showy
Flower shape
Tubular
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
The 1 inch long, dark purple, hairy calyx has 2 upward facing red petals and resembles a bat face. Flowers appear in the axils of leaves from late spring to frost.
Bloom time
Fall; Spring; Summer
Stem color
Green; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
Reddish green stems
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Origin
Mexico
Wildlife value
Attracts hummingbirds and other pollinators
Attracts
Butterflies; Hummingbirds; Pollinators
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Hanging Baskets; Houseplants; Small Space; Walkways