Cuphea nudicostata 'Wine Red'

Quite the handsome mouse-eared fellow, Cuphea nelsonii ‘Wine Red’ is a cloud forest plant that loves (& thrives in) our coastal California clime. Making a dense, dark green shrub, its stems & leaves are accented by red hairs that give it a velvet appearance, though the feel of the plant is more sticky than soft. Healthy & robust, it is likely to be happiest in a bright but shady nook & its semi-trailing habit makes it perfect for the edges of a shady bed. Hummingbirds adore the bright red mouse-eared flowers, which at around an inch, are relatively large for Cuphea-kind & appear through most of the Summer. Can go a little bit dry, but prefers average water & looks best with a rich, loamy soil. Grows to 1’ high & around 3’ wide with time. From Mexico.