Had mexican heather as a ground cover and they did exceptionally well. They're starting to brown now and lose flowers. Should I cut them back or are they done after one season? The roots are very sturdy and strong in the ground.

No matter where it's grown, Cuphea hyssopifolia is a perennial. It's not geography, where the plant is grown, that determines whether or not a plant is an annual or perennial. If a plant is capable of living more than 2 complete growth cycles, it is a perennial, even if it is grown where frost knocks it back hard or kills it outright (if the soil freezes) at the onset of cold weather.

No pruning is necessary, but you can prune to keep it looking tidier if you like.

Al

to the site!

Mexican Heather (Cuphea hyssopifolia) is an evergreen perennial and I'm not sure why your plants would be turning brown unless perhaps it's due to a sudden cultural change, like too much water or too little water?

Maybe too little water. Good to know they're perennial. I didnt pull them out but cut them back almost to the ground so maybe they'll grow back nicely.

Here it dies back if frosted and grows from the roots in spring.

Hi & welcome!

Agree that it should still be green. It's not evergreen here but does seem to be root-hardy. My 2 plants from 2020 are still green this fall after a run of 3 nights in the low 30's. A few nights in the 20's will be here sometime in the next couple months and that will cause them to defoliate.

Can't get rid of it here unless you pull it out.

Here north of Houston, they brown wit cool weather, if you prune they have to come back up from the roots. If you don't prune, when the weather gets warm enough those leaves and branches you thought were dead will green right up.

Gina1960 said: Can't get rid of it here unless you pull it out.

That's a good basic working definition of "perennial."