Looking For Mexican Cigar Plant - Knowledgebase Question

Pittsburgh, PA
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Question by thomaswaters
January 20, 2001
I'm looking for seeds for an old time annual that I haven't seen for maybe 15 or more years, the Mexican Cigar Plant. If my memory serves me, the botanical name is Cuphea ignea (sp???) I've looked in a few seed catalongs with no success.

This was a low growing annual with very small leaves and small flowers that looked like a lit cigar. for the past few years, I've been looking for more unusual flowers to put in the front flower bed and this was one that came to mind, but haven't been able to find the seed.

Thanks,


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Answer from NGA
January 20, 2001
I hope this is the plant -- Cigar or firecracker plant (Cuphea ignea) can be grown outdoors in zones 10 to 12 but is grown as a house or patio plant in colder areas. It needs full sun, grows about a foot high and wide and can be propagated by seeds or cuttings.

It is not easy to find seeds, as you said! A quick search revealed the following source, unfortunately I have no experience with either company:

Weedpatch at
http://www.weedpatch.com/

Degiorgio Seed Co. at
http://www.degiorgiseed.com/in...

You might also ask a local greenhouse or houseplant supplier if they could order some plants for you so you could take cuttings.

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