Brittle and scratchy, but
Cuphea llavea
puts on a gaudy show. And it does it with almost fluorescent colors. The red
and black-purple blooms show up as a beacon. I have had my greatest
success with Cuphea llavea growing it in rocks or trailing over a
wall. Bat Face Cuphea is frost tender in the high 20's,
though it will come back from the roots into the low 20's. The plants
seem to limp for awhile when this happens. Cuphea llavea loves heat and great
drainage. The plant pictured is hanging over a south facing rock in well composted
gravelly soil. Cuphea llavea is growing robustly. The original Bat Face died during the
winter but several seedlings or runners have taken its place. I have managed to
keep it going at my house as well in considerably worse conditions and
with far less attention on my part.
High resolution images
of Cuphea llavea are available
