2013-10-30 16:32:31 2013-10-30 16:32:31. The glossy narrow leaves are highly ornamental and remain green throughout the winter. Mexican Heather is a densely branched shrub belonging to the Lythraceae family, and is native to Mexico and Guatemala. : perennial. It is not a heather at all but a tender perennial usually sold as an annual, as it is not winter hardy below zone 9. Floriglory Maria Mexican Heather. Foliage is hardy to 28F, but will generally grow back from roots if frozen to the ground. Mexican feathergrass is a perennial bunchgrass with erect, slender culms approximately 40 inch… Good for edging and seasonal color in beds and borders. The heaths are generally spring-blooming, flowering from March to late May. Mexican heather plants, which actually aren’t members of the heather family, are suitable for growing in the warm climates of USDA plant hardiness zones 9 to 11. Mexican Heather Cuphea hyssopifolia. Search for: Search. It will grow best planted outdoors in these planting zones. Leaves are tiny, and the plant is nearly obscured by the small white, lavender, or lilac-colored flowers that bloom over a long season. Brad Parscale: Trump could have 'won by a landslide', 'Lost my mind': Miss Utah's mental illness battle, Hiker recounts seeing monolith removed from desert, ESPN's Herbstreit apologizes for Michigan comments, 'Voice' fans outraged after brutal results show, DeVos rips debt forgiveness, calls free college 'socialist', Baby born from 27-year-old frozen embryo is new record, 5 killed after car drives into pedestrians in Germany, Former Bears player rips Jay Cutler's leadership abilities, GOP leaders silent on violent threats made by Trump allies, Singer reluctantly steps into role of body-positivity icon. Its leaf blades can be 30 to 70 inches long. Sku #3049. Mexican heather grows to a height of 24 inches and forms a mound 18 to 36 inches in diameter, making this a good plant to use in borders. This will give the plant a constant supply of heat, as well as a festive look. Welcome to the Krostrade Marketplace, please excuse our appearance, we are still under construction. She holds certificates in landscape design and xeriscaping. Get Pricing and Availability. This compact perennial is unique not just because of its looks but also with how. depends on where you live... if you live south where it doesn't freeze much it can be perrenial... if you are north... then annual... Is Mexican Heather(Cuphea Hyssopifolia) a perennial or annual? Native to Mexico and Guatemala, Mexican heather is a perennial evergreen that prefers warm, tropical climates such as those in USDA planting zones 9 and 10. My Account. Mexican heather (Cuphea hyssopifolia), also known as false heather, is a member of the family Lythraceae. Mexican Heather Cuphea hyssopifolia. Photo by Forest and Kim Starr Botanical name: Cuphea hyssopifolia Common names: False heather, Mexican heather, Hawaiian heather Origin: Native to Mexico and Central America Where it will grow: Hardy to 10 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 12.2 degrees Celsius (USDA Zone 8; find your zone) Water requirement: Moderate Light requirement: Full sun or filtered shade; must have filtered shade in … In climates colder than USDA zone 9, Mexican heather grows as an annual and needs to be replanted every spring. Mexican heather can be either a perennial or an annual. We have had some survive the past two winters, but we haven't had much of a winter. Mexican heather is Cuphea hyssopifolia. It will live in zone 8, but might die to the ground in winter and return in spring. Mexican heather blooms year-round with flowers in purple, lavender and the less-common white. Native to Mexico and Guatemala, Mexican heather is a perennial evergreen that prefers warm, tropical climates such as those in USDA planting zones 9 and 10. Use Current Location. It grows 12 inches tall and 18 inches wide. Sunlight requirement. It will live in zone 8, but might die to the ground in winter and return in spring. In USDA Zones 7 and 8, treat it like a perennial for spring-to-fall interest in beds and borders. As to other heat loving annuals, there are many. How to use it: In frost-free zones, Mexican heather makes a wonderful evergreen groundcover and provides non-stop bloom in borders, foundation plantings and containers. MENU. Wait until spring to prune the Mexican heather if the plant gets frost-burned. Water the soil around the Mexican heather well, being sure it reaches down to the plant’s root system, at least 24 hours before a frost or freeze. Zones 10-11 as a perennial; annual in other areas Whatever Dee 7 was growing, it was NOT Mexican heather as there is no possibility that plant would have survived a zone 7 winter. Mexican heather ( Cuphea of hyssopifolia ) is not a real heath at all, but a perennial member of the family of purple loosestrife. Cuphea 'Floriglory Maria' Though it looks delicate, Floriglory Maria Mexican heather is an ultra-tough plant with large, pure-white flowers. Heat Tolerance: very high Water Requirements: low It should be in slight shade the rest of the time. Learn which plants thrive in your Hardiness Zone with our new interactive map! Allyson Mexican Heather is a multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with an upright spreading habit of growth. Skip to navigation Skip to content. And, in these warmer areas where it thrives year round, the plant presents its colorful and plentiful little blossoms throughout most of the year. Elsewhere, enjoy Mexican heather as an annual, either in the ground or in pots. Cover the Mexican heather with a sheet, blanket or some other type of covering made out of cloth. All Rights Reserved. Plan the perfect garden with our interactive tool →, University of Florida: Delay Pruning Cold Damaged Plants. Copyright Leaf Group Ltd. // Leaf Group Lifestyle. you can check to see if they are hardy in your area, meaning they will overwinter and grow again next year. Place the container in a sunny, warm area and do not place outdoors until the weather has warmed. Mexican Heather originated in Mexico and Guatemala. Exposure: part sun full sun Flower Color: Violet. Native to North American drylands, Mexican feather grass thrives in quick-draining, lean soil and is quite drought-tolerant. I keep them 'pinched' to about 4" high until the mid-July time.. they will be healthy thick plants with lots of blooms! Anyone who lives in climate zones 9 through 11 can grow this plant as an annual. 6-Pack Purple Mexican Heather in Tray (L7071) Item #195685 Model #NURSERY. There is often confusion between heath and heather. Mexican heather resembles a ground cover with low and compact, fern-like growth and tiny purple flowers. I think our zone is on the cusp so if you live elsewhere, you may be able to have the plants come back year after year. How to Care for Mexican Heather in Winter. Bring container-grown Mexican heather indoors, in the event of a freeze or frost, as it is very cold-sensitive. Allyson Mexican Heather is a multi-stemmed evergreen shrub often grown as an annual, with an upright spreading habit of growth. Mexican heather is relatively drought-tolerant once established and has very few pest problems. String a strand of Christmas lights around the plant’s foliage, if a hard freeze is not expected. Continue to protect the plant during cold snaps, but areas of the plant that look dead might come back to life in springtime. Wiki User Answered . Heather, on the other hand, are summer … They have tiny lavender, purple, or white flowers and small, glossy leaves. Check Other Stores closed. Reblooms continuously, well into fall. Is this an annual or a perennial like Answer. It … Mexican heather can function as both an annual and perennial depending on USDA hardiness zone. Browse 187 Mexican Heather Perennial on Houzz Whether you want inspiration for planning mexican heather perennial or are building designer mexican heather perennial from scratch, Houzz has 187 pictures from the best designers, decorators, and architects in the country, including Pillar Development and Mount Baker Remodeling. I pinch off the top growing part of the leaves (right where new leaf growth is coming at the top most growing part of the plant) but only do so up until the middle of July because then it still has time to make the blossoms. Caring for your Mexican Heather. They have needle-like evergreen leaves and form mat-like growths which may reach to 30 cm. The Mexican Heather plant needs to be in direct sunlight, but only about three hours out of each day. Place bricks, dirt, wood or some other type of material on top of the cloth to keep it in place if the weather is windy as well as cold. Evergreen perennial Attributes: deer resistant xeriscapic Foliage Persistence: evergreen. Hardy in U.S. Department of plant hardiness zones 9-11 agriculture, it is often grown as an annual elsewhere. Profuse purple flowers on a versatile, tidy, compact shrub with finely textured, glossy, bright green foliage. In UK if a badger is digging your lawn, how can you locate its sett? Firecracker plant related species: Cuphea hyssopifolia, or Mexican heather, is a tender perennial used primarily for bedding out, except in frost-free areas. Place a 60-watt outdoor light under the blankets covering the Mexican heather, to help produce more heat. For the heather lover in the North, these are the plants of choice, as opposed to the true heaths, which offer more colors but are generally less hardy. Get your answers by asking now. Mexican heather is well-suited to hot, dry climates, but its lack of cold-tolerance means that it is often treated as an annual in the region. Asked by Wiki User. Those who live in zones 7 or 8 can grow it as a perennial. I have heard a few friends say they grew something called Mexican heather that bloomed almost like a small shrub all summer. How do you think about the answers? In zones 8 and lower where the climate is colder, it is best to grow this plant indoors or in a greenhouse. Rarer varieties produce red, pink or white flowers coupled with the glossy green leaves seen on the lavender-flowered plants. In frost-free zones, this heather makes a great evergreen groundcover with non-stop bloom in borders, foundation plantings and containers. It has highly branched, feathery foliage, with small oblong leaves appearing alternately along the stems. This plant only needs about one inch of water each week. Join. Mexican feathergrass has delicate, thread-like leaf blades that wave gracefully in the slightest breeze. Given their warmer weather climate background, Mexican Heather are going to grow the best with part to full sun. Width: 18 inches. The leaves are thin and can be rolled smoothly between the thumb and forefinger; however, serrations along the margins feel coarse when sliding fingers down the length of the leaf blade. do you still have the tags that came with the mums you bought? Is Mexican heather a annual or perennial at zone 7? Plastic will burn the plants once the sun rises. Water the soil around the Mexican heather well, being sure it reaches down to the plant’s root system, at least 24 hours before a frost or freeze. The slightest wind sends the delicate flower heads and thin leaves of this perennial grass into motion. Mulch around the plant with cypress mulch, pine bark, leaves or pine needles to help the soil retain warmth. False Heather features dainty lavender tubular flowers along the branches from late spring to late summer. You can sign in to vote the answer. Recently purchased a 6 speed manual riding mower & had a question. For over 25 years, Joyce Starr has owned businesses dealing with landscape & design, lawn maintenance, specialty herbs and a garden center. Still have questions? Mexican feather grass (Nassella or Stipa tenuissima) brims with grace. Join Yahoo Answers and get 100 points today. Annual or Perennial? This will give the plant’s root system extra protection during the cold weather and keep it warm. How to Grow Mexican Heather Posted by plantladylin (Sebastian, Florida - Zone 10a) on Sep 9, 2011 6:52 PM. Mexican heather (Cuphea hyssopifolia) is used primarily as a ground cover in the warmer planting zones. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas. Mexican heather (Cuphea hyssopifolia), a low-growing evergreen shrub, comes from Mexico and Guatemala. Blooming Period: spring summer fall winter Height: 18 inches. Top Answer. Neutral In our experience, my dad has always had to replace the majority of the plants each year. Mexican heather (Cuphea hyssopifolia), also known as false heather, is a member of the family Lythraceae. You only need to overcome three steps to know how to grow Mexican heather. I cut mine back once they die down (after frost) and they come back each year, but they are an annual in cooler climates. Mexican heather is really not a perennial in Arkansas. How to grow Heath, How to grow Heather, Gardening with Heaths and Heathers. You can grow Mexican heather as an annual if you live in a chillier climate. It has attractive green foliage which emerges light green in spring. Starr shares her passion for nature in her writing, publishing articles on horticulture, outdoor recreation, travel as well as business. Whether you are growing Mexican Heather as a perennial or an annual, the plant is accustomed to certain growing conditions that should be considered. In USDA Zones 8 and above, treat it like a perennial for spring-to-fall interest in beds and borders. In zones 7 and 8, it acts like a perennial, and in colder zones, it acts like an annual plant. Mexican False Heather is a tropical evergreen sub-shrub that grows to 24" in height and 36" wide. Calluna are typically hardy in Zones 5-7 but may thrive as far north as Zone 3 with adequate winter protection or snow cover. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition. It combines a compact form, finely-textured foliage, and delicate flowers. Is Mexican Heather(Cuphea Hyssopifolia) a perennial or annual? The fruit is not ornamentally significant. A popular container plant … In all other zones, Mexican heather should be planted in containers where the climate can be controlled. (Detailed plant information can be found at the bottom of the page.) Starting Anew. I would consider it an annual, and if you see signs of life in the spring, count yourself lucky. Mexican heather (Cuphea hyssopifolia), also known as false heather, is a member of the family Lythraceae. 0 1 2. Cuphea is a tropical flower that likes hot, humid weather Its intense colors add vibrancy to containers and it will keep going strong all summer long. In cooler climates, enjoy Mexican heather as an annual… Bring container-grown Mexican heather indoors, in the event of a freeze or frost, as it is very cold-sensitive. Join now and start creating your dream garden! This will also allow the soil and root system to retain moisture.