Four Star Greenhouse: Plant Detail

VARIETIES AND CULTURAL INFORMATION

Plant Overview

Genus: Cuphea

Species: llavea
Plant Name: Totally Tempted
Common Name: Cuphea

Sun, Sun, Sun, ‘til Her Daddy Takes the Sunscreen Away. You’re the Sun that I Want. Sun Guys Have All the Luck. Is there anything on earth better than the sun? Not in my opinion. But then, I am a Cuphea – a plant genus noted for its sun-loving nature. More to the point, I’m a Totally Tempted™ Cuphea. My blazingly brilliant red, purple-throated tubular flowers (which resemble baby bat faces) glow like Purplish Red Sails in the Sunset against my deep green leaves. They look even more vivid – you guessed it – in sunlight. Birds, including hummingbirds, are among my greatest admirers.

Sun Enchanted Evening, or morning or afternoon, plant me in any kind of container or flower bed and Let the Full Sunshine In. I’m easy to grow, bloom from spring to the first hard frost, don’t need deadheading. You could say I’m a 10-12-inch mounded Hunka Hunka Sunburnin’ Love.

Plant Details

Growing Tips
Deadheading not necessary for continuous bloom but can be used to tidy plants.

Totally Tempted is a sun lover and actually performs better when not crowded in containers, but has a little room to breath. Though it is a fragile looking plant it is actually quite tough and don’t be afraid to put it to the test and put Totally Tempted out in the hot sun, water regularly to get the plant established, then let the watering taper off so they plants can really shine!

An application of fertilizer or compost on garden beds and regular fertilization of plants in pots will help ensure the best possible performance.

Exposure
Full sun

Height
10-12"

Spacing
12-18"

Hardy Temp
25°F

Zone(s)
9-12

Uses
Use in hanging baskets, beds, borders, and combinations.

Features
A compact form of this cuphea, heat and drought tolerant; low maintenance

Awards Won
2010 - Top Performer
  -Oklahoma State University Botanical Gardens
2010 - Very Good
  -Massachusetts Horticultural Society at Elm Bank
2009 - Knock Your Socks Off
  -University of Georgia
2009 - Knock Your Socks Off
  -University of Georgia
2009 - Outstanding
  -Disney Winter Trials
2009 - Leader of the Pack for Summer
  -North Carolina State, JC Raulston Arboretum
2009 - Leader of the Pack - Early Season
  -North Carolina State, JC Raulston Arboretum
2009 - Best of Breed - Summer
  -North Carolina State, JC Raulston Arboretum
2009 - Gardener's Pick
  -South Coast Botanic Garden
2009 - Best Friend Forever
  -Virginia Tech
2009 - Top Performer
  -Calgary Zoo and Botanic Garden
2008 - Excellent Rating
  -Boerner Botanical Garden
2008 - Top Performer
  -National Arboretum
2008 - Excellent Rating
  -Massachusetts Horticultural Society at Elm Bank
2008 - Top Performer
  -Maywood Estate
2008 - Best Overall Impression
  -Oregon State University
2008 - Most Consumer Appeal
  -Oregon State University
2008 - Excellent
  -Disney Winter Trials
2008 - Best of Breed
  -North Carolina State, JC Raulston Arboretum
2008 - Leader of the Pack Summer
  -North Carolina State, JC Raulston Arboretum
2008 - Leader of the Pack Summer - Late Season
  -North Carolina State, JC Raulston Arboretum
2008 - Leader of the Pack Summer - Early Season
  -North Carolina State, JC Raulston Arboretum
2008 - Top 10
  -Sawaya Garden Trial
2007 - Featured Plant
  -University of Georgia
2007 - Top Performer
  -Longwood Gardens
2007 - Leader of the Pack Early Season
  -North Carolina State, JC Raulston Arboretum
2007 - Top Performer
  -South Coast Botanic Garden
2007 - Top Pick
  -Missouri Botanic Garden
2007 - Top Performers
  -University of Minnesota