If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Produces short racemes of 1-3 light pink-purple, pink, or white flowers, to 1/2 in long, with 6 spreading petals, from the upper leaf axils, mainly from summer to autumn. When repotting one of these plants, simply slide it out of the container and severe the roots around the rootball. Perennials 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. How to Grow Mexican Heather Homestead Gardens © 2020 | All Rights Reserved. There are also spider mites, which can quickly kill one of these plants. It is very important that you keep a close eye on the soil you put your plant in. It takes about a year or two to really establish one of these plants. It’s also crucial that you are consistent with watering your Mexican Heather plant. Mexican Heather can be grown all over the United States, but since it can’t survive freezing temperatures, it is mostly grown as an annual in most states. If this plant gets crowded by others, you will likely encounter some serious issues. These plants grow up to 18 inches tall and three feet wide. It is best to grow it inside or in a greenhouse if you live in an area that is cold for much of the year. These plants thrive in hot regions with temperatures from 90 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Tersina. You won’t have to do much trimming with the Mexican Heather plant. The Mexican Heather plant needs to be in direct sunlight, but only about three hours out of each day. Feed your plant by building up your soil and/or planting your Mexican Heather with slow-release fertilizer — these mini pebbles will slowly release some nutrients for the plant throughout the growing season. You also want to fertilize this plant every three to four months, but not in the winter. For smaller areas, such as container gardening or a window box, Mexican Heather will normally fill in the area you provide it with. Can Mexican Heather Plants grow in Water? In zones 7 and 8, Mexican heather acts like a perennial. This plant needs about one inch of water each week. You can plant it in the ground outside or a pot if you want to keep it in your home. In landscape planting, Mexican Heather can grow as wide and high as 2 feet. This plant only needs about one inch of water each week. For southern states in growing zones 8 through 11, Mexican Heather may be able to grow all through the winter. In USDA Zones 7 and 8, treat it like a perennial for spring-to-fall interest in beds and borders. 5 years ago. Given their warmer weather climate background, Mexican Heather is going to grow the best with part to full sun. Evergreen perennial Attributes: deer resistant xeriscapic Foliage Persistence: evergreen. 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. Commonly referred to as Mexican Heather or False Heather, it is of no relation to the European family of heathers. Mexican Heather can handle temperatures as low as 50 degrees, so before careful before planting them outside in the spring — they may not handle a cold snap very well. Mexican Heather is a densely branched shrub belonging to the Lythraceae family, and is native to Mexico and Guatemala. Neutral Mexican heather resembles a ground cover with low and compact, fern-like growth and tiny purple flowers. This the perfect plant to grow if you want to add a splash of color to your front yard. Of course, if the plant is getting straggley, it may be healthy for it to be cut back from time to time. Posted by plantladylin (Sebastian, Florida - Zone 10a) on Sep 9, 2011 6:52 PM. Floriglory Maria Mexican Heather. Root rot is definitely a big problem with the Mexican Heather. Home » Plants » Mexican Heather Care & Growing Guide. Caring for your Mexican Heather. Source(s): mexican heather cuphea hyssopifolia perennial annual: https://shortly.im/n5aOd. Allyson Mexican Heather is a multi-stemmed evergreen shrub often grown as an annual, with an upright spreading habit of growth. See below for information on how to care for your Mexican Heather. Starting Anew. It should be in slight shade the rest of the time. When choosing the perfect spot for your Mexican Heather plant, you’ll want to select an area that gets direct sunlight three or four hours each day. How often you fertilize your Mexican Heather depends on how often you are watering it — for the hot months when you are watering your Mexican Heather almost every day, it’s important to fertilize the plant multiple times a week (once every third watering). You can keep these pests from becoming a problem by using a good insecticidal soap. You will therefore need to make sure that it will have enough room to grow, so pick a good spot. In colder zones, it acts like an annual. The best way to get the Mexican Heather plant to flower is to provide it with plenty of sunlight with a little bit of shade. Mexican Heather are great annuals for PA’s climate! For Mexican Heather that is being grown as an annual, pruning isn’t much of a factor. Given their warmer weather climate background, Mexican Heather are going to grow the best with part to full sun. This can go a long way towards ensuring that the plant thrives overall. Before you plant your Mexican Heather, you’ll need to keep in mind that it tends to thrive in sandy-loamy soil. This is typically due to over watering or soil that doesn’t drain very well. In cooler climates, enjoy Mexican heather as an annual, either in the ground or in pots. Mexican Heather Cuphea hyssopifolia. When it is time to repot your Mexican Heather, you’ll need to gently slide it out of the pot and severe the roots around the rootball with a sharp knife. RE: Is Mexican Heather(Cuphea Hyssopifolia) a perennial or annual? Mexican Heather originated in Mexico and Guatemala. For areas that have cold winters like Pennsylvania, Mexican Heather can be planted as an annual. The place that you put this plant should be shaded the rest of the time. They have tiny lavender, purple, or white flowers and small, glossy leaves. Rarer varieties produce red, pink or white flowers coupled with the glossy green leaves seen on the lavender-flowered plants. This makes it a wonderful choice for anyone who wants to make their home’s exterior brighter and better looking as a whole. Mexican Heather is a shrub-like groundcover with bright green leaves and small flowers, normally pink, white or lavender colors. This plant only needs about one inch of water each week. 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 frost-free zones, this heather makes a great evergreen groundcover with non-stop bloom in borders, foundation plantings and containers. : perennial. It grows 12 inches tall and 18 inches wide. Those who live in a colder region will be able to grow this plant as an annual without any problems. In some regions, this plant is known as the "elfin herb" due to its small flowers and foliage. Because of this, Mexican Heather acts great as a filler for pots. This Site Might Help You. Anyone who lives in climate zones 9 through 11 can grow this plant as an 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. You shouldn’t try growing this plant in water, and it needs to be put in moderately damp soil to survive. Cuphea 'Floriglory Maria' Though it looks delicate, Floriglory Maria Mexican heather is an ultra-tough plant with large, pure-white flowers. Quart premium items are also great for accenting flower beds, or planting in your own containers and combinations. This plant grows very quickly, so you will have to transplant it into a larger pot at least once per year. Mexican Heather Annual Or Perennial. Exposure: part sun full sun Flower Color: Violet. In climates colder than USDA zone 9, Mexican heather grows as an annual and needs to be replanted every spring. Mexican heather (Cuphea hyssopifolia), also known as false heather, is a member of the family Lythraceae. Width: 18 inches. 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 …