Species false heather
purple-pink flowers with yellow-white center and green leaves with light-green veins on red-brown stems

false heather

Cuphea hyssopifolia

False Heather, or Cuphea Hyssopifolia, is an amazing plant. Not only is it fast-growing, but it is also incredibly low-maintenance. It requires minimal pruning and can survive in both dry and wet climates. It also grows easily indoors as a houseplant or outdoors as a garden specimen. False heather is also highly resilient, withstanding heat, drought, and even occasional frost without issue. Its delicate foliage is a bright, evergreen green and blooms prolifically with small bell-shaped flowers. Few plants are as easy to care for or as charming as False Heather – making it the perfect choice for busy gardeners.

Cycle:

Perennial

Watering:

Average

Propagation:

Seed Propagation,Cutting,Division,Layering Propagation

Hardiness Zone:

9 - 11

Flowers:

Lavender Flowers

Sun:

Full sun

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green

Growth Rate:

Low

Maintenance:

Low

Drought Tolerant:

Yes

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Care Level:

Medium

watering

False heather requires moderate levels of moisture, so it should be watered regularly to ensure that the soil stays moist. The best way to water this plant is by using a watering can to evenly distribute the water over the soil. Water deeply and thoroughly, allowing the water to reach a significant depth. Avoid overhead watering and soak the soil until it is damp, but not saturated. Depending on the temperature and the humidity levels, false heather should be watered once every 2 to 3 days. In very hot weather with a lot of sun, it might require an extra watering session. In winter, watering should be reduced and only done if the soil is very dry.

sunlight

False heather (Cuphea hyssopifolia) prefers a minimum of 6 hours of indirect sunlight a day. Although it can survive in full sun, too much of it can cause the false heather to become stressed and can leave it with sunburn. Instead, try to keep it in an area where it will receive partial shade in the afternoon. Additionally, if the area cannot provide enough indirect sunlight, using a grow light to supplement the existing sunlight can help ensure that your plant thrives.

pruning

False heather should be pruned annually for shaping and size control. Prune in early spring, cutting back the shrub by no more than 1-third of its total height and width. Remove the oldest and longest branches, as these have the least amount of new growth and flowering potential. Prune off any dead, broken, or diseased branches. Remove wayward shoots that are out of shape or are growing in the wrong direction. Lightly trim the shrubs to remove excess foliage and blooms after it has finished flowering.

Season

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Starts Flowering

Cuphea hyssopifolia typically starts flowering in late spring, usually in May or June.

Starts Flowering

Cuphea hyssopifolia typically starts flowering in late spring, usually in May or June.

Hardiness Map