One group of plants has increased mightily over the years and consistently proves its worth, these are the cupheas. I'm pleased with their performance over the summer and I'm sure you will appreciate their durability through the heat.

Cuphea comes from Greek, kyphos, meaning curved and refers to their curved seed capsules. Naturally we prefer them for their unique flowers and the fact that they never fail to please. With 260 species, the majority of which are annuals, our fascination with them will last for many years. Most are from Mexico while others grow in Guatemala, Bolivia and south to Brazil.

One of my favorites is Cuphea llavea 'Bat Face'. The flowers have petals that reflex, two of which are oversized and look much like large ears. Allen Lacy contends that the name 'Mousketeer' might be more appropriate. The center of the flower is dark purple while the outside petals are a gorgeous scarlet-red. Plants tend to mound, sometimes in a sticky kind of way, a reason to use Cuphea 'Bat Face' as an accent amongst other annuals. Their petals are of such an intensity in the blue-red category that they fail to work with many of the common purple petaled annuals, like petunias.

For partners consider the red leafed annual Hibiscus acetosella with it's purple-red foliage and the geranium 'Stad Bern', an old variety with intense red flowers that match the cuphea perfectly! Plop in Verbena 'Imagination' for its rich purple flowers and underplant with purple leafed basil.

Another cuphea that I'm totally enchanted with is C. 'Firefly'. This hybrid is derived from C. procumbens and C. llavea. The oversized flowers are fascinating to see up close. Particularly so through a macro lens on your camera. The 5 petals are held in place by the thinnest of petal points before they flare out. A beautiful rose-red, it blends well with various pink pentas and setcreasea, the jointed purple leafed tradescantia relative. Like other cupheas, the plant mounds with loosely arching stems.

There is also a more familiar cuphea known as firecracker plant or cigar plant. The tubular flowers persist all summer and are tiny cylinders of rose-purple. This high mounding cuphea is a great edge of pot filler and never looks tired or finished. Accent it with Ipomoea 'Blackie' and its dusky purple leaves which weave through pink pentas and the ivy leafed geranium 'Global Merlot'.

There are other cupheas to consider this year, a few minor players, best placed as fillers in pots. Their vigor and unflinching floral show make them major components for summer color. The hummingbirds find them irresistible as well.