Is Mexican heather frost hardy?
Evergreen in warm climates or indoors, Mexican Heather is hardy in USDA Zones 9b through 11. Growing best in temperatures above 55 degrees Fahrenheit, it tolerates high summer heat and some drought. It will not tolerate frost, but it can survive chilling temperatures as low as 35 degrees.
How do you take care of Mexican heather in winter?
Mexican Heather Cold Protection The most important aspect of caring for Mexican heather during the winter months is protecting it from the cold. As a tropical plant, it is extremely cold sensitive and will die back with a hard frost, even within its USDA hardiness zone range.
Can Mexican Heather grow in Zone 11?
Mexican heather (Cuphea hyssopifolia), a low-growing evergreen shrub, comes from Mexico and Guatemala. It is hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 through 11 where it can grow outside year-round without any special winter care.
Can You overwinter Mexican heather in a greenhouse?
In USDA zones 8 and lower, overwinter Mexican heather indoors or keep it in a greenhouse during the frosty months. A few precautions when bringing a Mexican heather in for the winter keep bugs out and plants healthy until spring.
Will Mexican heather come back from freeze?
Mexican Heather Cold Protection A well-protected Mexican heather plant will grow back from the roots in spring when temperatures warm above 55 degrees Fahrenheit, which is when their best growth occurs, advises Arizona State University.
How hardy is Mexican heather?
Mexican heather is winter hardy in USDA hardiness zones 9 to 11. It cannot survive freezing temperatures. In colder regions, move the plant indoors after the flowers drop. Move the plant outside after the last threat of frost.
Does Mexican heather come back year after year?
Only gardeners in frost-free areas can count on Mexican heather (Cuphea hyssopifolia) to come back year after year. The plant, native to Mexico and Guatemala, needs the heat of U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 through 11 to thrive.
Should you cut back Mexican heather?
Prune Mexican heather lightly during the spring if the plant looks scraggly or overgrown. Otherwise, no pruning is required. Surround the plant with a thin layer of mulch in spring to minimize moisture evaporation and keep weeds in check.
How cold can Mexican heather tolerate?
50 degreesMexican Heather temperature needs Mexican heather can handle temperatures as low as 50 degrees, so be careful about planting them outside in the spring — they may not handle a cold snap very well.
How do you winterize heather?
Don't allow the mulch to cover the crown. If your plant will be exposed to severe cold, protect it with straw or evergreen boughs. Avoid leaves and other heavy mulches that may damage the plant. Trim heather lightly as soon as flowers fade in spring.
How do you revive a Mexican heather?
Scorch results in dried leaves with yellow or brown margins and discolored patches between veins. Combat this by watering Mexican heather deeply but infrequently to encourage the formation of deep roots. Although it tolerates some drought, you should water again when the soil begins to feel dry several inches down.
How long will Mexican heather last?
Flowers usually appear in springtime, and they can last throughout the summer and into the fall. A Mexican heather lifespan can be quite long since these plants are able to survive the hottest summers and bounce back from most winter frosts.
Where is the best place to plant Mexican heather?
Plant Mexican heather in a sunny or partially sunny spot with well-drained soil and feed with a slow-release granular fertilizer at planting time. Mexican heather likes to be watered whenever the surface of the soil feels dry to the touch.
Why is my Mexican heather plant dying?
Your mexican heather plant may wilt with too much water or too little. Keep in mind that a mexican heather plant that is wilting does not necessarily always need water. Sometimes mexican heather plants wilt when they have too much water.
Does Mexican heather multiply?
The Mexican heather or false heather (Cuphea hyssopifolia) is easy to multiply. You can divide it by digging up a whole plant, cutting it in half vertically with a sharp knife and replanting the two halves.
Are Mexican heathers perennials?
It can grow as a perennial in USDA Hardiness Zones 9 to 11 or as an annual or container plant in colder climates. Mexican heather growers often use the subshrub as a groundcover or border plant in landscaping; it's also a popular choice for rock gardens.
Where is the best place to plant Mexican heather?
Plant Mexican heather in a sunny or partially sunny spot with well-drained soil and feed with a slow-release granular fertilizer at planting time. Mexican heather likes to be watered whenever the surface of the soil feels dry to the touch.
Does Mexican heather like sun or shade?
Culture: Average, well-drained soil with full sun to light shade is fine in most areas. In hot climates, partial shade can help to keep the foliage from fading.
How do you maintain Mexican heather?
The Mexican heather plant is a low-maintenance shrub that requires only basic care:Water about once a week. Water Mexican heather deeply about every week during the growing season, allowing the top two inches of the soil to become dry before watering again. ... Prune occasionally. ... Keep an eye out for pests.
How fast does Mexican heather grow?
Cuphea hyssopifoliaBotanical PronunciationKYOO-fee-uh hiss-sop-ih-FOH-lee-uhGrowth HabitFountainGrowth RateFastLandscape UseBorder, Container, Mass Planting, Poolside, Rock Garden, Edging, Coastal ExposureLight NeedsFull sun, Partial sun14 more rows
Mexican Heather Care
Plant Mexican Heather only after the soil has warmed. Use as a container plant, a border plant, along walkways, or in small spaces. This small shrub can also hang attractively in a basket. Group it in pots around a patio, a pool or other water feature.
Types of Mexican Heather
While Mexican Heather usually comes in purple, some cultivars are white or pink. 5
Pruning
Prune Mexican Heather a bit in spring, only if necessary. Bring older plants back to life in early spring or late winter with more intense pruning or shearing. 5
Growing from Seed
Start seeds indoors 8 to 10 weeks before the last frost date. Or, collect seedlings outdoors and transplant them under other plants in a landscaped bed. Search for seedlings near the original plant and also further away from it as seeds can be carried in the rain runoff water. 5
Common Pests and Diseases
Though rare to Mexican Heather, keep an eye out for nematodes, mites, and caterpillars. Nematodes can weaken the plant to the point of decline and flea beetles can leave a plant completely barren of leaves. 5
What is a Mexican heather?
Mexican heather (Cuphea hyssopifolia), also known as false heather, is a member of the family Lythraceae.
Where is Mexican heather native to?
Mexican heather (Cuphea hyssopifolia), also known as false heather, is a member of the family Lythraceae. 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.
What color are the flowers on Mexican heather?
Mexican heather blooms year-round with flowers in purple, lavender and the less-common white.
How big does a Mexican heather plant get?
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.
How to keep heathers from burning?
Cover the Mexican heather with a sheet, blanket or some other type of covering made out of cloth. Plastic will burn the plants once the sun rises. 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.
How to keep a cypress plant warm?
This will give the plant’s root system extra protection during the cold weather and keep it warm. Mulch around the plant with cypress mulch, pine bark, leaves or pine needles to help the soil retain warmth. This will also allow the soil and root system to retain moisture.
Can Mexican heather be planted outdoors?
It will grow best planted outdoors in these planting zones. In all other zones, Mexican heather should be planted in containers where the climate can be controlled. Bring container-grown Mexican heather indoors, in the event of a freeze or frost, as it is very cold-sensitive.
How to Plant Mexican Heather
It’s easy to plant Mexican heather! This drought-tolerant plant loves full sun and enjoys the sizzling Florida heat. It grows well in any soil, so long as it has good drainage. If the soil is weak, adding compost or manure will provide additional nutrients to boost this plant’s strength.
Where is the best place to plant Mexican heather?
Mexican heather thrives in full sun and high heat. Grow it in an area where it can receive direct sunlight for 4-8 hours, and get partial shade at other times in the day.
Does Mexican heather plant spread?
When it comes to spacing, leave 18 inches between each plant, as they spread wide and low, growing about 1.5 to 2 feet high and up to 2.5 feet wide.
What is Mexican Heather?
Many planters and garden enthusiasts love Mexican Heather because of its beauty. Not only is it attractive to people, but it is also appealing to butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds. Another reason why many plant lovers out there like to grow Mexican Heather is because of its versatility.
Climate
Suppose you will depend on the growing conditions in the U.S. The Department of Agriculture, Mexican Heather’s plant hardiness zones start from 9 to 11 because it grows outdoors year-round. When developing this plant, know that it might wither and die. In the colder parts of its range, where sub-freezing temperatures occur in winter.
How tall does Mexican heather grow?
Mexican heather is a small evergreen perennial that has a compact, bushy form and grows as a flat-topped, mounded plant about 2 feet tall and up to 3 feet wide. It has flat, feathery sprays of leaves that extend out from its main stems, with small flowers developing at leaf axils, or the points where each leaf attaches to a stem. The blossoms are usually purple or lavender, but some varieties have white or pink to magenta flowers. The flowers appear in spring and can last throughout the summer and into early fall.
How to protect heather from cold?
You can help a Mexican heather plant withstand cold weather in several ways. Adding a 4- to 6-inch-thick layer of mulch in fall can help protect its roots from cold and also prevent heaving of the plant from the ground during freeze-thaw cycles. Keeping the plant well-watered in fall also helps keep it healthy and can protect it from cold. If you live in a colder portion of its range, siting Mexican heather near a warm, south- or west-facing wall of a building can help it withstand cold, or you could plant it on a hillside, where cold air drains away to lower portions of the slope.
What plants can survive hot, dry summers?
Plants that can survive hot, dry summers can be especially valuable. Mexican heather (Cuphea hyssopifolia) is this type of plant. Sometimes called false heather because it's not a true heather, it's a native plant in parts of Mexico and Central America. Winter frost can damage the plant's foliage, but it usually recovers and grows again in spring.
When do heather seeds emerge?
An especially cold winter might damage its roots or kill the entire plant, but Mexican heather self-seeds readily, so new seedlings usually emerge in spring when the soil warms.
