Description
AAS WINNER DETAILS
Winner Type: National
Class: Cuphea
Variety Name: FloriGlory® Diana
Genus: Cuphea
Species: hybrid
Year: 2018
Common Name: Mexican Heather
Type: Flowers from Cutting
Breeder: Westhoff
Close Market Comparison: Allyson and Lavender Lace
PLANT NEEDS
Duration Type: Annual
Hardiness Zone/Hardy to Zone: Zone 8
Light Needs: Full sun
Water Needs: Dry to normal, drought tolerant
Dead Heading Recommended: No
Staking Required: No
PLANT CHARACTERISTICS
Foliage Color: Glossy dark green
Plant Habit: Mounded
Plant Height: 10-12 inches
Bloom Time: Late spring, summer to frost
Bloom Color: Magenta
Bloom Color Pattern: Solid
Bloom Size: 0.375 inches
IN THE GARDEN
Container: Yes
Pollinator Friendly: Yes
Weather Tolerance: Drought, heat, rain, wind
Garden Spacing: 16-18 inches
Hanging Basket: Yes
Low Edging: Yes
Medium Height Divider: Yes
HOW TO GROW
There is no competition for these new Mexican Heathers. The FloriGlory series of cuphea has 5x the flower power with excellent garden vigor compared to the old standards. These tidy plants have finely textured, glossy, bright green leaves and put on a profusion of blooms continuously well into fall. Good for edging and seasonal color in beds and borders. Also a popular container plant for pots and baskets. Plants thrive in the heat and are great for drought-tolerant landscapes.
JUDGE'S OBSERVATIONS
- “Well into September the entry has double its quantity of blossoms”
- “Double flowers, more of them and a nice dark green foliage”
- “During the entire season, the entry had more vibrant flower color and darker foliage”
- “It is the end of September and the entry is going strong with tons of blooms”
- “A winner for sure”
- “Entry had more blooms, was darker in foliage color, and was more compact”
AAS Winners
Jeni Cullen, Eden Park, Cincinnati, OH –
This is one tough and beautiful little plant. This year I used it next to the parking lot at Krohn Conservatory. It was hot and very dry summer, but the cuphea thrived with very little care. I have never been disappointed in this little workhorse of a plant.
John Cariotto –
Every one of the Cuphea plants thrived in the University of Nebraska display garden (Backyard Farmer Garden) in 2020.
We used this as a border planting; most were in full sun. Plants were healthy until a late hard freeze. Many garden visitors commented favorably about this plant.