Cuphea llavea Torpedo - Bat-faced cuphea

Cuphea 'Torpedo' is nicknamed "bat-faced cuphea", referring to the shape of its astonishing flowers. It produces tubular red flowers that are 4cm (2in) long and end with a violet face resembling a bat's head, accentuated by bright red "ears," on a naturally mounding plant. It blooms from late spring until frost. Tolerating heat well, it is an easy plant to grow in full sun, and is generous in flowering as long as it is regularly watered. This shrub is frost-sensitive and grown as an annual plant outside warm regions. 

The genus Cuphea, which includes more than 250 species, is a member of the Lythraceae family, which includes herbaceous plant genera in various climates (such as purple loosestrife) and also woody genera in warm climates, like pomegranate. Cuphea is a fast-growing tender undershrub with broad, evergreen leaves, native to Mexico. It is sold as an annual or indoor plant in cooler climates, sometimes under the synonym C. blepharophylla. It is a short-lived plant but easily self-seeds in warm climates, and can even become invasive. It can also root easily when its branches touch the ground.

Cuphea 'Torpedo' is a horticultural variety similar to the species, but with larger flowers. This undershrub forms a dense and highly branched clump 30 to 40cm (12 to 16in) tall and wide, or even slightly larger as it tends to spread over time. It bears small, dark green, persistent leaves that are elliptical, elongated, and narrow, measuring 2 to 3cm (1in) long. The slender, upright then slightly arching stems are highly branched, with lateral shoots often oriented in the same plane. The branches orient themselves in all directions, resulting in a fairly balanced habit that requires no pruning. Flowering begins from May onwards, and continues until frost, producing clusters of flowers in the axils of the leaves. Each flower has a hairy violet calyx with two upward-facing red petals at the tip, forming the "ears" of the "bat face." The four other petals are only small thorny remnants in the species, but in some cultivars, they are fully developed. The flowers attract bees and butterflies.

Cupheas are champions of long-lasting flowering, and this cultivar does it justice. It can only be grown in open ground in very warm regions, where it can find both the heat it prefers and mild winters. It is resistant to light frosts of around -3 to -5°C (16.6 to 23°F). However, the foliage may suffer during colder winters. In such cases, a light pruning in spring usually helps the plant to produce new shoots. It should be given the best conditions to withstand winter: a sunny exposure, well-drained non-calcareous soil, and a position sheltered against the Mistral wind. Regular watering is necessary during the flowering period (it is a plant of tropical origin). Elsewhere, it should be planted in a pot so it can be protected during winter in a frost-free conservatory or a bright room.

Cuphea 'Torpedo' is an excellent border plant for gardens in mild climates and patios. Plant it at the base of a clump of Strelitzia reginae, the bird of paradise, to create a dazzling contrast between the two. Also consider agapanthus with similar growing conditions. If your climate is too cold to plant it in the garden, opt for a beautiful decorative pot. Grow it with Cassia floribunda, whose magnificent yellow flowers will bloom at the same time.