Cuphea procumbens Heatbeat Amethyst

Cuphea procumbens Heatbeat 'Amethyst' is a very recent German variety (new for 2025), highly attractive due to its larger flowers compared to traditional varieties. Both painterly and colourful, they come in two shades of violet, with a dark centre and a light border. This dwarf undershrub reaches approximately 25 cm in all directions, making it a perfect flowering pot plant, which will bloom from June to August. In very mild climates, it can be planted in the garden in a sunny position earlier than elsewhere, but spring frosts will be fatal to it. It is an annual plant that will find a place both in a mixed border and in a pot.

Cuphea is a member of the Lythraceae family, mainly represented by Lagerstroemia, or Crape Myrtle, with its exuberant summer flowering, and Pomegranate. There are over 200 species of Cuphea, native to tropical America, where they form herbaceous, annual or perennial clumps, or shrubs. Cuphea procumbens is an erect annual plant with long, often creeping branches; it can sometimes reach 60 cm in height. The plant is sticky to the touch due to the presence of reddish glandulous hairs covering the stem. Native to southern Mexico and the United States, it is a tropical species, but it can be grown in temperate climates as an annual. Breeders have taken hold of the species to obtain more compact and very floriferous cultivars. The result of the work of a major German breeding house, 'Amethyst' is part of the HEATBEAT series, characterised by the size of the flowers, approximately twice as large as traditional varieties. The plant forms a herbaceous clump 20 to 25 cm high and of equivalent width, relatively bushy though a little less so than other varieties. The stems bear elliptical leaves with a pointed tip and prominent veins. Measuring 3 to 5 cm long, they are a strong, medium to dark green, nicely highlighting the flowering. The flowers have a very sculptural silhouette, formed of six rounded petals with a narrow base, four opening like a fan in the lower part of the corolla, while the last two stand upright. The two upper petals bear a large violet spot, while on the lower ones, this colour spreads like an ink spill in the middle part. These violet areas are edged with light mauve, giving a very aesthetic bicolour appearance to the flower. Beginning in June, the flowering renews itself until August, especially if the plant is regularly fed; while it tolerates dry conditions quite well, it will benefit more from regular watering.

Cuphea Heatbeat 'Amethyst' has all the best characteristics for a flowering pot plant. Naturally compact, not requiring pruning, it tolerates heat well and is drought-tolerant. Its long summer flowering makes it a very popular plant, which can also be planted in a border with other annuals. It will create a focal point on your terrace planted in a large container, alongside other summer champions, like a Bidens 'Yellow Charm' whose yellow flowers with a slight honey scent will create a strong contrast next to the violet of your Cuphea. A Bacopa Scopia Double Snowball, also very compact, will also be a very good companion with its cloud of small double white flowers, as will Diascia Breezee Plus White in the same tones.