How to Grow Mexican Heather
Cuphea hyssopifolia
Mexican Heather is a compact, heat-loving evergreen shrub that blooms non-stop from spring to frost with tiny lavender-pink flowers. Plant in full sun in well-drained soil and water regularly until established. Once settled, it is quite drought-tolerant. Trim lightly in spring to maintain shape. Treat as an annual in areas with hard frost, or grow in containers and overwinter indoors.
Yearly Lifecycle
Care Essentials
Spring and summer with a balanced liquid fertiliser every 2-4 weeks during active growth.
Watch For
- Spider mites in dry conditions
- Whitefly
- Root rot in waterlogged soil
Companions
Lantana, Marigold, Petunia
Care Requirements
Light
Full sun for best flowering
Needs at least 6 hours of direct sunlight for prolific blooming. Tolerates partial shade but flowers less. Thrives in hot, exposed positions.
Watering
Regular until established; then moderate
Water regularly during the first growing season. Once established, it is fairly drought-tolerant but blooms best with consistent moisture. Avoid waterlogging.
Fertilizing
Balanced liquid feed every 2-4 weeks in summer
Apply a balanced liquid fertiliser fortnightly to monthly during the growing season. Container plants benefit from more frequent feeding. No feeding needed in winter.
Pruning
Light spring trim to shape
Trim lightly in early spring to remove frost damage and maintain a compact mound. Can be cut back by up to one-third to rejuvenate leggy plants.
Spacing
40-50 cm apart
Space 40-50 cm apart for border planting. For a continuous low hedge, space at 35 cm. Single specimens in containers need at least a 30 cm pot.
Support
No support needed
Self-supporting compact shrub with a naturally dense, mounding habit. No staking or training required.
Growing Tips
Heat lover
Mexican Heather thrives in hot, humid conditions and blooms most heavily in full sun. It shrugs off summer heat that stresses many other plants.
Continuous bloom
Flowers appear non-stop from late spring until first frost without deadheading. Spent blooms drop cleanly on their own.
Frost protection
Hardy only in frost-free climates (zones 9-11). In cooler areas, grow in containers and bring indoors before temperatures drop below 0C. Even a light frost can damage foliage.
Pollinator magnet
The abundant tiny flowers attract butterflies and small pollinators throughout the blooming season, making it an excellent choice for wildlife gardens.
