Northwest Palms

Cuphea llavea 'Bat Face'

Does anyone grow this plant as a summer annual? I've read it's hardy in Zone 9, so it takes some frost. I couldn't resist the bat faced flowers and hummers apparently like it.

The following thread was started by Linda Denman Island, BC 8b on May 12, 2008 at 8:00 am PST

Off-topic but I thought you might be interested anyway. In an older thread below I noted that Hydrangea sargentiana was rarely available from the local nurseries and you asked about the difference between H. sargentiana and H. aspera. Today, on the way home from Nanaimo to Saltspring, I stopped at the Specialty Nursery in Chemainus and (lo and behold!) noticed a bunch of small H. asperas for only $10. So I bought one and then compared the two species (or subspecies) at home. The only obvious difference that I could see was the colour of the new stems - slightly purple on H. aspera compared to the green stems of H. sargentiana. Seemed to me like a normal variability wihin either of the two species with the real difference, if there is one, somewhere else?? Don't know.

The pic below is that of a small ($10) Hygrangea aspera:

The above followup was added by Vlad Pomajzl, Saltspring on May 12, 2008 at 9:28 pm PST.

Vlad, that’s a good price and the plant looks really healthy. It’s good to know that Island Specialty has it too. I haven’t been there for at least five years, but keep meaning to go. Maybe the flowers will be different?

The above followup was added by Linda Denman Island, BC 8b on May 13, 2008 at 7:44 am PST.