Kufeya
Cuphea (lat. Cuphea) is an evergreen tropical plant from the Derbennikaceae family.
Description
Kufeya is an evergreen small shrub strewn with a huge number of elongated flowers that have an external resemblance to smoldering cigarettes. This is the reason why people call it a “cigarette holder” or a “cigarette tree.” As a rule, the height of the bushes does not exceed half a meter; they all branch quite strongly and are endowed with erect, dense shoots. And they can be not only annuals, but also perennials.
The lance-shaped small leaves of kufei are colored in rich green tones and are located on very short petioles. And the narrow tubular flowers are very reminiscent of cigarettes with smoldering ends. This shape is due to the fact that in their homeland these amazing flowers are pollinated by cute hummingbirds, endowed with rather long and slightly curved beaks.
Where does it grow
The homeland of kufei is the South American tropics and subtropics, and now it is grown in a huge number of different countries.
Varieties
Kufeya is fiery red. An incredibly attractive and most striking variety, which is branching subshrubs reaching forty centimeters in height with slightly curved or straight shoots. The opposite dark green leaves are oblong in shape and grow up to six centimeters in length and up to two centimeters in width. The fiery red flowers are tubular in shape and equipped with small dark purple bends at the tips.
Kufeya issopolis. The height of this well-branching lush shrub rarely exceeds half a meter. Each bush is abundantly dotted with a huge number of short-petioled dark green leaves. They can reach two and a half centimeters in length, and their width is only 0. 4 cm. This variety blooms with small tubular flowers, the color of which can be soft lilac, pink or white.
Kufeya pale. A very graceful and fairly compact annual shrub, capable of boasting surprisingly lush and dark foliage and an abundance of wine-red flowers.
Kufeya lanceolate. This fast-growing annual shrub reaches a height of ninety centimeters, and its purple stems are slightly pubescent. The dark purple flowers collected in inflorescences are tubular in shape and reach up to three centimeters in length.
Growing and care
Kufeya feels great indoors, the main thing is to place it in bright rooms. The ideal option would be western and eastern windows. Kufeya is very partial to sunlight — the larger its volume, the greater the number of buds that will form on the beautiful plant. Kufei will not bloom either in the shade or in poorly lit rooms, and its leaves will gradually lose their former rich color. And, nevertheless, it must be protected from the scorching rays of the sun (which is why it is not recommended to place this plant on southern windows), but if they still reach the beautiful kufei, you should take care of proper shading. The plant should also be protected from drafts.
Kufeya grows at a fairly good speed, and its propagation occurs with the help of cuttings or seeds — the seeds germinate quickly, and they take root well. In spring and summer, it is important to try to maintain the temperature for kufei in the range of twenty-two to twenty-five degrees, and in winter — from twelve to eighteen degrees. If the thermometer drops lower, she may die.
As for care, in this regard, kufeya is completely undemanding. The main thing is to provide it with sufficient watering, especially for flowering plants. Kufeya should be watered two to three times a week, and the water should be at room temperature.
