Cuphea Torpedo | 9cm Pot

A colourful addition to the summer patio. Position: full sun or partial shade Soil: moist but well-drained Rate of growth: fast Flowering period: May to October Hardiness: tender (will need winter protection) Native to Central America and Mexico, cupheas make very attractive additions to the summer bedding scheme – and ‘Torpedo’ with its eye-catching blooms is no exception. Set against bright green foliage, the long tubular flowers really stand out, and (as their name suggests), their flaring petal tips look a little like a bat face, with bright red ears. Well suited to pots and containers, it can also be added towards the front of the border to add impact to the display. Garden care: No deadheading is necessary, but it will perform best with regular feeding. Move plants to a greenhouse or conservatory to overwinter, and in spring, cut back the flowered stems to within 2cm of the previous years growth before moving it back outside after all risk of frost has passed.