How to Grow Lemoine's Fire
Wikimedia Commons
Lemoine's Fire
Cuphea hyssopifolia × Cuphea ignea
shrubLemoine's Fire is a compact, semi-woody ornamental shrub prized for its brilliant red-orange tubular flowers that bloom prolifically throughout warm seasons. This tender perennial is known for its fine-textured foliage and vibrant, hummingbird-attracting blooms that appear continuously in the right conditions. It's commonly grown as a houseplant, annual, or tender perennial in cooler climates.
When should you plant Lemoine's Fire in your zone?
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Example Lemoine's Fire timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Lemoine's Fire
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
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Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
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Harvest Lemoine's Fire
Around Jun 16≈ 60 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Lemoine's Fire dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives outdoors year-round in zones 10-11; grown as an annual or houseplant in cooler zones
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Get my Lemoine's Fire timeline →Growth Stages
Seedling
2-3 weeksTiny seedlings with narrow cotyledons emerge, developing fine, delicate foliage
Keep soil evenly moist, provide bright indirect light, maintain 70-75°F. Use seed-starting mix for best drainage. Avoid fungal issues by ensuring good air circulation.
Vegetative Growth
4-6 weeksPlant develops bushy growth with increasingly dense, fine-textured foliage; compact form establishes
Pinch back growing tips to encourage branching and fuller shape. Provide full sun and consistent moisture. Begin light feeding with balanced fertilizer.
Bud Formation
2-3 weeksSmall red buds begin appearing in leaf axils; plant signals readiness for flowering
Ensure adequate light to maximize bud production. Feed with bloom-boosting fertilizer lower in nitrogen. Maintain consistent watering without letting soil dry out.
Flowering
8-16 weeks (or continuously in ideal conditions)Abundant bright red-orange tubular flowers open continuously; blooms attract hummingbirds and pollinators
Deadhead spent flowers to encourage continuous bloom. Keep temperatures between 65-80°F. Maintain high humidity if indoors. Feed every 2-3 weeks with flowering plant fertilizer.
Dormancy/Rest
2-3 months (winter)Flowering slows in winter; plant growth becomes minimal
Reduce watering frequency and stop fertilizing. Maintain temperatures above 55°F. Prune back in spring to rejuvenate growth. Can be overwintered indoors or treated as annual.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Increase humidity, spray with water to knock off mites, use neem oil or horticultural spray if severe
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Use yellow sticky traps, spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil, improve air circulation
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Remove with alcohol-soaked cotton swab, use neem oil or insecticidal soap for heavy infestations
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Spray with strong water stream, use insecticidal soap or neem oil, introduce beneficial insects
Uses
Hummingbird & Pollinator Garden Plant
OrnamentalThe tubular red-orange flowers are highly attractive to hummingbirds, butterflies, and other pollinators, making Lemoine's Fire an excellent choice for creating a wildlife-friendly garden or balcony. [source]
Container & Houseplant
HouseholdPerfect for growing in pots indoors on sunny windowsills or outdoors on patios and terraces. Its compact, controlled growth habit makes it ideal for confined spaces and it can be overwintered indoors in cold climates. [source]
Long-Blooming Border Plant
OrnamentalProvides vibrant color from spring through fall in warm zones, creating brilliant displays in mixed borders, flower beds, and tropical-style gardens with minimal maintenance once established. [source]
Cut Flower Arrangements
CraftThe long-lasting, bright tubular flowers can be cut for fresh arrangements and add striking color to floral designs, particularly in tropical or warm-season arrangements. [source]
Harvest Tips
No harvest needed for ornamental purposes. Remove dead or spent flowers regularly (deadheading) to promote continuous blooming throughout the season. Prune in early spring to shape and rejuvenate the plant for the growing season.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Lemoine's Fire is named after the Lemoine family, famous French horticulturists and plant breeders who created this hybrid in the 19th century by crossing Cuphea hyssopifolia with Cuphea ignea.
- 🌱 Despite its tender nature in cold climates, Lemoine's Fire can bloom almost continuously in warm regions with proper care, producing hundreds of delicate tubular flowers throughout the growing season.
- 🌱 In its native tropical and subtropical habitats, this plant is pollinated primarily by hummingbirds, which are attracted to the bright red coloration and the copious nectar production of the flowers.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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