The Cigar plant brings the hummingbirds into our gardens with their profuse springtime red tubular flowers. It is a modest foliage plant that can be clipped and sheared to control its shape and size, and a garden knock-out when in flower.
This flowering shrub is adaptable to many types of soil, and partial shade to full sun, although avoid planting it in areas with hot west-facing summer sun. It performs best with regular moisture and seasonal trimming to maintain its character. It is a good container plant, in raised planters and for fresh garden planting schemes. Several cultivars of Cigar plant are available, including: C. i. ‘David Verity’ is large and robust, growing 4-6 ft. tall and as wide, and produces deep orange flowers with flared pale yellow tips; C. i. ‘Starfire Pink’ has a dense habit to 3 ft. tall and wide with deep pink flowers with flared lavender tips.
