Candy Corn Plant

Candy Corn Plant (Cuphea micropetala)

Candy Corn Plant, also known as Mexican Giant Cigar Plant, delivers a long season of warm color that keeps sunny beds and containers looking lively through late summer and fall. The tubular blooms stack up along the stems in bright yellow and orange tones, creating a clear, cheerful display that draws hummingbirds and other pollinators. Its shrubby, upright habit fills space quickly and works well as a seasonal anchor in mixed plantings. If you want dependable late-season impact without a complicated routine, this plant fits beautifully.

Distinctive Features

This tender perennial shrub forms a bushy, upright clump with narrow to oval-lance green leaves and abundant tubular flowers that are bicolored, orange near the base and yellow toward the tips. Bloom typically runs from summer into fall, with stems often carrying many flowers at once for a strong, continuous show. In frost-free climates it can hold an evergreen to semi-evergreen look, while in cooler areas it is often grown as a warm-season annual or a dieback perennial where hardy. Mature size is typically about 2 to 3 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide.

Growing Conditions

• Sun: Full sun to partial shade, with the best flowering in full sun.
• Soil: Well-drained soil with organic matter, and avoid sites that stay waterlogged.
• Water: Moderate, water regularly to establish, then provide supplemental water during extended drought for best bloom.
• Zones: USDA Zones 8 to 11.
• Notable Traits: Long bloom season and strong attraction for hummingbirds and pollinators.

Ideal Uses

• Focal Point: Plant a small group as a focal point so the yellow-and-orange flower display reads as a bold late-season feature in the border.
• Pollinator Gardens: Use in sunny beds to support hummingbirds and beneficial insects through summer and fall.
• Containers: Grow in pots for a full, upright centerpiece that keeps color coming into fall.
• Mixed Borders: Place in the mid to back of borders to add height, texture, and warm color as the season shifts.

Low Maintenance Care

• Pinching: Pinch tips early in the season if needed to encourage branching and a fuller habit.
• Watering: Water during dry spells, especially in containers, since consistent moisture supports the best flowering.
• Cleanup: Remove tired stems and spent flower clusters as needed to keep the plant looking fresh.
• Cold Protection: In colder areas, treat as a seasonal plant or provide winter protection where it is borderline hardy.

Why Choose Candy Corn Plant?

• Late-Season Color: Bicolored tubular flowers in yellow and orange keep the garden glowing from summer into fall.
• Pollinator Power: Flowers are especially attractive to hummingbirds and other pollinators.
• Easy Garden Form: Typically grows about 2 to 3 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide for quick, finished coverage.
• Heat-Friendly Performance: Handles warm weather well when given sun, drainage, and reasonable moisture.

Candy Corn Plant looks best when repeated, letting the warm bloom tones create rhythm through late-season borders. Pair it with ornamental grasses and other fall performers for a planting that stays strong as temperatures cool. Give it sun and well-drained soil, then keep moisture steady during peak heat for the fullest bloom. If you want a reliable late-season accent with real pollinator value, this plant delivers.