Cuphea hyssopifolia, the false heather, Mexican heather, Hawaiian heather or elfin herb, is a small evergreen shrub native to Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras. It grows to about 60 cm high by 90 cm wide and has purple, lavender or white flowers.
Cuphea hyssopifolia is a small shrub belonging to the Lythraceae family. Mexican heather is a tropical shrub reaching a height of about 1′ to 2′ feet. It typically spreads up to 2.5′ feet and features evergreen foliage. The plant has many branches and tends to develop a rounded shape. The lance-shaped leaves are evergreen, remaining on the shrub year-round. The leaves are glossy green and may reach up to ¾” inch long. The trumpet-shaped Mexican heather flowers with six petals and green tubes arrive in the summer. The petals are lavender or purple and often attract butterflies and hummingbirds. The plant continues to bloom profusely until the first sign of frost. It can be invasive outside Mexico and South America.
