Cuphea hyssopifolia Golden Ruby

Common Name:
Mexican False Heather 'Golden Ruby'

Description:
Cuphea hyssopifolia 'Golden Ruby' is a vibrant and compact evergreen shrub that brings year-round colour to the garden with its golden-lime foliage and fine, delicate texture. This ornamental selection stands out for its striking foliage tones, which contrast beautifully with the masses of small, ruby-pink to purple flowers that appear from spring through to autumn. ‘Golden Ruby’ maintains a tidy, mounded habit and is perfect for borders, edging, mass planting, or containers. It thrives in Melbourne’s temperate climate, preferring a sunny to partly shaded position in well-drained soil. Though it appreciates regular moisture during establishment, it becomes reasonably drought-tolerant over time. With minimal pruning needs and natural resistance to pests, this low-maintenance shrub adds structure, softness, and colour contrast to a variety of landscape settings, particularly where a pop of bright foliage is desired.

Form:
Shrub - Small
Shrub - Clumping / Grass-like / Mounding

Mature Size:
Height: 0.3–0.5 metres
Width: 0.4–0.6 metres

Aspect:
Full Sun
Part Shade

Flowering:
Flowers in Spring
Flowers in Summer
Flowers in Autumn

Flower Colour:
Ruby Pink
Purple

Key Attributes:
Suitable for Pots
Bee Attracting
Perennial
Low maintenance
Foliage contrast plant
Suitable for Borders
Fast-growing
Informal hedge or edging plant

Toxicity:
Generally considered non-toxic to humans and pets

Companion Plants:
Liriope muscari
Lavandula 'Dentata'
Salvia 'Mystic Spires'
Heuchera 'Lime Marmalade'
Sedum 'Autumn Joy'