Family: Lythraceae

Origin, Description & Uses

Cuphea hyssopifolia, commonly known as false heather or Mexican heather, is a small, evergreen shrub native to Mexico and parts of Central America. It forms a dense, finely textured mound of slender stems lined with tiny, glossy green leaves. Delicate purple, lavender, or sometimes white flowers bloom continuously throughout much of the year, making it a popular choice for borders, groundcover, rock gardens, and container plantings. False heather thrives in full sun to partial shade, tolerates regular trimming, and is widely used in residential and commercial landscapes for its neat appearance and long-lasting color.

Risks, Threats & Management

False heather is considered Low Risk overall; however, it has become naturalized on Oʻahu, Maui, and Hawaiʻi Island. While it is not currently regarded as highly invasive, its ability to establish outside cultivation shows that it can reproduce and persist in local environments. As with any non-native plant that has naturalized, there is some potential for spread into nearby disturbed areas. Gardeners are encouraged to monitor plantings, prevent unwanted spread, and consider native or non-invasive alternatives where appropriate to help protect Hawaiʻi’s unique ecosystems.

High Risk Traits:

• Naturalized in New Zealand & Hawaii
  
• Congeneric weeds (C. balsamona, C. carthagenesis, C. wrightii)
  
• Broad climate suitability (Zones 8b–11)
  
• Wide soil tolerance (including poor/dry soils)
  
• Repeated introductions (Germany, Australia, Venezuela, Taiwan, USA)
  
• Produces viable seed & self-sows
  
• Short generation time (<1 year)
  
• Prolific seed production likely (>1000/m²)
  
• Tolerates shearing (responds to mutilation)
  
• No specialist pollinator (bees, butterflies)

Low Risk Traits:

• Not a current weed (garden, ag, environmental)
  
• No spines, toxins, or allelopathy
  
• Not a significant pest host (generalist whitefly only)
  
• Mild dermatitis risk – widely cultivated without issues
  
• No fire hazard
  
• Small shrub – no smothering or dense thickets
  
• No vegetative reproduction
  
• Poor dispersal – no wind, water, bird, gut, or contaminant dispersal