The plant gets its common names from the flowers, which are small, orange and tubular. Each has a white tip with a touch of black, suggesting the ash at the tip of a cigar or cigarette. The leaves are small, elliptical and bright green. A bushy subshrub, it grows up to about 24 in (60 cm) high and benefits from occasional trimming to keep it compact. The species name ignea (also called the specific) is Latin for fire.

Similar plants:

• Cuphea carthagenensis (Tarweed, Colombian Cuphea, Colombian Waxweed)
• Cuphea hybrid 'Twinkle Pink' (Cuphea)
• Cuphea hyssopifolia (Mexican False Heather, False Heather, Hawaiian Heather, Elfin Herb)
• Cuphea llavea, Cuphea barbigera (Cigar Plant, Bat Head, Bat Face, St Peter Plant)
• Cuphea melvilla, Cuphea micropetala (Candy Corn Plant)
• Cuphea sp. (Cigarette Plant)