Remusatia vivipara

Both the Cigar Plant (Cuphea ignea) and Remusatia vivipara thrive in the diverse tropical and subtropical climates of India. The Cigar Plant is widely grown across the country for its decorative appeal, acting as a vibrant, easy-to-care-for shrub in warmer areas and a spectacular seasonal annual in cooler hill stations. Its unique red-orange, tubular flowers resemble lit cigars and are highly effective in attracting local pollinators, including sunbirds (India’s equivalent to hummingbirds). It flourishes in Indian garden beds and containers, requiring only full sun to partial shade and regular watering in rich, well-draining soil, making it a low-maintenance favorite for adding a continuous splash of bright color to balconies and outdoor spaces.

In contrast, Remusatia vivipara, often called the Hitchhiker Elephant Ear, is a fascinating tuberous plant native to India, with vernacular names like Marakesu or Lalkand. It is a common resident of the moist deciduous forests and rocky areas across the Western Ghats and the Himalayas. This plant is remarkable for its reproductive strategy: it produces tiny, hooked bulbils on slender stalks that cling to passing animals, enabling its wide natural dispersal. Its large, glossy, shield-like leaves emerge from a dormant red tuber, which is traditionally known for its medicinal and edible uses (when thoroughly cooked). In cultivation, it requires bright, filtered shade and moist, organic-rich soil, making it an excellent choice for a shady courtyard or as a unique specimen in a tropical aroid collection.