Hamelia patens
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Firebush
Rubiaceae
Plant Specifics
| Form: | Shrub | |
| Size: | to 20 ft tall by to 10 ft wide | |
| Life Span: | Long-lived perennial | |
| Flower Color: | Red | |
| Fruit Color: | Black | |
| Phenology: | Semi-evergreen. Blooms all year unless they freeze back. | |
| Noted for: | Showy flowers, Hurricane wind resistance |
Landscaping
| Recommended Uses: | Specimen or hedge plant. Also works well in informal background thickets. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Considerations: | This species is cold sensitive and will die back if it freezes. Usually resprouts from the base. There are recent observations of the plant in north Florida where it appears to be naturalizing. This is "assissted migration" and could be an the that it may become invasive outside of its range | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Propagation: | Readily available from native nurseries. Easily transplanted. May sucker and suckers can be moved. Readily grows from seed. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Availability: | Native nurseries, FNPS plant sales, Quality nurseries | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Light: | Full Sun, Part Shade | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Moisture Tolerance: |
always floodedextremely dry |
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| (Somewhat moist, no flooding ----- to ----- Not wet but not extremely dry) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Moisture Tolerance: | Somewhat moist, no flooding ----- to ----- Not wet but not extremely dry | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Salt Water Flooding Tolerance: | Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Salt Spray/ Salty Soil Tolerance: | Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Soil or other substrate: | Loam, Sand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Soil pH: | 5.5 - 8.2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ecology
| Wildlife: |
Birds and small mammals eat the fruits and disperse seeds. Hummingbirds come for nectar | |
| Insects: | Larval host for the pluto sphinx moth Butterflies, noted for attracting zebrawing Attracts long-tongued bees including bumblebees. | |
| Native Habitats: | Dry sites. Coastal forests, upland forests, hammocks. |
Distribution and Planting Zones
Natural Range in Florida
USDA Zones
Suitable to grow in:
10A 10B 11 9A 9B
USDA zones are based on minimum winter temperatures
Comments
| General Comments: | Closely related plants occur in the Caribbean and Central America. Yellow or orange flowering plants are not the Florida native. In recent years plants have been found growing wild near homesites in north Florida -- what you plant can escape into the wild if planted beyond the natural range. Please plant responsibly - this plant has the potential to be invasive when used outside of its natural range. Please act responsibly.
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