FNPS Plant Database

Hamelia patens

firebush
  • Photo by: Johnson
  • Photo by: John Lampkin, Nature Coast FNPS
  • Photo by: John Lampkin, Nature Coast FNPS
  • Photo by: John Lampkin, Nature Coast FNPS
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

firebush

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Hamelia patens

Family:

Rubiaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

Shrub

Size:

to 20 ft tall by–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.

Availability:

Quality Nurseries, Native Nurseries, FNPS Plant Sales

Propagation:

Readily available from native nurseries. Easily transplanted. May sucker and suckers can be moved. Readily grows from seed.

Light:

Full Sun, Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded---------------------------------Extremely Dry

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Somewhat moist, no flooding -to- Not wet but not extremely dry

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand, Loam

Soil pH:

5.5–8.2

Suitable to Grow In:

9A,9B,10A,10B,11

USDA zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature.

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Vouchered In:

Distribution
Vouchered
Not vouchered
Selected
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No county distribution is available for this plant yet.
Starting…
Map coded by Melissa Fernandez-de Cespedes (Paynes Prairie Chapter)

Ecology

Wildlife:

Pollinators, Butterflies, Caterpillars, Hummingbirds, Birds, Mammals

Larval host for the pluto sphinx moth Butterflies, noted for attracting zebrawing Attracts long-tongued bees including bumblebees.

Birds and small mammals eat the fruits and disperse seeds. Hummingbirds come for nectar.

Native Habitats:

Dry sites. Coastal forests, upland forests, hammocks

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

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.
FNPS Plant Print

Citations:

Haehle, Robert G. and Joan Brookwell. (1999). Native Florida Plants. Gulf Publishing Company. Houston, TX.


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Hammer, Roger. (2015). Attracting Hummingbirds and Butterflies in Tropical Florida. University Press of Florida, Gainesville.


Huegel, Craig N. (2010). Native Plant Landscaping for Florida Wildlife. University Press of Florida, Gainesville.


Nelson, Gil. (2003). Florida's Best Landscape Plants: 200 Readily Available Species for Homeowners and Professionals. University Press of Florida, Gainesville.


Osorio, Rufino. (2001). A Gardener's Guide to Florida's Native Plants. University Press of Florida, Gainesville.


Traas, Pamela. (2001). Gardening for Florida's Butterflies. Great Outdoors Publishing Co, St. Petersburg, FL.


Wunderlin, R. P, B. F. Hansen, A. R. Franck, and F. B. Essig. (1999+). Atlas of Florida Plants. ( https://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/ ). [S. M. Landry and K. N. Campbell (application development), USF Water Institute.] Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa.

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