Hamelia patens
Firebush
Rubiaceae
Plant Specifics
Form: | Shrub | |
Size: | to 10 ft tall by to 10 ft wide | |
Life Span: | Long-lived perennial | |
Flower Color: | Red | |
Fruit Color: | Black | |
Phenology: | ||
Noted for: | Showy flowers, Hurricane wind resistance |
Landscaping
Recommended Uses: | Specimen or hedge plant. Also works well in informal background thickets. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Considerations: |
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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: |
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Insects: |
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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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