Hamelia patens
Photo by John Lampkin. Photograph belongs to the photographer who allows use for FNPS purposes only. Please contact the photographer for all other uses.
Natural Range in Florida
USDA Zones
Suitable to grow in:
10A 10B 11 9A 9B
2002-2022, Copyright Florida Native Plant Society
Firebush
Rubiaceae
Plant Specifics
| 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. | |
| Habitats: | Dry sites. Coastal forests, upland forests, hammocks. |
Landscaping
| Recommended Uses: | Specimen or hedge plant. Also works well in informal background thickets. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Light: | Full Sun, Part Shade | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Moisture Tolerance: |
always floodedextremely dry |
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| 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 Tolerance: | Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Soil/Substrate: | Loam, Sand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Wildlife
Birds and small mammals eat the fruits and disperse seeds.
Hummingbirds come for nectar
Larval host for the pluto sphinx moth
Butterflies, noted for attracting zebrawing
Attracts long-tongued bees including bumblebees.