Hamelia Species, Firecracker Shrub, Hummingbird Bush, Mexican Firebush, Scarlet Bush

On Nov 10, 2019, roflol from Western, MO (Zone 6a) wrote:

Bought my Mexican Firebush about 6-7 years ago at a big box store here in Missouri, replanted into a largish pot and set it on the west-facing deck. Did well until I forgot to bring it in at the first freeze, and it looked quite dead but after several weeks in a sunny spot in the house it showed life again, and really took off growing in the spring. It's about 4 feet tall now, and looks awful every winter but comes back in the spring like a champ. Suspected it wasn't meant to be a year-round plant here so came to Dave's to see how we actually should be overwintering, and I see it can go into the garage with a monthly watering - very good to know. I hope to propagate this hamelia patens next spring with cuttings as the hummers do like it quite well.

On Aug 2, 2013, faithiep from Oldsmar, FL (Zone 10b) wrote:

Such a great plant: hardy, drought tolerant, pretty and a butterfly draw. Neighbor has one, doesn't prune and it is at least 10' tall and 6' wide. I'm more interested in small shrubs so I cut it back after the winter frost like it's a hibiscus (they're both in the same bed). It has no problem coming back and keeps its nice rambling shape.

On Nov 6, 2011, penpen from North Tonawanda, NY (Zone 6a) wrote:

This plant has to be container grown and brought inside for the winter in my zone 6 garden. It also needs nice loamy well draining soil. They start out slow from seed but after the first year they seem to take off. Make sure the container isn't too big for the plant's size or it will hold too much moisture and eventually develop root rot.

Fantastic hummer plant and easy to grow from seed

On Mar 20, 2011, commiskey from Jackson, MS wrote:

Zone 8a here. The first winter I had one in a container, I let it die to the ground. It came back, but late - first signs of life were in early May, and it did not flower well until October, despite six hours of direct sun a day. This year, it was spared the cold but did die back from lack of sun in the shed I was using to keep tropicals. However, I was rewarded by having signs of growth by the second weekend in March, and hopefully will get more flowering this year.

I, too, have noticed that the plant is much more drought-tolerant once established. I bought it while in SW Florida for vacation, never having seen it before. I have seen a handful of small specimens (4" pots) in local nurseries since, although very few people know about it here.

On Oct 14, 2007, tommyg_fla from Dade City, FL wrote:

I have two firebushes. One was actually pulled up by one of my dogs last year but after some TLC came back well. The hummingbirds love it and come out every morning during the spring and summer.

One of my container plants doesn't have as much foliage as the other which is planted in the garden. It flowers well and receives full sun. It has well drained soil and I use a time release fertilizer.

On Apr 17, 2007, khasdorff from Victoria, TX (Zone 9a) wrote:

In addition to all the information provided by others, I would like to add that Hamelia transplants easily. I mistakenly planted 3 of them on a southwest wall for shade, but they grew so tall that my husband could not see out his office window. I had to prune them several times every season, which reduced the amount of berries produced. After 3 years in the ground, I dug up the plants and moved them in November. It is now April, and I am happy to report that all 3 are showing new growth. Now they can grow freely! I live in zone 9b.

On Jul 22, 2006, Bartramsgarden from Trenton, FL wrote:

I have a zone 8b garden near Gainesville, Florida. This is perhaps my favorite garden plant, which I have used extensively in a variety of situations throughout my garden. Here are a few interesting notes: (1) expect it to die back even after the lightest frost (be sure to cut back dead stems), (2) expect it to come back very slowly in spring, (3) expect it to gain density each year, (4) water it at least weekly the first year as it establishes its roots (don't let it stay in a wilted state for more than a day or two; if it does not regain composure after you water it, it may be waterlogged. It likes fast-draining soil), (5)expect it to be extremely drought tolerant after establishment, (6)expect it to attract a wide variety of wildlife, including butterflies and hummingbirds, (7)expect it... read more to be adaptable to almost any exposure (I have plants that thrive in full, broiling Florida sun and in deep, live oak shade), and finally (8) DO NOT expect it to be bothered by any disease or pests. In all my years of growing this plant, I have never once seen any example of it with any problem beyond minor leaf damage from grasshoppers.

On May 22, 2006, msdazeee from Houston, TX wrote:

I've had my hummingbird plant for 2 years in Houston. It gets the west sun in the evening. Light frost will stunt it but it bounces right back. It grew to about 6 ft. tall before the frost got it last year. I just trimmed it down to about 1 foot and now it's back to 5 ft. tall. Still haven't had any luck propogating it. Would like to have more plants from this bush. Never have seen any seeds. When the hummingbirds migrate at the end of August they love it.

On Nov 19, 2005, TARogers5 from Kingston, OK (Zone 7a) wrote:

This is the first one I have tried. Kept it in a pot sitting in shallow water at the base of my waterfall. Did not touch it all summer. Grew up to about three feet an bloomed all summer in morning sun only. Love it.

On Nov 6, 2005, mkjones from Aurora, TX (Zone 8a) wrote:

I give a big thumbs up to this plant. Not only does it brighten up an afternoon shaded spot under a big crepe myrtle, it has such a lovely shape and growth habit. I've had my two since midsummer, and they've yet to stop blooming. Even though the plant tag listed "full sun," my bushes thrive in the southeast morning sun, and protection from the hot Texas sun in the afternoon.

On Sep 11, 2005, HillCntryGrdnr from Spring Branch, TX (Zone 8b) wrote:

I live in the Texas Hill Country on the north side of Canyon Lake. My yard is a work in progress of mostly Texas native/zeriscape plants. As I do not want to install a drip system, I'm planting what can survive on their own once established. I planted 8 Firebush this spring and watered them once a week only. They looked a little puny at first, and one lost almost all its leaves, so I relented and gave it a little more water and it came back.

All survived the summer, and since about the middle of August I watered every other week. Starting September I stopped all watering. Now that its cooler and the rains have started, I won't water unless we have a very dry spell next summer. I grew these in Round Rock, TX and they did die completely back in the winter. I mulched them well... read more, and though they gave me some anxious moments until the first leaves pushed their way up through the mulch in late April, they came back every year and grew 4' tall & wide.

These plants are gorgeous, TX hardy, and I must agree with "htop" that perhaps the folks in Dallas could be over-watering or growing them in poorly drained soil.
HillCntryGrdnr

On Jul 4, 2005, JaxFlaGardener from Jacksonville, FL (Zone 8b) wrote:

These plants took a couple of years to get established, but are now growing about 5 ft high in mostly shade. I don't seem to have much of problem with wilting, possibly due to shady location, but the shade may also reduce flowering. I've not yet had flowers on my Hamelias this year.

Jeremy

On Sep 25, 2003, htop from San Antonio, TX (Zone 8b) wrote:

San Antonio, Tx.
After transplanting, firebush needs to be watered weekly during the first year until it sets its roots. It needs well drained soil. Perhaps the plants given plenty of water but still wilting metioned above are because the soil is not draining well. During severe heat, the plant, when young, will wilt in full sun and needs a little extra water. I found that as the plant matures and the roots spread, it does not wilt as much.

Allow plenty of room for it in temperate zones. Mine is 5.5 feet tall and equally wide after trimming it back some in July. Of course trimming back cuts off new terminal blooms, but it grows so fast new blooms return quickly. In cooler zones it does not become this large. It will not bloom as well in partial shade. It has not exp... read moreerienced any disease or insect problems. The leaves turn a beautiful reddish color in fall when the temperatures cool, and if a quick drop in temperature occurs, the foliage is a bright red.

On Aug 8, 2003, broozersnooze from Jacksonville, FL (Zone 9b) wrote:

I am zone 9a. Very prolific plant here. Blooms right at Christmas. Goes beautifully with holiday yard decor. My husband, thinking it was a weed, uprooted it from the yard & threw it on the side of the road for the trash man. Luckily the trash man didn't pick it up & the pile he threw out grew into a huge bush. The area in the yard that he uprooted also grew back. It gets partial sun & tolerates the heat much better than the one that is on the roadside which only gets part shade but they've both done beautifully. A hard freeze wilts the leaves & tender stems but bounces right back in the spring.

On Jul 7, 2003, nipajo from Dallas, TX (Zone 8b) wrote:

I live in zone 7, and I have the Firecracker in full sun, but it is wilting badly. It perks back up after the sun is down, but lately it has stopped perking back up and is drooping all the time now. It gets plenty of water.

On Jan 9, 2003, ButterflyGardnr from Orlando, FL (Zone 9b) wrote:

Firebush is a very attractive shrub. Butterflies, especially Zebra Longwings, and hummingbirds are attracted to the tubular-shaped red flowers. Once in the ground, the shrub will grow quickly to its mature size. Foliage color is affected by the amount of sun the plant receives. Leaves are bright green if it is in a mostly shaded area, green tinged with scarlet if it's in partial sun, or deep scarlet if the plant is in full sun. The plant will die back in a hard frost but recovers quickly. It can be pruned as needed. The fruits are eaten by birds and other animals.

On Aug 4, 2002, bleu wrote:

Vigorous grower in the summer months in Central Florida. The flowers are profuse and there is some problem with free seeding. If you want to enjoy the flowers make sure to give this bush lots of elbow room so you don't have to clip it back off of sidewalks and doorways each month.

Very drought tolerant and will grow most anywhere. Find that there are some differences in leaf color, frequency of flowering and tightness of flower clusters between the plants. But I haven't seen any botanical differentiation yet.