Justicia Species, Firecracker Plant, Mexican Honeysuckle, Orange Plume Flower (Justicia spicigera)
Beautiful bright orange bloom clusters adorn the Mexican Honeysuckle which has lightish green, soft leaves. Requiring little water, no fertilizer and a minimum of care, it is a great plant to have in the landscape. (San Antonio,Tx.)
A closeup of the buds and an opened bloom reveals that the buds are first green, turn a yellowish honey color and finally become orange. Shown in the middle of March. (San Antonio, Tx.)
The first bright orange blooms of a Mexican Honeysuckle that I started from a cutting.
Mexican Honeysuckle (Justicia spicigera) produces black seed pods (seed pods) in clusters which stand out against the lightish green foliage.
Open Mexican Honeysuckle (Justicia spicigera) seed pods (seedpods) showing the spring action mechanism that disperses the seeds from the seed pods.
A Mexican Honeysuckle (Justicia spicigera) seed pod (seedpod) fully open.
Mid March, springtime, zone 9a/9b, under a shade tree.
Firecracker Plant, Mexican Honeysuckle (Justicia spicigera) after mid-20 degrees ( F) nights and freezing mist and drizzle which coated the plant in a thin layer of ice.
Great late fall/winter/early spring color. Drought tolerant, easy care.
Justicia spicigera flowering at the Jacksonville (Florida) Zoo & Gardens, April 2007
Justicia spicigera.
Growing in zone 9b, January 29th, late Winter
Growing in zone 9b, January 29th, late Winter
Growing in zone 9b, March 8th, 2005, early Spring
Justicia Spicigera 'Sidicaro'
Leafs
The buds look to me like little orange dolphins
Mid March, springtime, zone 9a/9b, under a shade tree. Desert Botanical Gardens. (This photo was originally posted here Aug 21, 2005)
Selby Gardens, Sarasota, FL. Photo courtesy of Karl Gercens. Copyright Karl Gercens, an expert horticulturalist and plant enthusiast who gives lectures and classes around the USA as well as at Longwood Gardens. Conservatory Horticulturist at Longwood Gardens. Learn more about him and his love of all things horticulture at http://www.karlgercens.com/
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Justicia Species, Firecracker Plant, Mexican Honeysuckle, Orange Plume Flower
Justicia spicigera
| Type: | Tropicals and Tender Perennials |
| Height: | 4-6 ft. (1.2-1.8 m) |
| Conditions: | Zone 8-11, Sun to Partial Shade |