Hamelia spp.
Firebushes
Overview
Hamelia spp. is a genus of about 16 species of evergreen shrubs and small trees in the coffee family, Rubiaceae, native to the warmer parts of the Americas. The most familiar species, H. patens, the firebush, forms an upright, multi-stemmed shrub 3 to 12 feet (1 to 3.6 m) tall, with whorls of pointed leaves that often flush red in sun. The tubular, orange to scarlet flowers are carried in branched, one-sided clusters at the stem tips and open over a long warm season. Small berry-like fruits follow, ripening from green through red to black, and are eaten by birds. Plants grow quickly in heat and tolerate poor soils, drought once established, and coastal conditions. They are frost tender, dying back or being killed by hard freezes, so in cooler areas they are grown as die-back perennials or warm-season shrubs. The flowers draw hummingbirds and butterflies, and the foliage is a larval food for several sphinx moths. The genus is grown for its long flowering season and wildlife value, though it can spread widely and may be cut to the ground by frost.
Native Range
Hamelia spp. is native to tropical and subtropical America, from the southeastern United States and Mexico through Central America and the Caribbean to South America. H. patens reaches its northern limit in central and southern Florida. Most species are plants of forest edges, clearings, and disturbed ground.Suggested Uses
Firebush is planted as an informal hedge, screen, or specimen shrub in warm-climate and wildlife gardens, and as a die-back perennial farther north. The orange-red flowers draw hummingbirds and butterflies over a long season. Its fast, spreading growth suits large borders and naturalised plantings more than small, tidy beds.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height3' - 12'
Width/Spread3' - 8'
Bloom Information
In frost-free climates Hamelia spp. flowers almost year-round, with the heaviest bloom from late spring through autumn. The branched clusters open new flowers steadily over many months. Where winters are cold, plants flower through summer and autumn until frost cuts them back.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
Orange to scarletFoliage Description
Green, often flushed redGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-10 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Hamelia spp. grows in full sun to part shade in a wide range of soils, including sandy and limestone ground, as long as drainage is reasonable. Plants tolerate high heat and are drought-tolerant once established, needing extra water only while young or in long dry spells. A soil pH from about 5.5 to 7.5 suits them. Flowering and red leaf colour are strongest in full sun. They are frost tender, surviving outdoors in roughly USDA zones 8 to 11, where they may die back in winter and regrow from the base in spring. Few pests trouble them, and they recover quickly from hard pruning or frost damage.Pruning
Plants tolerate hard pruning and are often cut back in late winter or early spring to control size and renew dense growth. In cold-winter areas frost kills the top growth, which is trimmed away before new shoots rise from the base. Light trimming through the season keeps the shrub compact.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 5 gallons