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Firebush Flower Wikimedia Commons
Rubiaceae

Firebush Flower

Hamelia patens

Vitality and attraction.

Family
Rubiaceae
Genus
Hamelia
Native to
Florida, Mexico, Central America, South America
Bloom season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Type
Evergreen shrub
Height
2-5 meters
Sunlight
Full sun to partial shade
Soil
Well-drained, fertile
Water
Moderate
Hardiness
8-11
Lifespan
Perennial

Did you know

  • Firebush is one of the top butterfly and hummingbird attracting plants in the southeastern United States.
  • The tubular flowers produce nectar almost continuously throughout the warm season.
  • The berries change from green to red to black as they ripen and are eaten by many bird species.
  • In traditional medicine, the leaves were used to treat skin rashes and insect bites.
  • It was named after French botanist Henri Louis Duhamel du Monceau.

Color meanings

0

Vitality

1

Warmth

2

Attraction

Uses

  • Pollinator gardens
  • Ornamental
  • Traditional medicine
  • Wildlife habitat