Firebush
Hamelia patens
Also listed as Hamelia erecta, Duhamelia odorata
Also known as Mexican Firecracker, Scarletbush
Climate Match for your location
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A tropical shrub with vibrant orange-red tubular flowers that attract hummingbirds and butterflies throughout the warm season. Firebush is heat and drought tolerant once established, making it an excellent choice for hot, sunny gardens.
Why grow it
Firebush offers reliable pollinator attraction through an extended warm-season bloom period, making it a functional choice for gardens designed to support hummingbirds and butterflies. Compared to other heat-tolerant flowering shrubs, it establishes relatively quickly and requires minimal supplemental water once developed, reducing maintenance input in hot climates. The tubular flower form appeals specifically to hummingbird preferences, distinguishing it from broader-flowered alternatives that may attract a wider range of insects but fewer hummingbirds.
Watch out for
In frost-free or mild-winter regions, firebush can spread aggressively through self-seeding and root sprouting, requiring active management to prevent it from outcompeting neighboring plantings. Growth habit tends toward leggy or open structure without regular pruning, so it performs best with intentional shaping rather than left unpruned. Container-grown specimens often transplant with some transplant shock, particularly if moved during hot weather.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Rubiaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Mexico and Central America
Native to: Florida
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
A tropical shrub with vibrant orange-red tubular flowers that attract hummingbirds and butterflies throughout the warm season. Firebush is heat and drought tolerant once established, making it an excellent choice for hot, sunny gardens.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Firebush grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Firebush offers reliable pollinator attraction through an extended warm-season bloom period, making it a functional choice for gardens designed to support hummingbirds and butterflies. Compared to other heat-tolerant flowering shrubs, it establishes relatively quickly and requires minimal supplemental water once developed, reducing maintenance input in hot climates. The tubular flower form appeals specifically to hummingbird preferences, distinguishing it from broader-flowered alternatives that may attract a wider range of insects but fewer hummingbirds.
Watch out for
In frost-free or mild-winter regions, firebush can spread aggressively through self-seeding and root sprouting, requiring active management to prevent it from outcompeting neighboring plantings. Growth habit tends toward leggy or open structure without regular pruning, so it performs best with intentional shaping rather than left unpruned. Container-grown specimens often transplant with some transplant shock, particularly if moved during hot weather.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Rubiaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Mexico and Central America
Native to: Florida
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
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