Firebush Hamelia patens
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- ham-EE-lee-uh PAT-ens
- Description
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Hamelia patens is a frost-tender perennial shrub or small tree that is typically grown as an annual, either directly in the soil or in containers that can be taken indoors during the winter. It can be drought-tolerant once established as a perennial in zone 9 or above but prefers regular moisture when grown as an annual. It flowers best in full sun and does best in high heat similar to its native tropical range.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Hamelia
- Species:
- patens
- Family:
- Rubiaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Florida, West Indies, Mexico, Central and South America
- Distribution:
- Florida to Argentina
- Wildlife Value:
- Birds eat the berries. Adult food source for Pluto Sphinx moth.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Houseplant
- Perennial
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Description:
- small dark red berry turning black at maturity
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Description:
- Tubular orange-red to red flowers appear in terminal clusters
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Whorled
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- oval, gray-green leaves with pinkish veins. Leaves turn red in fall.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Patio
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Heat
- Salt
