Hamelia patens: Country Or Region Of Origin
Florida, West Indies, Mexico, Central and South America
Plant Profile: Hamelia patens
Taxonomy: Hamelia patensNames
Firebush, Hummingbird Bush, Mexican Firecracker, Redhead, Scarlet Bush
Phonetic Spelling:ham-EE-lee-uh PAT-ens
Genus:Hamelia
Species:patens
Family:Rubiaceae
Hamelia patens is a sizable perennial shrub or a small tree often cultivated as an annual. It can be planted directly in the ground or in pots that are suitable for indoor placement during the winter months. Once established as a perennial in USDA zone 9 or higher, it exhibits drought resistance; however, when grown as an annual, it thrives with consistent moisture. This plant flourishes in full sunlight and prefers high temperatures, akin to the conditions of its native tropical habitat.
Hamelia patens Feature Summary
Tags
#showy flowers
#heat tolerant
#wildlife plant
#nectar plant
#salt tolerant
#cottage garden
#patio planting
#bird friendly
#butterfly friendly
#tropical feel
#container plants
Similar Plants
Hamelia patens Feature Summary
Attributes
Florida, West Indies, Mexico, Central and South America
Florida to Argentina
Birds eat the berries. Adult food source for Pluto Sphinx moth.
Perennial
Annual
Fruit
small dark red berry turning black at maturity
Berry
Red/Burgundy
Black
Flowers
Tubular orange-red to red flowers appear in terminal clusters
Gold/Yellow
Red/Burgundy
Orange
Summer
Fall
4-5 petals/rays
Tubular
Leaves
oval, gray-green leaves with pinkish veins. Leaves turn red in fall.
Green
Red/Burgundy
Opposite
Whorled
Ovate
3-6 inches
1-3 inches
Whole Plant Traits
Perennial
Annual
Native Plant
Houseplant
Medium
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Good Drainage
12 inches-3 feet
9a
9b
10a
10b
High Organic Matter
Sand
Stem
Landscape
Butterfly Garden
Cottage Garden
Border
Heat
Salt
Container
Patio
Butterflies
Songbirds
Hummingbirds
Hamelia patens Image Gallery
Hamelia patens Attributes
Hamelia patens: Distribution
Florida to Argentina
Hamelia patens: Wildlife Value
Birds eat the berries. Adult food source for Pluto Sphinx moth.
Hamelia patens: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Hamelia patens Fruit
Hamelia patens: Fruit Description
small dark red berry turning black at maturity
Hamelia patens: Fruit Type
Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua
Hamelia patens: Fruit Color
Black
Red/Burgundy
Hamelia patens Flowers
Hamelia patens: Flower Description
Tubular orange-red to red flowers appear in terminal clusters
Hamelia patens: Flower Color
Gold/Yellow
Orange
Red/Burgundy
Hamelia patens: Flower Inflorescence
Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel
Hamelia patens: Flower Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy
Hamelia patens: Flower Bloom Time
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Hamelia patens: Flower Petals
2-3 rays/petals
4-5 petals/rays
6 petals/rays
7 - 20 petals/rays
asymmetrical petals
Bracts
Colored Sepals
fused petals
more than 20 petals/rays
Tepals
Hamelia patens: Flower Shape
Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel
Hamelia patens Leaves
Hamelia patens: Leaf Description
oval, gray-green leaves with pinkish veins. Leaves turn red in fall.
Hamelia patens: Leaf Color
Green
Hamelia patens: Deciduous Leaf Fall Color
Red/Burgundy
Hamelia patens: Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled
Hamelia patens: Leaf Shape
Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate
Hamelia patens: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Hamelia patens: Leaf Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Hamelia patens: Leaf Width
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Hamelia patens Whole Plant Traits
Hamelia patens: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Hamelia patens: Growth Rate
Slow
Medium
Rapid
Hamelia patens Cultural Conditions
Hamelia patens: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Hamelia patens: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Hamelia patens: Available Space To Plant
12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet
Hamelia patens: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
10a
10b
9a
9b
Hamelia patens: Soil Texture
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Hamelia patens Stem
Hamelia patens: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Hamelia patens Landscape
Hamelia patens: Landscape Theme
Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden
Hamelia patens: Design Feature
Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree
Hamelia patens: Resistance To Challenges
Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind
Hamelia patens: Landscape Location
Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland
Hamelia patens: Attracts
Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees
