Treasure Coast Garden Gems – Fabulous Firebush

Firebush – the botanists call it Hamelia patens, but they argue that the name and origin of the plant is controversial. A large shrub native to Florida from Marion county south, it is a happy inhabitant of Treasure Coast gardens. Non-native Firebush are commonly available in the nursery trade as well. Gardeners who are worried about native vs. non-native Firebush may distinguish the types by noting flower color and leaf texture, the redder flowers, dark purple fruit and hairy leaves mark the Florida native. Orange flowers and smooth leaves are probably native to the Bahamas or elsewhere. I have both in my garden and this does not worry me. I like both of them and am not sure the butterflies and hummingbirds can tell the difference. However, a pair of Cardinals preferred the Florida native to make their nest, so who knows?

What makes a Firebush so fabulous? There are many reasons. It is very easy to grow, attracts butterflies and hummingbirds, provides food and shelter for wildlife, is drought tolerant, has loads of color (flowers, fruit and bronzey new foliage) and a long blooming period. What’s not to love? These hardy shrubs continually amaze me with their ability to prosper in full, frying Florida sun with their feet in unirrigated sugar sand. After being established in my garden, they have rarely been watered or fertilized. But they do get pruned – a lot.

The downside, these shrubs have the potential to get huge, so planting them too close to buildings and walkways can generate a lifelong maintenance battle. Sizes can reach up to 20 feet tall and 10 feet wide if left unpruned and don’t believe there is such a thing as a dwarf variety – I have one in my garden I was assured would grow 4 feet tall, it is now about 15 tall and has been pruned into a tree form. The best locations for Firebush are sunny, well drained areas with room to grow. They will drop their foliage with cold weather and die back to the ground if hit by frost. Not to worry, they will come back full force from the ground when the weather warms.