Firebush
Hamelia patens Jacq.
Location
Butterfly Garden
Family
Rubiaceae
Common names
Firebush, Scarlet Bush, Hummingbird Bush, Florida Firebush
Native range
Tropical and subtropical Americas, including southern Florida, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and northern South America.
Habitat
Open woodlands
Flowering
Nearly year-round
Fruiting
Fruiting occurs almost year-round
Conservation status
Least concern (LC)
About this plant
Hummingbird Bush, is an evergreen, perennial shrub or sometimes a small tree. It typically grows 2–4 meters tall, forming a dense, rounded, multi-stemmed habit. Leaves are simple, opposite. Flowers are tubular arranged in cymes at the ends of branches, attracting butterflies, and bees. Fruit is a yellow-green berry turning purplish when ripe.
Uses
Widely used as an ornamental plant in landscaping and gardens; medicinally used traditionally for treating skin conditions, insect bites, inflammation, asthma, and dysentery.
Growing conditions
Thrives in well-drained soils ranging from heavy clays to alkaline soils but prefers loamy or clayey soils; grows well in full sun or partial shade; favours warm climates typical of tropical to subtropical regions
Habit
Evergreen to semi-deciduous shrub or small tree