General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Shrub
Tree
Sun Requirements: Full Sun
Full Sun to Partial Shade
Water Preferences: Mesic
Dry Mesic
Plant Height: 4-5 feet, but in warm climates can attain heights to 15 feet
Leaves: Good fall color
Evergreen
Fruit: Showy
Edible to birds
Flowers: Showy
Flower Color: Orange
Flower Time: Late spring or early summer
Summer
Late summer or early fall
Uses: Windbreak or Hedge
Suitable as Annual
Edible Parts: Fruit
Eating Methods: Raw
Fermented
Wildlife Attractant: Bees
Birds
Butterflies
Hummingbirds
Resistances: Drought tolerant
Propagation: Other methods: Cuttings: Stem
Containers: Suitable in 3 gallon or larger
Needs excellent drainage in pots
Awards and Recognitions: Texas Superstar®

Image
Common names
  • Firebush
  • Hummingbird Bush
  • Firecracker Shrub
  • Mexican Firebush
  • Scarlet Bush

Photo Gallery
Location: Winter Springs, FL zone 9b
Date: 2019-07-06
Brand new Zebra Longwing enjoying the Firebush blooms.
Location: Winter Springs, FL zone 9b
Date: 2018-08-24
Location: Winter Springs, FL zone 9b
Date: 2018-07-25
Location: Scottsdale, Arizona my yard
Date: 2017-01-18
Location: Winter Springs, FL zone 9b
Date: 2017-10-17
Location: Kyle
Date: 2018-07-12
Hummingbird favorite
Location: Jacksonville, TX
Date: 2012-07-27
Location: Winter Springs, FL zone 9b
Date: 2017-02-21
Natural winter bird feed
Location: Sebastian,  Florida
Date: 2019-08-17

Date: 2013-08-11
Location: San Antonio, TX
Date: 2019-10-16
Location: Austin, Texas
Date: 2022-04-05
Location: Winter Springs, FL zone 9b
Date: 2017-02-21
Birds love to eat the fruit in the winter months
Location: Tampa Bay, Florida 
Date: July
Firebush (Hamelia patens)
Location: Scottsdale, Arizona my yard
Date: 2016-08-31
Location: Scottsdale, Arizona my yard
Date: 2016-08-31
Location: Sebastian,  Florida
Date: 2020-07-22
Location: My garden
Date: Summer 2014
This is one of four hamelia patens I have in my yard.
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2014-06-13
Location: San Antonio TX
Date: 2017-07-26
Location: Austin, Texas
Date: 2022-04-05
Location: Sebastian,  Florida
Date: 2019-08-28
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2015-11-10
Location: Atascocita, Texas near Houston
Date: 2022-08-26
Has anyone had success planting the tiny little seeds from Hameli
Location: Sebastian,  Florida
Date: 2019-08-29
Location: San Antonio Zoo, San Antonio, Texas
Date: 2022-04-06
Location: Jacksonville TX
Date: 2016-09-29
Photo by legosnell
Location: Pinellas Park, Florida
Date: 2011-07-15
Photo by sedumzz
Location: AZ
Date: Summer
This first year shrub grew very quick and the hummingbirds loved
Location: AZ
Date: Summer
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2012-08-22 
Zebra Longwing Butterfly enjoying the nectar of Firebush bloom
Photo by sedumzz

Date: 2011-10-12

Date: 2011-10-12
Location: Winter Springs, FL zone 9b
Date: 2011-09-27
Berries in fall and winter add beautiful color to this bush.

Date: 2013-08-11
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2012-09-15
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2012-09-15
Location: San Antonio Botanical Garden, San Antonio, Texas
Date: 2022-04-04
Location: Palm Harbor, Florida
Date: 2013-05-31
Early flower buds
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2012-08-26
Location: Botanical Garden Berlin
Date: 2017-01-07
Location: Botanical Garden Berlin
Date: 2017-01-07
Location: Houston
Date: 7-24-11
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2012-06-11
Location: Orangeburg, SC
Date: 2017-06-19
Firebush
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2012-11-03
Location: Medina Co., Texas
Date: August
Firebush
Photo by sedumzz
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2012-05-05
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2012-05-05
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2012-10-22 
Photo taken at Washington Oaks State Park, Palm Coast, Florida
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2012-05-05
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2012-10-22 
Photo taken at Washington Oaks State Park, Palm Coast, Florida
Location: Sebastian, Florida
Date: 2014-05-11
This photo shows the new leaves forming in the Spring. This plant
Location: BF House, Museum of Natural History, Houston, Texas
Date: 2011-07-23
Location: Houston
Date: 2011-07-22
Location: Houston
Date: 2011-07-24
Location: Houston
Date: 2011-07-24

photo credit: Ks.mini
This plant is tagged in:
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Comments:
  • Posted by plantladylin (Sebastian, Florida - Zone 10a) on Oct 12, 2011 11:37 AM concerning plant:
    Hamelia patens is a fast growing woody evergreen shrub that can attain heights to 15' in warm climates but usually attains heights of only 2' to 3' in cooler zones. The leaves are light green with reddish veins and petioles, and the reverse side of the leaf is pubescent (soft/hairy) and gray in color. This plant prefers full sun but will do okay in semi shady locations as well, it just gets a bit leggy when grown in shade. The fruit/berry starts out green, turning yellow to red and then black as it ripens. The berry contains lots of small seeds. Hamelia patens is drought tolerant once established.
  • Posted by Sadie (East Texas Pineywoods - Zone 8b) on Apr 1, 2012 8:40 AM concerning plant:
    Hamelia patens is a great plant for a habitat garden because it attracts lots of butterflies and hummingbirds. Where I live in zone 8b this plant freezes back to the ground in an average winter, but faithfully returns in the spring. After a particulary harsh winter, it didn't reappear until Memorial Day! Both of our Hamelia patens survived last year's terrible drought with a little supplemental water. They were well established (3 years) before the drought. Some of my other summer bloomers surrendered to the lack of rain, but this tough plant hung in there.
  • Posted by LindaTX8 (Medina Co., TX - Zone 8a) on Jan 2, 2012 12:52 PM concerning plant:
    Hamelia patens is a VERY tough plant. It does freeze back here, but none have died, having made it through some cold winters and the worst droughts I've ever seen. Does not need much of any care once established, although it will bloom better if it gets some water in droughts. I usually cut it back after it freezes back quite a bit and it will start coming back up in the spring when it gets warm enough. I very seldom water it...some years not at all. It's a good nectar plant when blooming....butterflies and hummingbirds love it.
  • Posted by sunkissed (Central Florida - Zone 9b) on Apr 7, 2016 11:09 AM concerning plant:
    I've had this plant since 2009 in my garden. Even though too many hours below freezing will freeze it to the ground, it has always come back and continues to get taller. Mine is starting to look more like a tree now. Hummingbirds love the flowers and visit daily. From late summer through winter it has beautiful colored berries. Nothing seems to eat the berries; they usually just dry up. I also have the compacta, and it doesn't have the big leaves, flowers or colorful berries the large one does, although hummers still visit it. If it doesn't freeze, it takes well to a good trimming back.
  • Posted by Deebie (midstate South Carolina - Zone 8a) on Sep 19, 2018 5:59 AM concerning plant:
    This plant dies down to the ground after hard frost (in my SC zone 8a garden) and gleefully returns each spring. It's a hummingbird magnet. I was able to root a cutting this summer, which I will share with a gardening buddy.
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