Woody > Hemelia > Hemelia patens > Hemelia patens
Hemelia patens
Firebush
Origin: Southern Florida, Mexico and Central and South America.
Mike's
Opinion
"
Commonly known as Firebush, this fast growing semi-woody evergreen can grow up to 4.5 m under ideal conditions. However this shrub is usually seen when it is much smaller. The leaves are whorled and elliptic to oval shaped, while the flowers are presented in showy terminal clusters.
Michael Pascoe, NDP., ODH., CLT., MSc. (Plant Conservation)
"
| Family |
| Rubiaceae |
| Genus |
| Hemelia |
| Species |
| patens |
| Category |
| Woody |
| Type |
| Shrub (evergreen) |
| USDA Hardiness Zone |
| 9-10 |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone |
| Requires cool season protection under glass. |
| RHS Hardiness Zone |
| H4 - H2 |
| Temperature (°C) |
| (-4) - 4 |
| Temperature (°F) |
| 25 - 40 |
| Height |
| 30-91 cm |
| Spread |
| 30-60 cm |
Photographs
Cultivars
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Description and Growing Information
Flowering Period
| General Description |
| Messy branching that tends to hang or droop touching the ground. Can be a very dense shrub suited for naturalized plantings if left unpruned. Flowers almost all year, depending on the geographic region. |
| Landscape |
| Excellent for use in hedges, borders and as an accent plant. This fast growing shrub should be pruned to keep it within a manageable size. |
| Cultivation |
| Easily grown in well drained soils in full sun to partial shade. Although somewhat drought tolerant if grown as an annual it prefers more regular watering. |
| Shape |
| Informal, usually mounding shape but never a clean pruned type-look. The branching structure of the plant does not permit shaping while pruning. |
| Growth |
| Fast |
| ID Characteristic |
| The flowers resemble firecrackers, appear in terminal clusters and are orange-red. Leaves are whorled and limey green. |
| Pests |
| Powdery mildew. |
| Habitat |
| Open woodlands, thickets and hammocks. |
| Bark/Stem Description |
| Main stem is brown and smooth while the inner bark is light green. Small young twigs are orange to purple. |
| Flower/Leaf Bud Description |
| Small light red-pink ball-like structure borne on stems arranged symmetrically. Oblong oval shaped with several orifices arranged in a circle. |
| Leaf Description |
| Leaves are opposing, grouped in 3-4 and slightly pubescent and glabrous with petioles 1-2 cm long. |
| Flower Description |
| Flowers are long and narrow, resembling firecrackers, approximately 5-8 cm in length, flowers only open slightly at the end. |
| Colour Description |
| Dark green to light green leaf colour with flowers orange to red. |
| Texture Description |
| Smooth, most surfaces on the plant are slightly pubescent giving it a slightly silky texture. |
| Propagation |
| Propagated through softwood stem cuttings or in spring by seed. |
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