Hamelia patens
 
Common Names Firebush, Scarlet Bush, Hummingbird Bush
 
Zones 8B–11
 
A vibrant native shrub prized for its fiery blooms and wildlife appeal, Hamelia patens is a fast-growing perennial found throughout Florida, the Caribbean, and tropical America. Its tubular red-orange flowers bloom nearly year-round in warm climates, attracting hummingbirds, butterflies, and beneficial insects. Firebush thrives in heat, sun, and poor soils, making it a top choice for low-maintenance gardens and restoration buffers.
 
Key Features
Growth Habit: Multi-stemmed shrub or small tree; upright and spreading
Height: Typically 6–15 ft (1.8–4.5 m); can be pruned to 3–5 ft for compact form
Leaves: Opposite or whorled; elliptic to lanceolate; dark green with reddish veins; fuzzy undersides
Bark: Smooth to slightly fissured; gray-brown
Flowers: Tubular; bright red to orange; clustered at branch tips; bloom spring through fall
Fruit: Small berries; red turning black; edible with tart flavor; attracts birds
Ecology: Nectar source for hummingbirds and butterflies; host plant for sulphur butterflies; fruits feed songbirds
 
Growing Conditions
Light: Full sun preferred; tolerates part shade
Watering: Low once established; drought tolerant
Soil: Well-drained; sandy, loamy, or rocky; pH neutral to slightly acidic
Temperature: Hardy to ~25°F (–4°C); dies back in frost but regrows in spring
Humidity: High tolerance; ideal for tropical and subtropical climates
Propagation: Seed or softwood cuttings
Tolerance: Heat, drought, salt spray, urban conditions
 
Landscape Use Excellent for pollinator gardens, wildlife hedges, and tropical borders. Use as a backdrop for lower-growing natives or in mixed plantings with Cestrum diurnum, Senna mexicana, or Cordia sebestena. Can be trained as a small tree or kept compact with
pruning.