Firebush Is A Prolific Pollinator

Firebush is a perennial or semi-woody shrub that is known scientifically as Hamelia patens. The bright red flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies, including the zebra longwing and gulf fritillary butterflies, making it one of the most prolific pollinators at Lemon Creek Wildflower Preserve. We love firebush because it produces flowers from late spring until the first frost, attracting both birds and butterflies, and is practically bullet-proof once established. Our resident song birds also like to feed on the berries.

The plant’s mature size will depend on where it is grown. In South Florida it may reach fifteen feet tall, though it can easily be pruned back and kept to five or eight feet tall. It works well in hedges, mixed borders, or as a stand-alone shrub. Firebush will die back after a seasonal freeze but will re-grow in the spring, making it what some people call a “root-hardy perennial.” It is also a great plant because it is heat and drought tolerant once established, can grow in a range of soils, and has no serious insect or disease problems.

Native people in tropical America use extractives from the leaves for all sorts of medicinal uses, including rash treatment, skin fungus treatment, sores, and insect bites or stings. Modern research has shown that there are both antibacterial and antifungal properties within the plant.