In recent years Firebush has been successfully promoted as a heat and sun loving annual bedding plant by the Texas Agricultural Extension Service. Although a shrub in its native habitat, and a perennial in the southern third of the state, Firebush really struts its stuff as a low maintenance, long season annual bedding plant.

Firebush is a perennial which is best utilized as, and in the place of, annual flowering plants. It is the first introduction into a category of plants being dubbed "per-annuals" (a perennial used as an annual).

The Firebush, because it is native to a dry climate, can withstand drought; once it is established, so it is a water-conserving plant as well. This plant can accomplish these feats of stone-survival and drought-tolerance while exposed to the hot summer sun.

Firebush is a shrub native to southern Florida, the West Indies, and portions of Central and South America (7). The plant has attractive foliage and brilliant orange-red tubular flowers that are produced in abundance throughout the growing season.

Firebush (Hamelia patens) Firebush (Hamelia patens) produces the favorite hummingbird bloom in most landscapes. The toughest bird in the neighborhood takes possession of the firebush. The shrub reaches 4 feet high and is just as wide. The shrub is covered by small, red, tubular flowers. Use it in a container to draw the hummingbirds onto the patio.

Plant Answers > exas Superstar Plants - Ones which show the best deer resistance

Firebush (Hamelia patens) Goldcup (Hypericum spp.) Gray Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster glaucophylla) Japanese Boxwood (Buxus microphylla japonica) Japanese Yew (Podocarpus macrophyllus) Nandina (Nandina domestica) Oleander (Nerium oleander) Pineapple Guava (Feijoa sellowiana) Pomegranate (Punica granatum) Primrose Jasmine (Jasminum mesnyi)

Firebush is an outstanding hummingbird plant. Place one in a five gallon container on your patio. In addition to providing a round globe full of attractive red flowers, the plant will be the most popular nectar source on the patio. Many a hummingbird “dogfight” will be centered on winning dominance over the firebush.

Plants that bloom in mid summer in San Antonio are Texas tough plants. Among the best are esperanza, poinciana, firebush, firespike, vinca, and portulaca. Esperanza (Yellow Bells) is a root hardy, woody plant that has yellow tubular flowers that …

In the garden, firebush is a drought tolerant plant. In a container, the fibrous root system is not as efficient; it requires watering every other day. The attention is worth it. The toughest hummingbird on the block will lay claim to your firebush and will protect the …