
In the landscape
Border · Container · Patio · Butterfly · Cottage
Data sources
Firebush
Hamelia patens · Perennial
Firebush is a moderate-growing perennial, hardy in USDA zones 9-10, that matures to about 1–3 ft × 1–2 ft. It does best in full sun and part shade with medium water needs in well-drained soil. Expect yellow, orange and red blooms in summer and fall. It attracts butterflies, hummingbirds and songbirds, stands up well to heat and salt and grows happily in containers.
- USDA zones
- 9-10
- Sun
- Full sun, Part shade
- Water
- Medium
- Mature size
- 1–3 ft × 1–2 ft
- Spacing
- 12 in-3 ft
- Growth rate
- Medium
- Maintenance
- Low
- Soil
- Well-drained
- Foliage
- Green
- Bloom color
- Yellow, Orange, Red
- Bloom season
- Summer, Fall
- Attracts
- Butterflies, Hummingbirds, Songbirds
- Tough against
- Heat, Salt
- Native to
- South America
Will it survive your winters?
We score Firebush’s freeze-trouble range against the real coldest nights your area has recorded.
Powered by ~35 years of daily lows from the nearest NOAA weather station. A risk read, not a guarantee — a sheltered spot or mature plant beats the odds.
See the Firebush in your own yard
Upload a photo and our AI designs with real plants like this one — matched to your USDA zone.
More perennials
Texas Sage
Leucophyllum frutescens
Zones 8–10Full sun
Allamanda
Allamanda cathartica
Zones 10–11Full sun
Mexican Petunia
Ruellia simplex
Zones 8–10Full sun
Southern Wax Myrtle
Morella cerifera
Zones 7–10Full sun
Orange Daylily
Hemerocallis fulva
Zones 3–9Full sun
Pink Camellia japonica
Camellia japonica
Zones 7–9Part shade