I need some experts to tell me the difference between fire bush plant and the hmmingbird bush??????
Fire bush vs Hummingbird bush
Well, I'm no expert but I'll give it a try. Hummingbird bush is Flame Acanthus. A very heat tolerant, drought tolerant perenial shrub that hummingbirds love. Fire bush is Hamelia Patens. Depending on where you're located, it's either an annual or a perenial. It's heat tolerant but does require a bit of extra water during droughts. Both are excellent hummingbird plants.
Does that answer your questions?
Carla
Certainly no expert here but that is what is wrong with using common names.
There are quite a few that can be confusing by common name.
There is Russelia equisetiformis http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/1334/ with one of the common names of firecracker plant
But then there is the firecracker shrub or hummingbird bush
Hamelia patens
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/1844/
But those are not the same as the Anisacanthus quadrifidus
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/1340/
which shares the commons names of hummingbird bush, Texas firecracker plant
But that is totally different from the Dicliptera suberecta
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/1274/ which has the common name of hummingbird plant or firecracker plant
I am sure there are others, those are only a few that came to mind.
Any thoughts on which ones you had in mind?
To make it even more confusing, Dicliperta suberecta is also known as Mexican Honeysuckle. :-)
Carla
Thanks for all the info. I have the fire cracker shrub, and I am familiar with the firecracker plant. Now I have pictures to associate with names. Thank you for all of your help.
Carla ~ I was just reading thru the July/August issue of Texas Gardener and saw the Texas Tough plant highlighted was Mexican Honeysuckle. Its' botanical name is Justicia spicigera. The bloom and foliage appear similar to Dicliptera suberecta but according to the Plant Files, it is different.
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/1335/
Either way, it is another one I would like to acquire but I need it like I need another hole in my head. LOL Kristi
Kristi, the more I learn, the more confused I get! I just looked at the Justicia page, but what I have is Dicliperta ... yet the tag that came with it says Mexican Honeysuckle. Oh my. I guess maybe that will finally teach me to go by the Latin name?? :-)
Carla
I DO have a flame acanthus courtesy of our friend, Mitch Fitzgerald. I cut it back and cut it back and it grows like a weed. The hummingbirds have been on it all summer. Also have turk's cap which the hummers love.
Oh my Lord. It is thundering right now. Must be some mistake.
I think your thunder HAD to be a mirage....
Almost got the sidewalk wet.....not quite. What a cruel joke.
Carla ~ I agree on the confusion but they are so similar.
At first I wondered if the name had changed from Dicliptera to the Justicia family. But I don't think so.
Maybe someone more knowledgable will enlighten us. LOL
Yep ~ Christi you are not losing your mind. It was thunder just to tantalize.