Firecracker Shrub, Mexican Firebush, Scarlet Bush, Hummingbird Bush (Hamelia pat

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smiln32 Oklahoma City, OK(Zone 7a) Sep 11, 2004

Firecracker Shrub, Mexican Firebush, Scarlet Bush, Hummingbird Bush
Hamelia patens

Picture taken at the Cleveland County, OK Master Gardeners' gardens

Thumbnail by smiln32
Post #1044344
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beverlyf Weimar, TX(Zone 8b) Sep 13, 2004

This is a pretty plant and it does attract the humming birds. My problem with it is that it gets too big and is rather invasive. I have dug it up several times and still have bushes of it. Sometimes that is fine but some places, I am ready for it to go.

Post #1047573
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smiln32 Oklahoma City, OK(Zone 7a) Sep 13, 2004

Yes, it does grow rather large. ;)

Post #1047578
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knees Washington, DC(Zone 7a) Sep 13, 2004

I have a 4 foot "tree" in a pot. I does not at all behave like a bush. I take it out in the spring and bring it in before the frost. At the moment I am trying to root a piece. Made 4 cuttings, 3 in rooting powder (one is already dead as a door nail) and one in water. The one in water shows the most promise of rooting. I hope to catch it at the right time to transplant it into potting soil. My reason for duplication is that I want to try to keep one of them outdoors in the winter; I have such limited space indoors with good lighting. But I don't want to risk losing it all together. If it is invasive, it must be via roots because I have desperately looked for seed for years. It is so very pretty.

Post #1047674
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Jerri_OKC Oklahoma City, OK(Zone 7a) Sep 14, 2004

I have this in a pot. Is it hardy here? I love it but was afraid to plant it outside!

Jerri

Post #1048214
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htop San Antonio, TX(Zone 8b) Sep 14, 2004

Mine has never self-seeded and I sent seeds to a fellow gardiner which did not germinate. I have had mine for a very long time and it has not spread by runners. It grows much taller than I had expected. The tag stated that it became 4 feet tall ... hah. I have to trim it back in midsummer because it overshadows the plants in the background. It dies to the groound in the winter here. If it didn't, it would be a gigantic plant.I have never tried to start it from cuttings.

Post #1048474
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Osteole Lamar, AR(Zone 7a) Sep 14, 2004

I would be interested to know if anyone has grown successfully outdoors in zone 7a/b. I have this plant in a pot, it's very striking plant. I've really enjoyed it. I bought it at walmart for a buck 50.

Post #1048681
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smiln32 Oklahoma City, OK(Zone 7a) Sep 14, 2004

It isn't "supposed" to be hardy in zone 7, but I'm learning that pushing zones is an awful lot of fun. :) If you have more than one, stick one in the ground and mulch it like crazy the first year. Then, see what happens. If it doesn't work, you don't have to try it again. :)

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