It is Hamelia patens, commonly known as the firebush or firecracker bush.
It is native to tropical and subtropical America and is found in Florida and the West Indies and south to Paraguay, Bolivia and Brazil.
Flowers and fruit at once
Hamelia patens is a fast-growing, semi-woody shrub that reaches between 2m and 4.5m, but interestingly the wood does not produce growth rings.
It is evergreen with ovate-shaped leaves, arranged in whorls around the stem. Flowers are produced from terminal clusters in early summer once the temperatures get hot enough.
The tubular flowers are about 2cm in length, and they are a bright orange-red or scarlet.
Clusters of fruit follow and are also very showy, ripening from green to yellow to red and then finally black. The edible fruit is fleshy and filled with many tiny seeds. Both the flowers and fruit
are displayed on the plant in various stages.
Bountiful provider
Butterflies and birds enjoy the flowers as a source of nectar and the berries are a favourite with birds.
Indigenous people in tropical America used extracts from the leaves and stems to treat skin rashes, skin fungus, sores and insect bites.
Modern researchers have found the plant contains several chemicals with antibacterial and antifungal properties.
How to grow
Hamelia patens requires full sun to light shade, but it does become leggy if too shaded. Plants are drought and heat tolerant once established but are tender to frost.
They will thrive with ample water during the summer months and are tolerant of many soil types.
Although usually grown in the tropics and subtropics, Hamelia can be grown in warm temperate areas either as an annual or perennial, but plants will reach only about 60cm, and in autumn the leaves will turn deep red.
Propagate by softwood cuttings in spring or sow fresh seed. Thrips, mites and mealybugs can be problematic when grown under glass but plants are usually pest-free when grown outside.
- Stephen Bishop is curator of the winter garden glasshouse at Dunedin Botanic Garden.
