Firecracker
Location
Butterfly Garden
- Common Name: Firecracker (other common names: Fountainbush, Coral Plant, Coral Blow)
- Scientific Name: Russelia equisetiformis
- Family Name: Scrophulariaceae
- Origin: Mexico
- Height: 3’-5’
- Width: 6’-12’
- Growth: Moderate, aggressively spreading plant.
- Zone: 9B – 11
- Light Needs: Full sun for best flowering and the fullest growth.
- Salt Tolerance: Medium
- Soil/PH/Texture: Tolerant of different types of soils as long as they are well-drained, sand, loam, and clay. It prefers mildly acidic- mildly alkaline (pH 6.1 – 7.8.
- Soil Moisture: Moderate/average, needs well-drained soil.
- Drought Tolerance: High drought and heat tolerance.
- Pests/Diseases: Long-term health usually not affected by pests but is occasionally bothered by chewing insects, nematodes, and mites.
- Growing Conditions: Easy to grow.
- Characteristics: This deciduous evergreen has rare, asparagus-like, green leaves with a blade length of 2”-4” that are opposite/subopposite, dentate margins, and ovate in leaf shape. Its flowers of 1” length are red – pale yellow, look like little firecrackers and appear year-round in warm climates.
- Propagation: Division, layers and tip or stem cuttings. Remember to deadhead if you do not want automatic seedlings for the next season.
- Wildlife: Attracts bees, hummingbirds and butterflies.
- Facts: Earned the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticulture Society in 1993.
- Designer Considerations: Specimen, foundation, border, mass plantings, cascading down a wall, accent, hedge, tall ground cover, hanging basket with drooping branches, or container plant (3 gal. or larger with excellent drainage) for patio. Also perfect for xeriscaping.
