Purple Firespike (Lavender or Pink)
Location
Butterfly Garden
- Common Name: Firespike (Lavender) (Other common names: Purple firespike and purple flame).
- Scientific Name: Odontonema callistachyum (also called Thyrsacanthus callistachyus)
- Family Name: Acanthaceae
- Origin: South America (but has naturalized to Florida).
- Height: 5’ – 6’
- Width: 2’-3’
- Growth: Fast growing.
- Zone: 8A – 11
- Light Needs: Full Sun to Partial/Dappled Shade.
- Salt Tolerance: Low
- Soil/PH/Texture: Acidic to mildly alkaline (pH 5.6 – 7.8)
- Soil Moisture: Tolerates most soils with average water needs, water regularly but do not overwater.
- Drought Tolerance: Fair drought and humidity tolerance.
- Pests/Diseases: No pests or diseases of major concern. Occasional mealy bug infestations.
- Growing Conditions: This is an upright clumping bush that is easy to grow. It only requires a general purpose, slow-release fertilizer in the spring and 2”-3” organic mulch to help retain water but otherwise is very low maintenance.
- Characteristics: This evergreen shrub has glossy, smooth, green leaves, and showy spikes, clustered with vibrant, lavender, tubular flowers that can bloom repeatedly year-round.
- Propagation: Easy to propagate from softwood stem cuttings or by seed.
- Wildlife: Attracts hummingbirds, bees and butterflies.
- Facts: Tolerates landscapes infested with rot-knot nematodes.
- Designer Considerations: Excellent for butterfly gardens, but can be used as a hedge, mass plantings, borders or in pots 3 galllon or larger that are well drained on patios.
