ShrubsDiscover the right shrubs for your garden.
Estrellita Little Star ® bouvardia hybrid . Photo by : Proven winner
A democratic addition to bouquets and flowered arrangements , the vivacious blooms ofBouvardiadeserve a place in the garden not only for usage as a cut flower but also to attract a steady parade of pollinator .
Also known as firecracker bush or hummingbird flower , this compendious bush is covered by shiny reddish - orangeness bloom from spring through crepuscule . hummingbird are pull in to the trumpet - shaped flush , and bees and butterflies determine the odorous miscellany irresistible .
Native to Mexico and the American Southwest , cracker bush thrives in warm climate and is tough enough to handle heating system , humidness , and drought without miss a meter . In northerly regions , you’re able to growBouvardiaas a showy summertime one-year in garden bed and containers or even indoors as a houseplant .
On this page : Basics|Planting|Care|Varieties|Frequently Asked inquiry
BASICS
Botanical name:
Bouvardiaspp . and loanblend
Common names:
Firecracker bush , hummingbird flower , trompetilla , clavillo , trumpet flower
Plant type:
Deciduous or evergreen shrub
Zones:
Typically 8 - 11 , with some stout to partition 7
Native area:
Central America and Mexico , with the speciesB. ternifoliagrowing barbarian throughout parts of Texas , New Mexico , and Arizona
Exposure:
Full sunlight to part shade
Growth habit:
vertical and bush - like
Height/spread:
2 to 4 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide
Bloom time:
Midspring until the first heavy frost
Foliage:
Linear to oval - shaped dark gullible leaves are set in gyre along woody stems . foliation will remain evergreen in frost - free area .
Flowers:
Clusters of long , tubular flowers with flaring flower petal most normally bloom in shades of Bolshevik and orange , although you could also find pink , chickenhearted , and white varieties . Some eccentric display multiple color variations within the same bloom cycle . Some varieties are sweet , but not all .
Special attributes:
Landscape uses:
Container garden , mass planting , tailor flower gardens , shrub borders , pollinator gardens
PLANTING BOUVARDIA
When to plant:
In spring , after the threat of Robert Frost has passed , or in other decline in freeze - gratis climates .
Where to plant:
Although plants can allow partial nicety , a location with full sunshine ( at least 6 hours daily ) will assure the best flowering . In sphere with raging summer , like the thick South , plants will benefit from filtered shade in the afternoon .
How to plant:
delve a hole about twice as wide but no mysterious than the plant ’s rootage ball . Mix any amendments , as need , into the filth and place the plant in the pickle so the crest is level with the soil control surface . Backfill with the excavated soil , tamp down it down gently . H2O thoroughly , then check the soil level and add together more soil if necessary .
Soil:
Average , well - run out soils having an acidulent pH. Plants grow poorly in too wet , alkaline soils . con how to examine and adjust the pH of your soil .
Spacing:
2 to 3 foundation apart , depend on width at maturity date
Growing in containers:
you’re able to also get cracker bush in containers on patio and balcony . opt a pot at least 3 gal in size of it and fill with a eminent - quality potting mix . Make certain the deal has holes for equal drainage to forbid the soil from catch soggy . Get moretips for growing plants in containers .
BOUVARDIA CARE
Watering:
piss plant , as needed , to provide 1 to 2 inches of water weekly . Container - grown plants will involve more frequent lachrymation and should be given a drenching when the top inch of land feels dry to the mite . Once established , Bouvardiacan tolerate periods of drouth but will do considerably when water regularly .
Amendments and fertilizer:
fertilise plants in other spring with a slow - release fertilizer formulated for flower tree and shrub , following the instruction on the label for the recommended rate of covering . If you have mud soil , mix in in some organic subject to meliorate aeration , promote drainage , and boost grease fertility . Avoid excessive fertilization , which can make plants leggy and cause taller stems to flop over .
Pruning and deadheading:
Regular pruning is seldom necessary , since plant will maintain their innate habit without much shaping . However , if you require to make plant more thick and bushy , you’re able to prune them back by about one - third in spring , issue back to a lot of leaf . If you are growing firecracker bush as a perennial , you could also rationalise plants back during their quiescence period in late downslope or early winter before newfangled growth reemerges in spring .
Although deadheading is n’t necessary for re - bloom , you could take away the spent flower , if desired , to keep flora looking not bad and tidy .
Propagation:
From root cuttings or softwood clipping lease in spring .
Pests and diseases:
Few serious pests or diseases bother Bouvardia , but be on the picket forwhitefliesandmealybugs .
BOUVARDIA VARIETIES
Photo by : Proven Winners
Estrellita Little Star ® —Buy now from Proven WinnersBouvardiahyrbrid
Zones:8 - 10
Height and spread:18 to 24 inches marvelous and all-inclusive
Clusters of sensation - shaped flowers in centre - drink down shades of orange , red , and raging pinkish blossom continually from spring through declivity without the need for deadheading . bloom off of new growth , plant can be trimmed as necessitate for defining .
Photo by : Ramona Georgescu / Shutterstock
Scented BouvardiaBouvardia longiflora
Zones:9 - 11
summit and spread:2 to 3 feet magniloquent and wide-cut
jimmy for its intensely fragrant , stark white flowers , which are a popular increase to wedding posy . Because the root word and branches tend to be brittle , this plant turn best in a sheltered placement or indoors as an everblooming houseplant .
photograph by : Tony Baggett / Shuttertstock
Scarlet BouvardiaBouvardia ternifolia
Zones:8 - 11
Height and spread:2 to 4 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide
This Southwest native is topped with clusters of brilliant scarlet red flower that will appeal hummingbird from miles around . Will continue evergreen in warm frost - free fix and is deciduous in colder climates .
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
IsBouvardiaan annual or perennial?
Firecracker bush is a repeated bush in warmer climates , but will not survive temperature below 10 to 15 degrees F.
How do I growBouvardiaindoors?
Sometimes sold as a houseplant , Bouvardiais easy to produce indoors . But , to secure anthesis , you must place it in a spot where it will get mountain of light , such as a south - facing windowpane or under grow lights . Keep at a room temperature above 60 degrees F and water supply profoundly when the stain is dry to the touching , allowing supernumerary weewee to play out of the bottom of the bay window to prevent antecedent rot .
Is firecracker bush the same as firecracker plant?
There are a few plants that apportion the common name of banger works or firecracker bush . Two of the most common areCupheaandRusselia equisetiformis . Cupheais a pinnace perennial with blooms very similar in appearing to those ofBouvardia , but much little . Russelia equisetiformis , hardy in Zones 9 - 11 , has cascading hurry - corresponding stems and clump of ruddy tube-shaped flowers . Both thrive in summer Lord’s Day and heat , and when grown as annuals , will bloom from spring until the first frost .
IsBouvardiaa long-lasting cut flower?
As a cut bloom , the bloom of hummingbird flower can last up to two weeks in a vase . For the tenacious vase life sentence , pick out halt with flowers that have just begun to give and dispatch all leaf that will sit around below water level .
What does the firecracker bush flower symbolize?
Bouvardiais connect with enthusiasm , passion , and a piquance for life and is often included as a snub prime in bouquets celebrating extra occasions .
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