Fireworks in the landscape

The firecracker plant is a weeping shrub with a very unique look.  The lanky, multi-stemmed, four-foot long  branches are often covered in bright red tubular flowers from spring through early winter.  Maybe you have a firecracker plant already, or maybe this article will inspire you to get one.  Also known as coral plant, coralblow and fountain plant, the firecracker plant is a landscape favorite. 

We can check off many of the “good” boxes for the firecracker plant right from the get-go.  This plant is hardy in our zone, it is drought tolerant once established and is considered a Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ plant with good salt tolerance.  And while it can be a bit of an aggressive plant noted for spreading, it generally does not get way out of bounds and is not officially considered  “invasive”.  The firecracker plant is also very attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds.  Originally from Mexico, this rush-like shrub can grow up to four foot high and six or more feet wide with leafless stems adorned with bracts instead leaves.  While often just used as a specimen plant, the firecracker can be situated for a mass planting or used as a border to higher plants.  If planted in mass, set plants at least thirty-six inches apart as each individual plant will soon fill in the spaces.  The firecracker plant may be at its best when installed so that it cascades down a wall.  It has also been used in large hanging baskets to take advantage of the arching nature of its branches.

While you may normally only see red firecracker plants in local garden centers, on occasion you will also find a yellow cultivar known as ‘Aureus’.  This pale yellow cultivar is an interesting change of color with the same plant characteristics.  Now, you may even be able to find one additional cultivar called ‘Night Lights™ Tangerine’ which has a tangerine-orange colored flower.  Plant your firecracker plants in full sun for best flowering results. 

If the firecracker plant is new to you, why not add one to your landscape!  If you have a red one already, try a yellow or tangerine color to jazz up your landscape!  In any case, for more information on all types of colorful flowering shrubs suitable for our area,  please call our Master Gardener volunteers on the Plant Lifeline on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 1 to 4 pm at 764-4340 for gardening help and insight into their role as an Extension volunteer.  Don't forget to visit our other County Plant Clinics in the area.  Please check this link for a complete list of site locations, dates and times - http://charlotte.ifas.ufl.edu/horticulture/Plant%20Clinics%20Schedule.pdf.

Resources:

Gilman, E. F. ( 2006) Firecracker - Russelia equisetiformis.  The University of Florida Extension Service, IFAS.

Christman, S. (2004) Russelia equisetiformis.  Floridata.com. Tallahassee, FL.

Gulf Coast Research and Education Center Plant City Teaching Garden (2015) Tangerine Firecracker Plant Russelia equisetiformis ‘Night Lights ™ Tangerine’.  The University of Florida Extension Service, IFAS.

Gulf Coast Research and Education Center Plant City Teaching Garden (2015) Yellow Firecracker Plant Russelia equisetiformis ‘Aureus’. The University of Florida Extension Service, IFAS.

The Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Guide to Plant Selection & Landscape Design, 1st ed. (2010).  The University of Florida Extension Service, IFAS.

Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council’s 2015 List of Invasive (2015) http://www.fleppc.org/list/2015FLEPPCLIST-LARGEFORMAT-FINAL.pdf.