Firebush plant profile
Hamelia patens
A perennial shrub for full sun.
Last updated .
When to plant
When to plant Firebush
Set firebush out in full sun after the last spring frost; it does best in high heat. It is a frost-tender perennial typically grown as an annual in cold zones, either in the ground or in a container that can be taken indoors over winter.
The calendar shows this cited seasonal window as an approximate band. It does not convert the season into frost-adjusted dates.
Open Firebush in my garden calendarShows the source-backed planting season, not frost-adjusted dates.
Growing conditions
- Sun
- Full sun
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Spacing
- 12 to 24 in apart
- Hardiness
- Zones 9a to 10bFind my hardiness zone
Common problems
Watch for these
Also watch for: frost tender, best flowering needs full sun and heat, needs regular moisture as an annual.
Next steps
Continue with Firebush
Evidence trail
Evidence behind this profile
Original extension and institutional publications behind the planting, care, and safety facts on this page.
- Hamelia patens (Firebush, Hummingbird Bush, Scarlet Bush)
North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox (NC State Extension). Supports general reference. Checked 2026-06-18.