Estrellita™ Scarlet Firecracker Bush (Bouvardia)
Shrub
- Bright-red trumpet flowers are adored by hummingbirds.
- Compact habit grows amazing in hedges & looks vibrant in containers.
- Long-blooming, flower color won’t fade even in high summer temperatures!
- Zones 8-10, sun, 1.5-2' tall x 1.5-2' wide at maturity.
ZONE
EXPOSURE
HEIGHT
Description
Firecracker bush is a favorite of pollinator gardens, with dramatic tubular flowers attracting butterflies and hummingbirds in troves. It's heat and drought-tolerant, growing well in southern states with hot summer temperatures. This shrub looks fabulous as a specimen plant or in a container; no matter where it's planted, it's sure to be the star of the show!
Details
Common name: Firecracker bush, scarlet bovardia, tecoma esperanza
Zone: 8-10
Sun exposure: Sun (6+ hours sun)
Height x width: 1.5-2′ x 1.5-2′
Flower color: Green
Foliage color: Red
Season of interest: Spring-fall
Bloom time: Summer
Features: Rare & unusual, Proven Winners, low flammability, heat tolerant, evergreens, dry soils, drought-tolerant, container plants, long-blooming
Uses: Border, Container gardening, cut flower, mass planting
How to Grow
Light: Sun (6+ hours sun)
Water: Evenly moist, average
Spacing: 1.5-2′
Fertilizing: We recommend fertilizing in early spring by applying a slow-release fertilizer meant for shrubs & trees.
Winterizing: No special care is needed for those in warmer zones (8-10). If in a cooler zone, we recommend growing in a container and taking it indoors during fall-spring.
Maintenance & pruning: If desired, prune in late winter/early spring. Deadheading is not necessary for continuous blooms.
Plant spacing is based on the ultimate width of the plants. This figure is normally given as a range; for example, 3-5’. If you live in a cold climate and/or want plants to fill in more quickly, plan to space at the shorter end of the range. If you live in a warm climate, are on a limited budget, or are willing to wait longer for plants to touch, use the higher end of the range. Using the larger number is recommended when calculating distance from a building or structure. There’s really no such thing as "maximum spacing": if you don’t want your plants to touch, you can space them as far apart as you’d like. All plant spacing is calculated on center, or in other words, the centers of the plants are spaced one half of their eventual width apart:
Unless you are planting in a straight line, as you might for hedges or edging, space your plants in a staggered or zig-zag pattern for a more interesting and naturalistic look:
Not sure just how many plants will fit in your garden? Our calculator gives you the exact amount of plants required for your space. Simply update the values and the calculator will re-calculate accordingly. Spacing information can be found in the 'How to Grow' tab on each plant's page.
I purchased 7 of these Estrellita Little Star plants. They are came in terrific shape! (See picture) They grew 4 times their size over the summer. (See 2nd, 3rd and 4th pictures) Before we even had a slight freeze they dropped all their leaves and tuned black. (See 5th picture) It is now the nearly the end of April and they are just all brown sticks. The company assures me they will come back but I see no evidence of that. I would not recommend spending your money on these plants if you live in the Northwest. My sister who lives 5 miles from me bought one too and hers in not coming back either. We had a very mild winter and I covered the base with leave mulch.
We are sorry that you're having trouble with your plants! This shrub thrives in well-drained soils, and this is especially important over the winter. We reviewed your photos with our horticulturist expert, and came to a conclusion. Adding mulch for winter adds insulation, but it also locks in moisture and keeps your plant wet, which is a problem for this shrub! Usually, the browning of this shrub indicates overwatering or poor drainage. If your area experienced a wet winter, than this would cause the shrubs to not return the following year. Please contact our customer service team at [email protected] for further assistance!
Great company, healthy plant, fast shipping, great prices. Hope to order from you again next Spring!
love this bush and so do my hummingbirds 😄
They came very healthy
Absolutely will order again!
Awesome
Starting to bloom and it’s beautiful!
It did not withstand our first heavy rainfall…. It was two tiny 5” twigs. Oh well%2C lesson learned
We’re sorry you’re not satisfied with your plants! On each product page and our plant sizes page, we note that all of our plants are young. The size of our plants varies depending on the time of year and whether they were recently trimmed. The most important thing when purchasing plants, online or in garden centers, is a full and robust root system, which we prioritize. Trimming only encourages stronger root development! All orders are covered by our 60-day guarantee, so please reach out to [email protected] to start the claims process if necessary. Thank you for leaving us a review!
is this
plant perennial?
Hello! Yes, the Estrellita™ Scarlet Firecracker Bush (Bouvardia) is a perennial shrub in zones 8 through 10.
Help in looking for a firespike plant
Hi! We don't carry firespike plant on our site, but Estrellita™ Scarlet Firecracker Bush has a similar look in a compact habit perfect for small spaces!