General Description | Messy branching that tends to hang or droop touching the ground. Can be a very dense shrub suited for naturalized plantings if left unpruned. Flowers almost all year, depending on the geographic region. |
ID Characteristic | The flowers resemble firecrackers, appear in terminal clusters and are orange-red. Leaves are whorled and limey green. |
Shape | Informal, usually mounding shape but never a clean pruned type-look. The branching structure of the plant does not permit shaping while pruning. |
Landscape | Excellent for use in hedges, borders and as an accent plant. This fast growing shrub should be pruned to keep it within a manageable size. |
Propagation | Propagated through softwood stem cuttings or in spring by seed. |
Cultivation | Easily grown in well drained soils in full sun to partial shade. Although somewhat drought tolerant if grown as an annual it prefers more regular watering. |
Pests | Powdery mildew. |
Habitat | Open woodlands, thickets and hammocks. |
Bark/Stem Description | Main stem is brown and smooth while the inner bark is light green. Small young twigs are orange to purple. |
Flower/Leaf Bud Description | Small light red-pink ball-like structure borne on stems arranged symmetrically. Oblong oval shaped with several orifices arranged in a circle. |
Leaf Description | Leaves are opposing, grouped in 3-4 and slightly pubescent and glabrous with petioles 1-2 cm long.
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Flower Description | Flowers are long and narrow, resembling firecrackers, approximately 5-8 cm in length, flowers only open slightly at the end. |
Colour Description | Dark green to light green leaf colour with flowers orange to red. |
Texture Description | Smooth, most surfaces on the plant are slightly pubescent giving it a slightly silky texture. |