Hamelia Patens Var Glabra

It is sometimes sold as dwarf firebush grow it in a well drained site in part shade or sun. Variety glabra from mexico has smaller leaves a more compact habit and more yellow in the flowers.

Florida Native Plant Society Blog

Hamelia patens var glabra

The plant grows around half as tall has smaller and smoother foliage and the flowers are lighter. Patens firefly that has. Glabra is a related plant that is shorter produces lighter colored flowers has smoother leaves and is not native.

Glabra readily escapes from seed around cultivated specimens and may contaminate the gene pool of florida s native firebush through hybridization so it appears to be the plant to watch especially with its increasing popularity as a landscape plant in florida. It is recommended for zone 9 and south. Glabra posted on july 10 2013 by carolann.

If leaves are dull and hairy and flowers reddish orange or mostly red it is the true native. The homeowner has a 5 tall hedge of ixora on the property and in my fantasy i am ripping out the ixora and installing more firebush. Nurseries will sometimes sell these same plants under the name hamelia patens dwarf or compacta.

Glabra is a related plant that is shorter produces lighter colored flowers has smoother leaves and is not native. Firebush hamelia patens var. Hamelia is a genus of flowering plants in the coffee family rubiaceae the name honors french botanist henri louis duhamel du monceau 1700 1782.

For those desiring the same attribute of firebush but want a smaller variety can grow a dwarf cultivar generally listed as dwarf or compacta hamelia patens var. I am easily amused as i watch the bees visit the near by firebush and soon i begin to fantasize. Dwarf firebush hamelia patens var.

Florida Native Plant Society Blog