Calusa Firebush
Hamelia patens var. ‘calusa’
Calusa is shorter growing native cultivar of the large native firebush. It is evergreen, flowering, long-lived shrub that can be kept easily at its mature height of approx. 6 ft. It needs average to moist (well-drained soils) but can adapt to dry in little bit of shade. The year-round red-orange flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies and provide food for birds. The foliage on Calusa tends to be a deeper red than the larger traditional native firebush and can turn burgundy in cooler weather. The fruit is edible and has a long history of medicinal and industrial use and can be made into syrup or wine.
Hamelia patens var. ‘calusa’
Calusa is shorter growing native cultivar of the large native firebush. It is evergreen, flowering, long-lived shrub that can be kept easily at its mature height of approx. 6 ft. It needs average to moist (well-drained soils) but can adapt to dry in little bit of shade. The year-round red-orange flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies and provide food for birds. The foliage on Calusa tends to be a deeper red than the larger traditional native firebush and can turn burgundy in cooler weather. The fruit is edible and has a long history of medicinal and industrial use and can be made into syrup or wine.
Hamelia patens var. ‘calusa’
Calusa is shorter growing native cultivar of the large native firebush. It is evergreen, flowering, long-lived shrub that can be kept easily at its mature height of approx. 6 ft. It needs average to moist (well-drained soils) but can adapt to dry in little bit of shade. The year-round red-orange flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies and provide food for birds. The foliage on Calusa tends to be a deeper red than the larger traditional native firebush and can turn burgundy in cooler weather. The fruit is edible and has a long history of medicinal and industrial use and can be made into syrup or wine.
Evergreen, flowering, long-lived shrub
6 ft, prunable, dry to moist (well-drained) soils, sun to part shade, fast-growing
Year-round, red-orange flowers attract hummingbirds, butterflies and berries are food source for song birds
Foliage deeper red than traditional firebush, can turn burgundy in cooler weather
Fruit is edible and has a long history of medicinal and industrial use, ripe fruit is black, edible raw and can be made into a syrup or wine
