A South Florida Native! Love Butterflies and birds? This plant is for you! Firebush is a perennial or semi-woody shrub that is known scientifically as Hamelia patens. Gardeners love firebush because it produces flowers from late spring until the first frost, and the bright red flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies, including the zebra longwing and gulf fritillary butterflies. Song birds also like to feed on the berries. Because it is a native, this plant requires little maintenance as it is already acclimated to Floridas environment. This plant is also susceptible to few diseases and pests as it is part of our local ecosystem!
