Light. Grows and flowers best in full sun. In shade it flowers less and gets leggy.
Water. Water regularly until it is established. After that it takes heat and drought well, though plants in very dry soil can die in long droughts.
Soil and feeding. It grows in any well-drained soil, including South Florida's alkaline sand and limestone.
Size. Grows to about 8 ft. Left unpruned in South Florida it can reach 12–15 ft and grow as wide as tall.
Pruning. Trim to keep it at the height you want, but hard or frequent pruning cuts down on flowers.
Problems to watch. It has no serious pests. Scale or mites occasionally need control; spray with Insecticidal Soap.
Good to know. A Florida native and one of the best bird and butterfly shrubs for South Florida. Hummingbirds and butterflies such as zebra longwings and gulf fritillaries visit the flowers, and songbirds eat the berries. A freeze can kill it to the ground.
Sources: UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: Firebush · UF/IFAS EDIS FPS-237: Hamelia patens, Firebush · Natives for Your Neighborhood (Institute for Regional Conservation): Hamelia patens
