Russelia Species, Coralblow, Coral Plant, Firecracker Plant, Fountainbush, Madeira Plant

Russeliaequisetiformis

Genus
Russelia (russ-EL-ee-uh)
Species
equisetiformis (eck-kwiss-ee-tih-FOR-mis)
Synonym
Russelia juncea
Sun Exposure
Sun to Partial Shade
Foliage
Evergreen
Height
24-36 in. (60-90 cm)
36-48 in. (90-120 cm)
4-6 ft. (1.2-1.8 m)
Spacing
24-36 in. (60-90 cm)
36-48 in. (90-120 cm)
Hardiness
USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F)
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 °C (30 °F)
USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 °C (35 °F)
USDA Zone 11: above 4.5 °C (40 °F)
Bloom Color
Red
Pale Yellow
Bloom Time
Late Spring/Early Summer
Mid Summer
Late Summer/Early Fall
Other Details
Category
Perennials
Tropicals and Tender Perennials
Water Requirements
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Foliage Color
Where to Grow
Bloom Characteristics
This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds
Bloom Size
Other details
Soil pH requirements
Patent Information
Non-patented
Propagation Methods
From herbaceous stem cuttings
Self-sows freely; deadhead if you do not want volunteer seedlings next season
Seed Collecting
Bag seedheads to capture ripening seed
Regional

This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:

Orange Beach, Alabama

Maricopa, Arizona(2 reports)

Phoenix, Arizona(2 reports)

Scottsdale, Arizona(2 reports)

Carlsbad, California

Chula Vista, California

Clovis, California

Merced, California

Palm Springs, California

Sacramento, California

San Diego, California

Santa Barbara, California

Visalia, California

Altamonte Springs, Florida

Bartow, Florida

Belleview, Florida

Big Pine Key, Florida

Boca Raton, Florida

Brooksville, Florida

Cape Coral, Florida(2 reports)

Crestview, Florida

Daytona Beach, Florida

Fernandina Beach, Florida

Fort Lauderdale, Florida(3 reports)

Green Cove Springs, Florida

Hobe Sound, Florida

Jacksonville, Florida

Keystone Heights, Florida

Lady Lake, Florida

Lake Panasoffkee, Florida

Lakeland, Florida

Lecanto, Florida

Longwood, Florida

Middleburg, Florida

Naples, Florida

New Port Richey, Florida

Ocala, Florida

Oldsmar, Florida

Orange Park, Florida

Orlando, Florida

Palm Coast, Florida(2 reports)

Palm Harbor, Florida(2 reports)

Pensacola, Florida(3 reports)

Perry, Florida

Pomona Park, Florida

Pompano Beach, Florida

Port Saint Lucie, Florida

Rockledge, Florida

Rotonda West, Florida

Safety Harbor, Florida

Sarasota, Florida

Satellite Beach, Florida

Sebastian, Florida

Sebring, Florida

Seffner, Florida

Seminole, Florida

Spring Hill, Florida

Stuart, Florida

Tallahassee, Florida

Tampa, Florida(2 reports)

Titusville, Florida

Trenton, Florida

Valrico, Florida

Wauchula, Florida

Wellborn, Florida

West Palm Beach, Florida

Winter Springs, Florida

Yulee, Florida

Zephyrhills, Florida

Calhoun, Georgia

Columbus, Georgia

Folkston, Georgia

KAILUA KONA, Hawaii

Olathe, Kansas

Barbourville, Kentucky

Hebron, Kentucky

Chalmette, Louisiana

Kenner, Louisiana

Pineville, Louisiana

Prairieville, Louisiana

Schriever, Louisiana

Thibodaux, Louisiana

Zachary, Louisiana

Glen Burnie, Maryland

Plantersville, Mississippi

Raymond, Mississippi

ST JOHN, Mississippi

Lincoln, Nebraska

Las Vegas, Nevada

North Tonawanda, New York

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Bayamon, Puerto Rico

Caguas, Puerto Rico

Vieques, Puerto Rico

Grenoble, Rhône-Alpes

Beaufort, South Carolina

Bluffton, South Carolina

Blythewood, South Carolina

Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

Austin, Texas(5 reports)

Baytown, Texas

Brazoria, Texas

Brownsville, Texas

Bulverde, Texas

Canyon Lake, Texas

College Station, Texas

Conroe, Texas

Corpus Christi, Texas

Denison, Texas

Dripping Springs, Texas

Elsa, Texas

Fort Worth, Texas

Groves, Texas

Houston, Texas(5 reports)

Humble, Texas(2 reports)

Katy, Texas

Mcallen, Texas

Missouri City, Texas

Quinlan, Texas

Richmond, Texas

Rockport, Texas

Round Rock, Texas

San Angelo, Texas

San Antonio, Texas(2 reports)

San Benito, Texas

Snook, Texas

Spring, Texas(2 reports)

Spring Branch, Texas

Temple, Texas

Victoria, Texas

Waco, Texas

Weslaco, Texas

St John, Virgin Islands

show all

Featured Videos

Gardener's Notes:

27
positives
9
neutrals
2
negatives
Sort By:
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J
Quinlan, TX | July 2018 | negative

I absolutely love the looks of this plant, but like the one other negative comment, I have the same problem. I bought one and had it tur...Read More

L
Daytona Beach, FL (Zone 9b) | July 2017 | positive

This is a must-have plant for me. Atlantic coastal Florida, Zone 9b. It grows in damp soil, pure sand, hard pan marl, compost. And in ful...Read More

A
New Jersey 6b, NJ | November 2016 | positive

This plant is a big hit with hummingbirds. It appreciates perhaps requires lots of water. I pruned it hard and now have it indoors by a w...Read More

M
Dripping Springs, TX | June 2016 | neutral

I have grown it but I did not bring it in during the winter and it died in a 3 day 16F cold snap and did not come back. I am tempted to ...Read More

N
Orlando, FL | March 2015 | neutral

Just purchased 11 small bushes for back fence. Some parts get full sun all day and some partial shade. I am in Orlando . Saw this at a ne...Read More

H
H
Corpus Christi, TX (Zone 9a) | June 2014 | neutral

Seems beautiful & easy, but...

Has anyone else gotten a rash from contacting this plant?

I was watering sev...Read More

R
Denison, TX (Zone 7a) | April 2013 | positive

I purchased this little beauty on a whim from a local nursery. I was looking for something with its qualities: bright blooms, new interes...Read More

W
Upper Swan, FM (Zone 10a) | June 2012 | positive

It thrives here, with no special attention except for keeping it watered. However, we rarely get frosts, as we live in a Mediterranean cl...Read More

T
Conroe, TX | June 2012 | positive

Hi Group! I purchased two of these in March 2012/ I added a Super Bloom food to them in the original plastic pots and had wonderful bloom...Read More

S
Philadelphia, PA | June 2012 | positive

This is a wonderful hummingbird plant. It is not winter-hardy in Zone 6B, so I buy 6 new ones each year from Almost Eden and plant them i...Read More

D
| July 2011 | positive

Once you enter my clinic it is there to welcome everybody with its never vanishing Red bloom--here in India it blooms through out the yea...Read More

P
Lutz, FL | April 2011 | negative

I need help with this plant. It seems I am the only one who can't grow it with ease.
Within a week of purchasing in a gallon pot, ...Read More

J
J
North Richland Hills, TX (Zone 7b) | February 2011 | positive

This is a beautiful plant. I noted that it is listed as growing in Fort Worth, TX. I live in the area and have tried to winter them sever...Read More

A
San Diego, CA | August 2010 | positive

This plant was mislabled when I bought it so, I had no idea what to expect. I live in S.California and have it planted on the south east ...Read More

P
Olathe, KS | June 2010 | positive

This "firecracker" plant is dynamite! I live in zone 5, Kansas, so must overwinter it in my house. Outside in summer, in as much sun as...Read More

I
| October 2009 | positive

This plant also grows beautifully in the south of Portugal. Mine had a first year of looking rather weedy and stringy, a tough winter wi...Read More

P
P
North Tonawanda, NY (Zone 6a) | September 2009 | positive

I ordered this plant in July of this year from Sweet Nectar Nursery. Since it was so late in the season, Susan didn't have much left and...Read More

N
Bell, CA | August 2009 | positive

hello every body! I am a new member here at DG and so far I love it , anyway regarding this plant i can say that I just bought a pair of...Read More

S
Lincoln, NE (Zone 5b) | August 2009 | positive

This is a wonderful plant for a hanging basket! Since we're in zone 5, and it's a tropical plant, I'm going to try and attempt to take cu...Read More

H
Sebastian, FL (Zone 9b) | June 2009 | positive

I've had this plant growing in the ground next to my fish pond for several years....the pond leaks a bit so the ground where it's at stay...Read More

B
Palm Springs, CA | March 2009 | positive

This is one of my favorite FAVORITE plants.
I grow this in tall pots here in Palm Springs,Ca. (zone 9b).
It never stops gro...Read More

C
Scottsdale, AZ | May 2008 | positive

I have this plant growing in a pot in Arizona. How do you prune the Coral Plant to get it more bushy? More compact.

A
Marco Island, FL | May 2007 | neutral

Plantings in the Marco Island (FL) area flower beautifully year-round. But gefore I plant, can anyone advise how to thin/prune this fast grower?

M
Houston, TX (Zone 10a) | April 2007 | positive

I saw some of these fellas looking like a giant green and red waterfall by an old nursery near my new house. I thought wow i'd love some ...Read More

W
Oak Hill, OH (Zone 6a) | June 2006 | positive

Growing well here in central Louisiana - in shady area. Dies back some if cold snap (zone 8b) but has always come back.

D
Conway, SC (Zone 8b) | May 2006 | positive

Although this species is said to grow in Zone 9 or higher, I have had two plants in the ground since 2003 here in Zone 8 (coastal South ...Read More

V
(Zone 8a) | May 2006 | positive

I love this plant. I grow it inground and in pots. Full sun. I remember when I was little seeing hummingbirds visit this plant, but as...Read More

D
west Houston, TX (Zone 9a) | April 2006 | positive

This is the most indestructable plant I have ever grown. The hummingbirds love it and it blooms almost 24/7/365 for me!

A
Austin, TX (Zone 8b) | December 2005 | positive

I grew it in the ground and then put it in a pot so that it would cascade over the sides of the pot. The hummingbirds love it. I brought ...Read More

L
Schriever, LA (Zone 9a) | November 2003 | positive

I have this plant growing in a container on my patio. It has an arching form and blooms continuously from spring until frost. My hummin...Read More

L
Daytona Beach, FL | November 2003 | positive

I am on the East Coast of Central Florida - Daytona Beach. These plants do die back in the winter if we have a freeze here, but they come...Read More

S
| July 2003 | neutral

I live in Zone 7, and I am using these for container plants on my full sun deck. They love it.

V
V
Plantersville, MS | June 2003 | neutral

I got this plant last year. It is a beautiful and unusual plant. My plant will grow-out and then die off. It has not bloomed since I bo...Read More

I
Keizer, OR (Zone 8b) | June 2003 | neutral

I like this plant, but it is somewhat invasive here in southwest Florida (U.S.)

It's often used as an understory plant for...Read More

S
Sacramento, CA (Zone 9a) | June 2003 | positive

I have this plant growing outdoors in Sacramento, California (U.S.) for about three years now. It has not spread through seeds - just ba...Read More

K
Leander, TX (Zone 8a) | May 2003 | neutral

I love this plant and don't want it to die, although I live in zone 5a.

R
Interlachen, FL | May 2003 | neutral

I have never owned this plant; however, I have had neighbors who did. (I thought it was a weed!)

It can live in partial su...Read More

D
| November 2002 | positive

I have propagated this plant with stem cuttings. The ones that did the best were the ones that actually fell over on their side and layer...Read More

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