Anisacanthus Species, Flame Acanthus, Hummingbird Bush, Mexican Flame, Texas Firecracker Plant

I bought 2 Anisacanthus at a local nursery last summer. They bloomed from late August into fall. The hummingbirds loved them. One was p...Read Morelanted in clay soil, full sun, with irrigation. It has lots of new growth. The second one, in a large pot on the deck in afternoon sun, also with irrigation in good potting soil. It is showing no signs of life. I saved lots of seeds though and planted them in the house in starter pots a couple of months ago. They germinated well, and are about 3 inches tall. Does anyone know how long or how large before they will likely bloom in a sunny, irrigated garden spot? I also read they are deer resistant. Does anyone have experience with deer?

I've grown this plant in Corpus Christi, Texas and it was a great bloomer. I now grow it in Ojai, California, inland from Ventura, about ...Read More60 miles north of LA. Here it blooms only in late July to early August, then it's finished for the year. This time of the year we have five species of hummingbird in the garden so usually an Allen's or rufous will stake it out and defend it. Again, though, I'm disappointed in the length of blooming.

My plants are 18" tall and in their second year on the north side of the fence. They get all morning fullsun till about noon. Great drain...Read Moreage and have a soaker hose behind them so they
get moisture from that. My problem has been that I've only seen 1 weeks worth of blooms and that was last year! They havent bloomed yet as of August 17, 2008. I don't feed them but have organic mulch around them. They look quite healthy, but I'm afraid they arent growing much.I'm in way North Texas.

I have been able to grow this southwestern plant as a perennial in Wilmington, Delaware (Zone 7a). I planted it along my south-facing fo...Read Moreundation, in full sun and in soil with good drainage. To minimize winter damage, I do not cut it back at all in the fall or winter. I wait for new growth to appear in spring before I trim any dead branches off. So far, it dies back to within a foot of the groung each winter but re-grows to about 4 feet tall each summer.