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Firecracker Plant in the GardenTags plant encyclopedia

Russelia equisetiformis

 

Firecracker Plant

Russelia can be evergreen or deciduous shrubs, with arching, almost leafless, and clusters of tubular red, pink or white flowers. Russellia Equisetiformis is a native of Mexico. It is an evergreen shrub with arching stems of 1m or more, bearing small, scale-like leaves that soon fall, and 3 cm. long, red tubular flowers in pendent clusters from Spring to Autumn

Contributed by @petecross

 
plant Features
  • Firecracker Plant likes full sun

    Full sun

  • Firecracker Plant likes occasional watering

    Occasional watering

  • Firecracker Plant is not frost hardy

    Not Frost hardy

  • Firecracker Plant likes free draining

    Free draining

 
plant information

Common name

Firecracker Plant

Latin name

Russelia equisetiformis

type

Evergreen or deciduous shrub

family

Plantaginaceae

ph

6.5 - 7.5 Acid - Neutral

  • Light

    Firecracker Plant likes full sun

    Full sun

  • Frost

    Firecracker Plant is not frost hardy

    Not Frost hardy

  • Soil

    Firecracker Plant likes free draining

    Free draining

  • Water

    Firecracker Plant likes occasional watering

    Occasional watering

Plant & bloom calendar

  •  
    Best time to plant
  •  
    When the plant will bloom

full grown dimensions

The size of a fully grown Firecracker Plant is 2.50meters x 1.50meters 2.50 M 1.50 M

Russelia equisetiformis

Russelia can be evergreen or deciduous shrubs, with arching, almost leafless, and clusters of tubular red, pink or white flowers. Russellia Equisetiformis is a native of Mexico. It is an evergreen shrub with arching stems of 1m or more, bearing small, scale-like leaves that soon fall, and 3 cm. long, red tubular flowers in pendent clusters from Spring to Autumn


Flowering

From Early Spring TO Late Winter

Clusters of 1.25" long tubular flowers appear on arching stems from late Spring right through until early Autumn - or all year round, in warm climates

 

Planting

From Early Spring TO Late Spring

If planting in containers, use a loam-based compost, such as John Innes No. 2, that has had some grit or sharp sand added. If planting outdoors, plant in a sheltered, frost-free, sunny position, in free-draining soil

 

Propagating by cuttings

From Early Spring TO Early Summer

Take softwood cuttings from new growth early in the day in Spring or early Summer. Cut, neatly, a 4" approx. piece of a non-flowering shoot, pinch out the tip, and cut off the bottom leaves. Dip the bottom of the cutting in hormone rooting powder, and carefully place in a pot of cutting compost with the leaves just above the level of the compost. Water, label, cover with a polythene bag, and place in a warm, bright place, out of direct sunlight. Take the polythene bag off periodically for a while for ventilation (at least twice a week)

 
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Gardeners who are growing this plant