Firebush :: Native or Non-Native?

Firebush (Hamelia Patens) has to be one of the easiest and also most attractive native plants for a Florida-Friendly garden. It is a woody perennial shrub that grows in poor to great soil, it is drought resistant and withstands our Florida heat and humidity. In Central and North Florida, it will die back when freezing temps are sustained. Like so many of our perennials, it is root-hardy and returns quickly when the soil warms up.

Firebush flowers are attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds. Many times I hear the wings of hummers when I'm paying attention to something else but get near a firebush shrub while gardening. I often see them buzzing from flower to flower also. In my garden Zebra Longwing butterflies hover around the shrubs almost continually.  I've seen sulphurs, swallowtails, and skippers nectaring from the tubular flowers too. When the flowers turn to berries in the fall songbirds happily eat them clean. They are fabulous shrubs for wildlife.

All of my shrubs survived this past winter with no damage which made it necessary to trim back the only one I have located in full sun. It has a natural mounding shape and has grown into a 12-14' small tree. The rest of my firebush shrubs grow and flower just as well in partial shade, but don't get as large and their shape is more sprawling.

I was led to believe the firebush plants in my garden were Florida natives. They were sold as native plants in the garden center. However, subsequent research indicates they are more likely a related variety that is actually non-native. How disappointing! I've been misinformed. In my quest to increase native selections in my garden I bought five of them. The variety in my garden is likely Hamelia patens var. glabra which is said to have clusters of yellowish tubular flowers and smooth leaves like mine.

Kanapaha Botanical Gardens Native Firebush Plant (Hamelia patens)

The native Hamelia patens flowers are predominantly red like the ones I saw when I visited Kanapaha Botanical Gardens in Gainesville, FL. After seeing these and others in varying places across Florida, it caused me to question the differences I had observed.

According to the Okeechobee Extension Office the non-native selections cause concern because "as non-native imports become more popular in local landscapes, they will interbreed with our native forms and alter the natural populations of Firebushes.  No one is certain if the resulting hybrids will make it difficult for native Firebush populations to survive, and the wildlife that depends on them may also be affected by a loss of the native genetic makeup of Florida’s Firebush." 

Do you know which one you have in your garden? How do you feel about the mislabeling of plants in our local garden centers?

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January's Bright and Cheerful Flowers

Nothing signals winter in Florida like the buds and blooms on Christmas Cactus. These bright pinkish-red flowers are a cheery sight on any January day! Mine are in containers protected by the screened lanai all year long.

Here are some more of the flowers bringing a winter smile to our faces...

Powder puff shrub (Calliandra haematocephala)

Crown-of-thorns (Euphorbia milii)

False Roselle (Hibiscus acetosella)

Bleeding heart (Clerodendrum thomsoniae)

Celosia~ self seeded in pathway.

King's Mantle (Thunbergia Erecta)

Blue Sage (Eranthemum pulchellum) 

African Blue Basil

Meyer lemon blossoms

African Iris (Dietes iridioides)

Bulbine frutescens 'Yellow Rocket'

Beach Sunflower (Helianthus debilis)

Trumpet tree (Brugmansia)

You may also enjoy perusing:
Powder Puff
False Roselle
Winter's Mild Disposition
Winter's Redemption
Wintery Garden Blooms
Blue Sage

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Meems

White Bridal Veil Flowers

Clerodendrum wallichii or bridal veil is a pretty fall bloomer in my garden.

Cascades of white pendulous flowers grace this simple shrub every autumn. My elderly neighbor gave me a cutting from hers a few years ago. They root easily. It grows in partial sun or bright, filtered light. Mine is nestled under the oak trees.

I forget about it until it blooms each year because it is a low-maintenance Florida-Friendly plant.

Then, Wow! Fragrant and gorgeous. Do you grow bridal veil?

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Meems

Graceful Colors In Flight

Oh, it has been a spring to remember! Wonderfully mild temperatures with a stellar winter melding into this current season when we celebrate all things bright and new.

So it is no surprise that the butterflies stayed with us magically right through winter. We saw caterpillars feeding and chrysalises hanging on in January.

The current population of them is more like what we typically see in summertime. We are quite happy about the presence of these graceful critters at any time in the garden. As you can see from these particular photos Verbena bonariensis is a popular favorite among them.

Dragonflies play an important role in this subtropical environment. They are agile predators of numerous insects. They are equipped with powerful speed to hunt down flies, mosquitoes, and gnats out of the air. They feed on ants and termites as well. I do adore watching them in flight.

In the bright sunlight the buzzing and flitting about of beneficial insects is evident around the flowering plants especially. Syrphid flies, green sweat bees, bumble bees, honey bees, and many tiny flies that I do not know the names of sing their buzzing song as they diligently pollinate the flowers and edibles.

Splendidly colored wings and bodies to cherish in any garden. The underside of the bright orange Gulf Fritillary (below)is a masterful work of art.

Each one of these helpful beauties is a great reason to avoid the use of pesticides and insectides. Nature, when left to balance on its own, has a wonderful way of overriding the small amount of bad with the abundance of good.

The average lifespan of a butterfly (varies with each species) is only about 1 month. Isn't it amazing that the numbers of them in the garden doesn't seem to fluctuate!

They are busy creatures in their short life time. Each species needs their respective host plants to lay their eggs and provide food for the larvae. Once they mature into adults they will be looking for flowering plants to retrieve their nectar. Little do they know how much enjoyment and entertainment they provide to the gardeners who diligently work to attract them. :-)

Which butterflies are you seeing now in your garden?

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The Scent of Jasmine

Spring blooming shrubs and perennials one by one are deciding to visit at least a couple of weeks early without exception this year.

Oh how I wish confederate jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides) would be this early every year. If all those clusters of snowy-white pinwheel flowers would just hang on for longer than two months of the year it would be an even lovelier wonder in the garden!

Its fragrance is divinely fresh and fills the morning air and again in the evening hours. During the day the lemony fresh scent is evident but not as drifting and arresting. It never fails to make heads and noses search for the source of its sweet fragrance when an unsuspecting visitor is in my garden any time of the day.

There is a fence surrounding my edible garden. Long before the space was used for edibles the confederate jasmine was planted on the length and width of it (approximately 60' by 30'). Above is the gate that opens to the back gardens. Yes, there is a gate under there. Want to go through it with me?

A walk around to the circle garden and take a look just beyond the seating area to another location the jasmine has been growing for about 15 years. It is tucked between a single trunked Japanese privet (Ligustrum japonicum) and the edge of the oak tree canopy.

Can you see the archway just behind the chairs? Jasmine was planted on only one side in anticipation of another vine twining up the opposite side and merging with the jasmine. Queen's wreath (Petrea volubilis) merges with jasmine at the top.

From this view further out into the garden the shape of the arbor and the jasmine is more evident. Confederate jasmine can grow in full sun but will also perform well in partial sun. It does take a little longer to mature with less light but as you can see, once it does, it will bloom just as profusely as one in full sun. It is both drought tolerant and cold hardy.

To add even more fragrance to the circle garden (behind the seating area~ in front and to the right of the arbor) the gardenia bush 'Miami Supreme' is filled with buds and has just begun to bloom this week.

These are the plants that can be counted on year after year to bring the garden consistency and durability with evergreen foliage in winter and summer. The favorite white fragrant blooms make them even better choices for a Florida garden.

What's filling up your senses in the garden right now?

Some Have Spots and Some Don't

There are a few perennials in the garden that cause me to wonder how my garden lived so long without them.

Belamcanda chinensis is one of those just-plain-fun plants that was passed along to me by a neighbor initially. Soon after, two other gardening friends increased my supply of these plants with divisions from their gardens. And I am forever grateful to all three friends!

Leopard lily is one of the common names associated with the variety that sports dark spots on its petals. They remind me of freckles. Cute, sun-kissed spots in summertime.

The ones without spots are equally appreciated. They have all the same characteristics except for the deep coral color and the silky smooth petals absent of any freckles.

Candy lily is also a common name for these lily-like flowers that are in actuality a member of the Iris family. I'm not positive about this but I think spotless varieties are considered Candy lily. Does anyone know for certain?

Its foliage reaches a full four feet tall in my garden towering over caladiums and agapanthus foliage. In winter it will shrink back a bit but never fully disappears. In spring it perks up quickly, multiplies, and tolerates dry spells. In summer it blooms continually.

The clusters of flowers seem to dance in thin air above the distinctly fanned out foliage. Mine are planted in partial sun with a second patch in very filtered light.

Opening mid-morning and lasting for only the length of a day, each flower twists its way into this unique formation as it fades. I adore every beautiful phase of this fun, summer perennial.
Perhaps the most common name associated with this great plant is Blackberry Lily. In Autumn, seed pods burst open to reveal glossy black seeds that resemble blackberries.

Surprisingly, you don't find these plants in Florida garden centers. They are propogated by division of rhizomes and by seed. Finding a passalong is your best opportunity for obtaining this summer perennial beauty for your Florida garden.

Colors of May

It is the month of May that urges the return of Agapathus blooms. And so many others.

Lily of the Nile (A. africanus) as it is often referred to is an anticipated bloomer each year.

It is loved for its sturdy foliage in every other season.

Springtime, though, is when it sends up its large pom-pom of individual trumpet-shaped flowers on tall scapes for amazing appeal in the May garden.
And while I'm out with the camera let's have a look around the garden.
Cane begonias

Native oakleaf hydrangea

Variegated Shell Ginger (Alpinia zerumbet)

Closer...

Closer still. (The evidence of why it is called "shell" ginger)

Spathiphyllum or Peace Lily

Black and Blue Salvia

Salvia my neighbor gave me... anyone know the ID?

Crimson Pentas

An Easter lily ~~ ONE. A plant stuck in a pot from two Easter's ago and never expected it to bloom. It's a complete fluke. But enjoying it all the same.

Day lily 'Olive Bailey'

A volunteer sunflower.

Caladium 'Red Flash'