Calusa Firebush
Hamelia patens var. ‘calusa’
Calusa is shorter growing native cultivar of the large native firebush. It is evergreen, flowering, long-lived shrub that can be kept easily at its mature height of approx. 6 ft. It needs average to moist (well-drained soils) but can adapt to dry in little bit of shade. The year-round red-orange flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies and provide food for birds. The foliage on Calusa tends to be a deeper red than the larger traditional native firebush and can turn burgundy in cooler weather. The fruit is edible and has a long history of medicinal and industrial use and can be made into syrup or wine.
Evergreen, flowering, long-lived shrub
6 ft, prunable, dry to moist (well-drained) soils, sun to part shade, fast-growing
Year-round, red-orange flowers attract hummingbirds, butterflies and berries are food source for song birds
Foliage deeper red than traditional firebush, can turn burgundy in cooler weather
Fruit is edible and has a long history of medicinal and industrial use, ripe fruit is black, edible raw and can be made into a syrup or wine
