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Genus Hamelia

Hamelia Hamelia patens Photo/Illustration: Jerry Pavia
ham-EL-ee-ah
Hamelia is a genus of between 16-40 species, depending on who you ask, of tropical plants grown mostly for their showy flowers.

Species, varieties and cultivars for genus Hamelia

Hamelia patens Hamelia patens
(Mexican fire bush, Scarlet bush, Firecracker shrub) (1 user review)
Hardiness Zones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

A tropical tree by design, the Mexican fire bush freezes to the ground in winter in Zones 8-11, but grows up to 5 feet tall by summer's end. The erect, branched, woody stems bear simple copper-toned leaves with small orange flowers bunched along the tips. It loves the heat, and the more you can give it, the more vigorous it will be.