Estrellita™ Scarlet Firecracker Bush

Plant an Estrellita™ Scarlet Firecracker bush and watch all of the hummingbirds flock to your garden. Hummingbirds, butterflies, and other beneficial insects adore the bright red tubular flowers. This long-blooming, native shrub has the Latin name Bouvardia ternifolia and is found in elevations over 3000 ft, from Southern Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas southward through Mexico and Central America. Estrellita™ Scarlet Firecracker Bush was bred to retain all of the best blooming and color qualities while having improved resistance to most diseases and pests. From early summer to late fall, Estrellita™ will provide a shot of hot color wherever it is planted. 

Grow Estrellita™ Scarlet Firecracker Bush in a container, garden bed, or naturalized portion of your landscape for a dramatic, long-blooming focal point. The hot scarlet color stays bold even during hot and humid weather. This Firecracker Bush is perfectly sized for containers adorning on a patio or deck. Firecracker Bush is fully hardy in USDA growing zones 8-10 and can be grown as a houseplant in cooler growing zones. This plant is deer resistant and regrows quickly after any damage, usually resulting in a bushier plant.  

Estrellita™ Scarlet Firecracker Bush Care

Plant Estrellita™ in well-draining soil, and either in full or partial sun exposure. Poor and rocky soils are not an issue for this low-maintenance shrub, and heavy fertilizing is not required. Avoid soil that is alkaline (>8.0 on the pH scale). Water well at the time of planting and for the first season until Estrellita™ is established. Mulching annually with an organic material will add nutrients to the soil and aid in moisture retention during the summer months.

Prune early in the spring as the new growth emerges. Prune back any leggy branches to keep the overall shape compact and mounded. Flowers are produced on the current season’s wood, so there is no risk of cutting off buds if pruning needs to be done later in the summer. Deadheading periodically will help to encourage continued flowering. 

Estrellita™ Scarlet Firecracker Bush Spacing

Estrellita™ reaches a very trim and tidy 18-24 inches tall and wide when fully grown. Space each shrub 18 inches apart, center on center, when planting among small shrubs and perennials. Containers with a diameter of 14-16 inches are ideal for specimen plants, while larger planters should be used when designing a seasonal color display.