Hamelia patens ‘Grelmsiz’ Lime Sizzler™
COMMON NAMES
Lime Sizzler Firebush, Lime Sizzler Mexican Firebush, Lime Sizzler Scarletbush, Lime Sizzler Hummingbird Bush
Hamelia (huh-MEE-lee-uh) - named in honor of Henri Louis du Hamel du Monceau (1700-1781) French writer of trees and shrubs
patens (PAY-tenz) - spreading
‘Grelmsiz’ - cultivar name; a naturally occurring branch mutation of an unnamed selection of Hamelia patens; Plant Patent #PP26247
Lime Sizzler – trademark name
GROUP
Dicot
FAMILY
Rubiaceae
ORIGIN
Species - Central and South America; Cultivar – Texas, USA
DESCRIPTION
Lime Sizzler Firebush is an evergreen perennial shrub that averages 4 to 5 feet in height with a comparable spread. It has an upright and spreading to mounding form with dense foliage. It has a moderate to fast growth rate.
Leaves are evergreen, whorled in arrangement with 4 leaves at each node, about 4 inches long and 1 ½ inches wide, simple with entire margins, oblanceolate in shape with an acuminate tip and an acute base, smooth in texture, and variegated yellow and green in color with occasional red tinges. It has reddish stems and pinnate veins.
The flowers are bright orange/red, tubular, 1 ½ to 2 inches long, and are borne in terminal cymes. It blooms primarily from spring to fall.
Fruit are small, round, bluish/black berries.
HARDINESS
It is hardy in USDA Zones 8b to 11, down to about 20 degrees F.
LIGHT
Full sun; it will tolerate part shade with reduced flowering and density
SALT
Moderate Salt Spray Tolerance – it will tolerate some spray, but it is best to have more protection such as a fence or building as an additional barrier behind the first row of plantings or the first dunes.
Poor Soil Salt Water Tolerance – it’s risky for this plant to be put in a site where any salt water flooding may be present and it will not tolerate irrigation with salt water.
SOIL
It will grow on a wide variety of well-drained soils in the pH range of 5.5 to 7.5. It may exhibit some nutrient deficiencies on higher alkaline soils.
WATERING
It has moderate to good drought tolerance once established, but it will tend to look a little better and flower more with irrigation in dry spells.
PROPAGATION
Softwood cuttings; subject to Plant Patent Law, Plant Patent #PP26247
PRUNING
It will take to shearing, but with flowers being terminal cymes, flowering is greatly reduced. Otherwise, prune to control size as needed.
FERTILIZING
It has no special fertilizer needs. Unless a soil test suggests otherwise, a slow-release balanced analysis fertilizer applied per the product label will work.
PESTS
Spider Mites - University of California
Aphids - University of California
Croton Scale - University of Florida
Lobate Lac Scale - University of Florida
Eastern Lubber Grasshopper - University of Florida
Mealybugs - University of California
DISEASES
DEER
Occasional damage, but not a preferred choice
Deer are obviously not a concern in the heart of the metropolis. Rural residents and those living in developed housing projects that are near large natural habitats may want to consider some protection if many deer have been seen in the area.
There are very few totally “deer-proof” plants. There are also, relatively speaking, few plants that are considered a preferred food supply of deer. Most plants fall in the big gap between. One of the biggest variables is the available preferred food supply in a given area. If their preferred food is scarce, they will munch on most anything.
OTHER
Good butterfly and hummingbird plant
USES
Flowering specimen plant, border, screening, mass planting, butterfly garden
A search of California Poison Control, ASPCA, Texas A&M University, Canadian Poisonous Plants Information System, University of Wisconsin, Poisonous Houseplants and Ornamentals - Merck Vet Manual, Purdue University - Guide to Toxic Plants in Forages, Poisonous Plants of the Southeastern United States - Alabama Cooperative Extension, Florida Poison Control, University of California, North Carolina State University, and The Cat Fanciers Association did not show this plant on any of their lists.
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