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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

TOXICITY

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.