Heat-loving Hummingbird Magnet
It’s fun, it’s unique, and it can handle the heat! Estrellita™ Scarlet firecracker bush (Bouvardia x) is a truly spectacular shrub that is native to the Southwest United States and Mexico. This shrub is heat-loving, deer-resistant, and drought-tolerant once established!
Estrellita™ Scarlet sports bright red flowers, so truly red, in fact, that they look too good to be true. This color show goes on from spring through fall, attracting hummingbirds galore with clusters of vivid tubular blooms. With blooms this vibrant, you may want to bring some of that beauty inside. Well, you’re in luck because this plant makes a great cut flower.
This is a warm-climate shrub suited for USDA zones 8-10. If you live in a cooler climate, don’t worry; you don’t need to miss out on this awesome shrub. Because of its fast growth rate, Estrellita™ Scarlet makes a great patio plant that is bursting with vibrant blooms all summer long.
It can be planted in full to part sun, but for the best bloom display, six hours of direct sunlight is best. At a delightful compact size of 1.5-2’ tall and wide, this little shrub is great for containers, edging, cut-flower gardens, or pollinator gardens.
Deadheading isn’t necessary for rebloom and regular pruning isn’t required as it maintains a handsome habit naturally. If you’d like to shape Estrellita™ Scarlet at all, do so in late winter or early spring. Dead or damaged wood can be removed at any time.
Shrubs that can handle the heat!
When the summer heat kicks in, it can leave some plants looking a bit stressed. So, if you’re looking for plants that can withstand the summer heat, check out Krisitina’s “14 Flowers for the Heat” blog for some inspiration for heat-tolerant shrubs.