Plant · GBIF taxon 5414601
Firecracker Plant
Russelia equisetiformisAlso known as Fountainbush, Coral Plant, Coral Fountain, Coralblow
Firecracker plants produce cascading arches of slender, rush-like green stems that spill downward in fountain-like sprays. Bright red tubular flowers blossom continuously along these drooping branches, creating vivid sprays of nectar that draw hummingbirds and butterflies throughout warm seasons. Native to Mexico and Guatemala, this weeping perennial shrub thrives in hot, sunny environments and rocky slopes.
FloweringHummingbird MagnetDrought Tolerant
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Photosynthetic
Predators
- Aphids
- Mealybugs
- Caterpillars
ThreatsSevere frost, prolonged freezing temperatures
HabitatsRocky slopes, tropical scrub, gardens, coastal cliffs
Life span10–20 years
Classification
- OrderLamiales
- FamilyPlantaginaceae
- GenusRusselia
- SpeciesRusselia equisetiformis
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Observation: Look for hummingbirds hovering around the weeping scarlet blooms on sunny mornings.
- Gardening: Plant in well-draining soil in full sun to encourage lush, continuous flowering.
- Identification: Notice the thin foliage reduced to scale-like bracts along green stems.
Ecological Companion (c) Rejoice Gassah, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Rejoice Gassah · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Trevor Van Loon · cc-by
Family Member (c) Gordon C. Snelling, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Family Member Craig Franklin / CC BY-SA 3.0 au · cc-by-sa
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