Fall Deals:
15% OFF Strawberry Trees - Barbados Cherries - Papayas
15% Off Vitex & Sweet Almond
Roselle & Egyptian Spinach - Buy One Get One Free
🚚 Shipping Update:
We’re now shipping nationwide across the continental U.S. again! 🌱
📦 Please note: Shipping to California remains paused due to agricultural regulations.
🔥 Firebush (Hamelia patens) – A Hummingbird Magnet with Mayan Roots 🌺
Bring the magic of the tropics into your garden with the fiery blossoms of Firebush (Hamelia patens). Loved by hummingbirds and butterflies, and steeped in Mayan tradition, this vibrant shrub is both ornamental and medicinal — a must-have for Central Florida landscapes and beyond.
🌿 Quick Facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Botanical Name | Hamelia patens |
| Plant Type | Perennial shrub |
| Size at Sale | Ships in a 1-gallon container |
| Mature Height & Width | 12–15 ft tall × 8–12 ft wide (can be pruned smaller) |
| USDA Zones | 8–11 |
| Sun Requirements | Full sun to partial shade |
| Cold Hardiness | Root hardy to 15–20°F (dies back but re-sprouts in spring) |
| Growth Habit | Fast-growing, upright, bushy |
| Spacing Requirements | 6–10 ft apart for hedges/screens |
🌸 Flowers, Fruit & Wildlife Appeal
- Flowers: Long clusters of fiery red-orange tubular blooms nearly year-round in warm climates.
- Wildlife: A favorite nectar source for hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees.
- Fruit: Small, black berries eaten by birds and historically used in folk remedies.
🌱 Top Benefits & Uses
- Medicinal: Mayans and other Indigenous peoples used Firebush for fevers, skin ailments, bites, stings, and digestive complaints. Crushed leaves can soothe insect bites naturally.
- Ornamental: Year-round color with its vibrant blooms and glossy green leaves. Makes a dramatic hedge, screen, or specimen plant.
- Wildlife Support: A true pollinator powerhouse — hummingbirds, butterflies, and songbirds flock to its flowers and berries.
- Cultural Value: Known as “Mayan medicine chest,” Firebush has been used for centuries across Central & South America.
- Practical Uses: Fast-growing and drought tolerant, perfect for low-maintenance landscapes.
🌼 Ornamental & Container Gardening Notes
- Landscape Appeal: Excellent as a privacy hedge, natural screen, or stand-alone focal point.
- Containers: Can be grown in large pots — prune to maintain size. Works beautifully on patios and decks as a pollinator plant.
- Indoor Growing: Possible in bright sunrooms or greenhouses; requires high light and warmth.
🌿 Best Practices for Planting & Care
Where to Plant
- Full sun is best for maximum blooms, though it tolerates partial shade.
- Prefers sandy, well-draining soils.
Planting Instructions
- Dig a hole no deeper than the container, slightly wider.
- Backfill with native soil and compost, packing snugly — don’t bury the crown.
- Use GreenDreams’ “High & Tight” planting method for success (see YouTube).
Watering
- Water daily for the first week, then reduce to weekly during establishment.
- Once established, Firebush is drought tolerant but benefits from deep watering during dry spells.
Mulching
- Apply hardwood mulch around the root zone (keep away from trunk).
Seasonal Care
- In Central/North Florida, Firebush may die back in freezes but will re-sprout from the roots in spring.
- Prune in early spring to encourage fresh growth and more blooms.
⚠️ Cautions
- Not toxic to humans or pets.
- Berries are edible but not widely consumed; best left for wildlife.
- May grow large if not pruned — not ideal for very tight spaces.
🌟 Is This Plant Right for You?
✅ Ideal For:
- Gardeners who want a low-maintenance, pollinator-friendly shrub
- Florida & Southeastern US landscapes
- Wildlife gardens and hummingbird havens
❌ Not Ideal For:
- Small-space gardeners with limited room
- Northern growers without protection from frost
❓ Firebush FAQ
Q: Does Firebush attract hummingbirds?
A: Yes! Firebush is one of the top nectar plants for hummingbirds in Florida.
Q: Is Firebush cold-hardy?
A: It is root-hardy to about 15–20°F. It may die back in frost but usually re-sprouts in spring.
Q: Can I grow Firebush in a container?
A: Yes — use a large pot (at least 10–15 gallons). Prune to manage its size and give it full sun.
Q: How fast does Firebush grow?
A: Very fast! Expect several feet of growth in just one season.
Q: Is Firebush invasive?
A: No. It is a Florida native plant and beneficial to the ecosystem.
📦 Shipping & Handling Notes
- Ships in a 1-gallon container.
- Best for shipping within Florida, the Southeast, and Texas.
- We can ship nationwide, but plants shipped to the northern and western US may arrive stressed and require recovery time.
- Buyer discretion is advised during extreme heat or cold; we are not responsible for weather-related damage during transit.
- All orders ship every Monday via UPS Ground from Florida.
📍 Local Pickup
Available at:
GreenDreams Nursery & Farm
18709 US Hwy. 41, Spring Hill, FL 34610
Open Tues–Fri 9AM–5PM | Sat 8AM–3PM
🌿 Come see what’s fresh in the nursery!
🛒 Order Today!
Turn your landscape into a hummingbird paradise — order your 1-gallon Firebush now!
IMPORTANT INFORMATION BEFORE PURCHASING LIVE PLANTS:
*Please be advised that our online store selections are NOT available for pickup at our retail location in Spring Hill, Florida.
Inventory for our online store is located at a separate facility and are priced and handled exclusively for packaging & shipping.
Click here to learn more about our Spring Hill, FL retail nursery location, including countless more nursery selections ready for pickup - larger sizes and wider variety of plants not suitable for nationwide delivery.
1. Shipping Stress: Transportation can be stressful for plants, particularly when they spend several days in a confined, dark environment. It’s common for plants to experience leaf drop during this period. Rest assured, most plants typically recover quickly and thrive with minimal aftercare. However, some may need extra attention, love, and care, requiring appropriate watering and exposure to gentle light post-unboxing.
2. Potential Physical Damage: Despite our dedicated efforts to ensure that your plants are securely packaged, they may incur damage during shipping and handling by UPS. Rest assured, our shipping team is committed to packing your selections with utmost care and precision to minimize any potential harm.
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For significant box damage, please reach out to UPS within 30 days to initiate a claim.
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For minor damages, such as a broken branch or stem, we advise allowing the plant time to recover and regenerate with proper care and attention.
3. Long-Distance Shipping Considerations: Orders shipped over long distances, particularly to the western US, may take 3 - 5 business days to arrive due to various factors, including agricultural inspections in Arizona, California, and Texas. Such extended transit times can be particularly challenging for tender, young plants, affecting their quality due to prolonged confinement.
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We take additional measures during packaging to facilitate a swift recovery of the plants upon unboxing.
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Initial extra care and attention might be required over the first few weeks post-transport.
For further guidance, kindly review our detailed policies on returns and refunds, as well as our comprehensive plant care guide. We appreciate your understanding and patience in nurturing your new plants.
🌿 Important Shipping Information
Please take a moment to review our shipping protocols designed to ensure your plants arrive in optimal condition.
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Countdown Clock: At the top of our online store, you'll notice a countdown clock. This tool helps communicate our weekly shipping schedule, providing clarity on when you can expect your orders to be dispatched.
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Shipping Schedule: Our nursery, located in the heart of Central Florida, ships orders once weekly, every Monday. This is a strategic decision to prevent packages from being stationary over the weekends, ensuring that our plants travel as swiftly as possible across the country, even reaching as far as California.
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Shipping Method: At present, we offer ground shipping rates to meet various needs while maintaining the well-being of our plants during transit.
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Our Dedicated Team: We are a boutique nursery with a passionate team. Our members wear many hats, contributing to shipping, nursery operations, and engaging in valuable local projects. As we blossom and expand, rest assured that enhancing and streamlining our processes remains a priority to serve you better
Terms and Conditions for Purchasing Live Plants
1. Understanding of Shipping Stress
By purchasing live plants from our store, the customer acknowledges that transportation can be stressful for plants. It is common for plants to undergo leaf drop or experience other temporary issues during shipping. However, it is understood that most plants recover quickly with adequate care and attention post-shipping.
2. Awareness of Potential Physical Damage
Customers acknowledge that despite our best efforts in packaging, there may be occurrences of damage during shipping and handling. For substantial damages to the package, customers agree to contact UPS within 30 days to initiate a claim.
3. Acknowledgement of Long-Distance Shipping Considerations
Customers recognize that shipments, especially those directed to the western US, may be subjected to longer shipping durations of 3-5 business days. Customers agree to provide necessary care to the plants, recognizing that the quality of the plants may be affected due to prolonged shipping times.
4. Agreement with Shipping Information and Schedule
Customers, by making a purchase, have reviewed and agreed upon our shipping protocols and schedules. They acknowledge the presence of a countdown clock on the website and our once-weekly shipping policy every Monday, recognizing the rationale behind avoiding weekend layovers for the plants.
5.Extreme Weather Conditions
Customers acknowledge that our store is not responsible for damage or loss of live plants due to extreme weather conditions during transit and delivery. This includes exposure to cold or freezing temperatures during the winter months and extreme heat during the summer. We provide tracking information when orders are processed every Monday to ensure customers are aware of the delivery schedule. It is the customer's responsibility to prevent packages from being left outside in conditions that may cause damage. Our store does not accept responsibility for any adverse effects caused by weather conditions beyond our control.
6. No Refund Policy
Customers agree that refunds are only processed under exceptional circumstances. Our store will not be held responsible for poor plant choices relative to location suitability, extreme conditions during and/or post-shipment, and improper post-purchase plant care.
7. Responsibility of Care
Upon purchase, customers agree to assume full responsibility for the ongoing care of the plants. This includes, but is not limited to, appropriate watering, exposure to suitable light, and adherence to specific care instructions pertinent to each plant type.
8. Consent
By proceeding with this purchase, customers consent to all the terms and conditions stated above, confirming understanding and agreement to all stipulations mentioned.
These terms and conditions aim to ensure clarity, mutual understanding, and agreement between the seller and the customer to facilitate a smooth transaction and foster a positive customer experience.
