Courtesy Russelia equisetiformis

We love this little plant and I have wanted to introduce it to you for a long time. I just can never get it to turn out good in photos, until now. Isn’t it gorgeous? We have had this little plant in our IDEA Garden for many years and unless we have a very severe ground freeze in winter, it comes through for us.

Russelia equisetiformis better known as Firecracker plant, looks amazing tumbling down over rocks or ledges and is a superb hanging basket plant. Don’t look for it to come out of dormancy until the weather is very warm . Russelia is a true tropical, and only in the last ten or so years has it been perennial. Look closely at the foliage and you will see the resemblance to horsetail, a very ancient and strange plant that puts up a tuft of greenery that indeed resembles a horse tail ( if you have an imagination ). Once summer is in full swing, Russelia blooms non-stop covering itself with these bright coral flowers. See the trumpet shape of the blooms? Guess what loves such blooms? Right—- hummingbirds. If you take a leisurely stroll through the garden, you may see one of our hummers greedily sipping the nectar.

Russelia needs sun to part shade, excellent drainage, and ample water to perform at its best. I once saw one in Houston that was very old and very huge. It cascaded like a brilliant coral waterfall over a rock wall —- breathtaking indeed.