Firebush

Hamelia patens Jacq.

Family: Rubiaceae

shrub

Pet & Human Safety

People: Not researchedPets: Not on the ASPCA lists as we read them

Hazardous parts

Not yet checked.

Preparation

Not applicable. Not a food plant

Hazard type

The NC State page lists no poison information. That is not a statement that the plant is safe.

Hazard route

Not yet checked.

How complete this information is

We have not researched the safety of this plant yet.

Toxic to pets

No ASPCA entry found.

No ASPCA page found for Hamelia patens or the common name "firebush": (two separate ASPCA site searches): searching "firebush" returns only unrelated fuzzy matches (Burning Bush, Fire Weed: different plants entirely, not Hamelia patens under an alternate name); searching "Hamelia" directly returns no matching plant page either. This is a genuine ASPCA gap, not a naming-trap miss.

PlotAndPetal cannot tell you whether a plant you found can be eaten. Only someone who can see the plant can identify it.

Poison control

If someone has collapsed, cannot be woken, is having a seizure or has trouble breathing, call 911 now. For any other possible poisoning, call Poison Help: 1-800-222-1222.

Emergency number source: U.S. federal law (47 U.S.C. § 251(e)(3)), read 2026-10-07.

Naturalist Lore

Historical Background & Breeding Lore

The history of this plant and its name, and how it was bred, where we have them.

Get the app: coming soon

Care

Hardiness zones: Genuine source conflict: UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions states USDA Zones 8-11; UF/IFAS EDIS FP-237 states 9-11: a real, not just rounding, disagreement between the two UF sources. A third source, NC State Extension, gives USDA Zones 9a-10b: narrower than either UF source. Florida's own UF/IFAS figures lead here since this is a Florida-first app.
Mature size: Genuine source conflict: UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions says it can reach 15 ft in South Florida, easily kept to 5-8 ft; UF/IFAS EDIS FP-237 gives 6-12 ft tall x 5-8 ft wide. Both shown, not identical figures. A third source, NC State Extension, lists it as typically 1-3 ft tall x 1-2 ft wide in cultivation (10-15 ft in native habitat): notably smaller than either UF figure. Florida's own UF/IFAS figures lead here; all three are shown rather than picking one silently. This app does not give edibility guidance for an ornamental.

Soil & Drainage

Pruning & Flush Rhythm

Feeding Schedule

How to prepare the soil, when and what to feed, and how and when to prune where that applies.

Get the app: coming soon