🌿 Dwarf Firebush (Hamelia patens var. glabra)

Dwarf Firebush is a compact, tropical shrub that offers nonstop color in smaller spaces. With its glossy leaves and bright orange-red tubular flowers, it brings the same pollinator appeal as the native Firebush but in a shorter, tidier package. Perfect for smaller gardens, borders, or containers, this variety is often sold as ‘Compacta’ and is valued for its manageable size and vibrant presence.

🌸 Flowers & Foliage

• Foliage: Smooth, glossy green leaves with a softer texture than native Firebush

• Flowers: Orange to orange-red tubular blooms that attract hummingbirds and butterflies

• Fruit: Small dark berries that appeal to songbirds

🌱 Plant Details

• Type: Evergreen perennial shrub (not a Florida native)

• Mature Size: 3–5 ft. tall × 3–4 ft. wide

• Growth Habit: Compact, bushy, rounded form

• Exposure: Full sun for best flowering; tolerates partial shade

• Soil: Well-drained; adapts to sandy or loamy soils

• Water Needs: Moderate; drought-tolerant once established

• Hardiness: USDA Zones 9–11

• Maintenance: Low; occasional pruning to shape or control size

🌟 Why We Love It

• Compact size — great option for small gardens and containers

• Bright, tropical blooms — attracts hummingbirds, butterflies, and other pollinators

• Year-round color — evergreen in warm climates with nearly constant flowering

• Easy care — adaptable and low-maintenance

🌼 Landscape Uses

• Borders and foundation plantings

• Container gardens for patios and decks

• Pollinator gardens

• Small hedges or mass plantings in warm zones

⚠️ Plant Notes

• Not a true Florida native — choose native Firebush (Hamelia patens) if you want maximum ecological value.

• Less cold-hardy than the native variety; protect from frost.

✅ Level To Leaf Tip: Use Dwarf Firebush where space is limited but you still want bold color and pollinator activity — it’s the “mini version” of the native Firebush without the towering height.