Coral plant, Russelia equisetiformis, is a rush-like shrub with slender red flowers resembling firecrackers. It blooms throughout most of the winter providing a cheerful green with red color combination, while the butterflies attracted to it add other colors. Although it originated in Mexico, it is adapted to Florida winters as and summers and is considered a Florida native. Planted in locations to allow the long slender branches to spill over shows off the graceful structure of the plant.
Common names are confusing. The plants in the photos have small, red, tube-shaped flowers that resemble firecrackers but the plants are very different.
I received two small cigar plants from Meems, @ Hoe and Shovel, in early June. I tucked them into the soil before they had fully developed roots but I was leaving Florida for a few weeks, so wanted them in the ground before I left. To my delight they have taken root and are already producing flowers.
The firecracker plants were moved from one place in the yard to another earlier this spring, but continue to recover from the transplant. They are on a rise in the backyard with space for their dropping branches to cascade to a lower level. The cigar plants are slightly higher on the rise. They are clustered together to fill in the space above the firecracker plants.
I placed the plants close together based on a recommendation on Floridata that the slender red flowers of the Cuphea and Russelia plants would compliment each other. I like the placement and I’m happy with the cheerful colors of each. Both are good plants for butterflies and hummingbirds, so they are excellent additions to the butterfly garden.
I fell in love with the firecracker plants (Russelia equisetiformis) as soon as I saw them. The long graceful branches and delicate red flowers were a must-have. I bought two and planted them in the shade in a large container in the backyard. My hope was that as the branches grew, that they would drape over the sides of the container.
At first they seemed to be OK, but then I watched them decline. I decided the problem was that the soil was not fertile enough to support them. It was mainly sand without enough organic matter. I fertilized each plant and waited. It didn’t seem to be enough and they continue to turn from green to brown. Two weeks ago, I dug them up, cut off the dried brown branches, and replanted them in nutrient rich potting soil.
The remaining branches started to turn bright green again within a day. Two days ago I put them back in the ground in a location where the soil is well drained but within drip range of the new microirrigation system. I took time to amend the soil this time with compost for nutrients and peat moss to hold the moisture.
They seem to be doing well and are again blooming. They are still in an area where the branches will drape to cover a large area. Hopefully I have prepared the soil for the plants so they will continue to grow.
