Estrellita Little Star™ Firecracker Bush

Size

The bright blooms of the Estrellita Little Star Firecracker Bush or Russelia equisetiformis add a pop of vivid color to an outdoor space. Flowers grow in clusters on top of tall stems, and the long trumpet-shaped blooms look like fireworks. The flowers are complemented by narrow, sword-shaped foliage. This beauty blooms all summer long for an intense burst of consistent color. This plant is native to the southwestern portion of North America, and as a native plant, it is both drought and heat tolerant and requires very little care once established. The compact growth habit makes this stunner a great addition to beds, borders, or containers, creating a low hedge. Make sure to trim the blooms to use as cut flowers. The flowers attract pollinators like butterflies and hummingbirds. Firecracker Bush grows as a perennial in USDA growing zones 8 through 10. This plant can be grown as an annual in cold climates or brought indoors for the winter. Estrellita Little Star™ Firecracker Bush Care Plenty of sunlight is necessary to help the Firecracker Bush continue to bloom. This plant can live in areas with full or partial sun, but the more light, the better. Mature plants are drought-tolerant, but water whenever the top several inches of the soil dry out to support healthy growth and consistent flower production. Soil should be well-draining and acidic. Prune the plant in late winter or early spring before new growth appears. You can deadhead the plant to maintain a neat appearance, but this bush will continue to bloom without removing spent flowers. Feed your Firecracker Bush every other week spring through fall using a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer. Estrellita Little Star™ Firecracker Bush Spacing A mature Estrellita Little Star Firecracker Bush will be 1.5 to 2 feet tall and wide, so it maintains a relatively compact size. Plant this bush 2 feet apart from other plants if you want to create a uniform border or hedge or space the plants further apart for a more spread-out look. A large container is enough space for one Firecracker Bush.