Red Firecracker Plant for oasis gardens

The Dalea species also attracts butterflies. There are several Daleas that do well in the desert, including the Bush Dalea, Dalea pulchra, Trailing Dalea, Dalea greggii, and Black Dalea, Dalea frutescens.  All of these species are heat tolerant, low water use, and cold hardy in the Tucson and Green Valley area. Quail love the bush variety, as it provides good cover.Bush Lantana is another good choice for summer color and attracting butterflies. There are a number of varieties with different flower colors, including two in which several colors are mixed within each flower cluster. Bush Lantanas also vary in size. They can reach 3 feet tall and wide or much more.View the list »
Nothing beats Lantana for summer color and butterfly appearances. The Trailing Lantana species, Lantana montevidensis, grows to about 18 inches tall and 3 feet wide. The purple flowers last all summer. Like all Lantana species in Arizona, it will freeze completely to the ground in the winter and return when temperatures climb.

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Red Firecracker Plant, Russelia x St. Elmo's Fire™ , is very similar to the Coral Fountain, only this hybrid is much larger, reaching 4 feet tall and spreading to 6 to 8 feet. Hardy to 15 degrees, the Red Firecracker is a good choice for lusher landscapes and mini-oasis areas in both Tucson and Green Valley.

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Bright green leaves and deep red flowers are especially attractive to both humans and hummingbirds. The Red Firecracker plant can take full sun provide it receives moderate irrigation.

Use Red Firecracker near water features, or in oasis gardens close to your house. A hard freeze may damage the foliage, but it will recover quickly once temperatures warm up.

Attracting hummingbirds is one way to bring interest to your landscaping, but don’t forget butterfly plants. Try Lantana species and Dalea species.

Reference: Mountain States Wholesale Nursery and Gregg Starr Nursery Plant Info Sheet, 1999.

View the list
  • Nothing beats Lantana for summer color and butterfly appearances. The Trailing Lantana species, Lantana montevidensis, grows to about 18 inches tall and 3 feet wide. The purple flowers last all summer. Like all Lantana species in Arizona, it will freeze completely to the ground in the winter and return when temperatures climb.
  • Bush Lantana is another good choice for summer color and attracting butterflies. There are a number of varieties with different flower colors, including two in which several colors are mixed within each flower cluster. Bush Lantanas also vary in size. They can reach 3 feet tall and wide or much more.
  • The Dalea species also attracts butterflies. There are several Daleas that do well in the desert, including the Bush Dalea, Dalea pulchra, Trailing Dalea, Dalea greggii, and Black Dalea, Dalea frutescens.  All of these species are heat tolerant, low water use, and cold hardy in the Tucson and Green Valley area. Quail love the bush variety, as it provides good cover.
View the list

, Tucson Gardening Examiner

This author has lived in Arizona since 1972 and has been gardening for more than 28 years. A landscape architect and certified arborist, Linda teaches classes for everyone in desert plant care for Green Valley Recreation, and provides services in landscape design. Contact her at Linda...

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