Estrellita Little Star Firecracker Bush

Bouvardia x ‘WINBUESLST’ PPAF

Other Common Names: Trumpetellia, Hummingbird Flower

Plant Details

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 8a-11 Find Your Zone

Plant Type: Perennial

Height at Maturity: 24″

Width at Maturity: 24″
Spacing: 18″ for mass planting; 36″ for space between plants

Growth Habit / Form: Compact Rounded Mound

Growth Rate: Fast

Flower Color: Red, Orange, Hot Pink

Flower Size: 2″ in clusters

Flowering Period: Mid Spring continuously to Mid Fall!

Flower Type: Tubular, Trumpet, in clusters

Fragrant Flowers: No

Foliage Color: Medium Green

Fragrant Foliage: No

Berries: No

Berry Color: No

Sun Needs: Full Sun or Part Shade; we suggest at least 5 hours of direct sunlight per day

Water Needs: Average

Soil Type: Clay (amend heavy clay to ensure good drainage), Loam, Sandy, Silt

Soil Moisture / Drainage: Moist But Well-Drained

Soil pH: 5.5 – 7.0 (Acid to Neutral)

Maintenance / Care: Low

Attracts: Butterflies, Hummingbirds, Beneficial Pollinators, Visual Attention

Resistances: Deer – more info, Disease, Heat, Humidity, Insect, Rabbit

Description

A hummingbird and butterfly dream plant, Estrellita Little Star Firecracker Bush is a North American native perennial shrub in Zone 8-11 that features an “explosion” of abundant flower clusters from mid spring continuously to mid fall without the need for deadheading. The firecracker-size trumpet flowers come in brilliant shades of red, orange and hot pink, all and the same plant. The nectar-rich flowers are a favorite of florists and, as mentioned, the butterflies, hummingbirds and beneficial pollinators as well. At 2 feet tall and wide, Estrellita Little Star is perfect for use as a colorful accent in small garden spaces and containers, or in groupings or as a border in garden beds. Plant near patios, porches, decks and other outdoor living spaces where the flowers and their winged guests feeding on the flowers can be enjoyed from close up. You might be happy to know that it’s deer resistant and also acts as a natural pest controller.

Landscape & Garden Uses

The Estrellita Little Star Firecracker Bush is the perfect addition to a hummingbird or butterfly garden, mixed with other nectar plants such as Salvia, Hardy Lantana, Honeysuckle Vines and Butterfly Bush. It also makes a nice accent plant in home foundation plantings and perennial or rock gardens, or as a border plant along a sunny path or walkway. Perfect for pots, planters and other containers, which are nice for those of you north of USDA Zone 7a who can overwinter it indoors or in a greenhouse.

Suggested Spacing: 18 inches apart for mass plantings or solid border; 36 inches or more for space between plants

Growing Preferences

Estrellita Little Star Firecracker Bush is easy to grow in a sunny to partially shaded spot with moist but well-drained acidic soil of average fertility. It does not like constantly wet soil or alkaline soil (above 7.0 pH). For best overall results, fertilize in early spring with a slow-release shrub and tree type fertilizer, following the suggested rate of application on the product label. Once established, the plant won’t need much if any fertilizer. There’s no need for pruning or deadheading flowers. Plants grown in containers can be overwintered indoors if necessary.

Plant Long & Prosper!

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