Flower profile
Firebush
Hamelia patens
Firebush (Hamelia patens) is a shrub or small tree in the Rubiaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly April–September across the U.S.
Firebush is a flowering plant that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Florida it's most often seen in bloom in April–September.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
On our lists for: Florida
Quick look
Hamelia patens is a large evergreen perennial shrub or small tree in the family Rubiaceae, that is native to the American subtropics and tropics. Its range extends from Florida in the southern United States to as far south as Argentina. Common names include firebush, hummingbird bush, scarlet bush, and redhead. In Belize, this plant's Mayan name is Ix Canaan and is also known as "Guardian of the Forest".
- It belongs to the Rubiaceae family. iNaturalist
- USDA PLANTS describes it as a shrub / a tree with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 1 states. USDA PLANTS
- NatureServe lists it as native to Florida. NatureServe
- In Florida, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–September. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 6,383 research-grade sightings of it in Florida, ranking #22 among the 151 flowers on our Florida list. iNaturalist
When does it bloom?
In Florida, most flowering sightings come in April–September.
Conservation status
- Federal (U.S. ESA)
- Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
- NatureServe global
- G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
- Florida
- Not listed Not on Florida Regulated Plant Index (Fla. Admin. Code 5B-40.0055). NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Florida. FAC 5B-40.0055
- Rare elsewhere
- No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.
Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.
Can you eat it?
NC State Extension notes: “Berries are edible but not often used due to the aftertaste. In Mexico and the West Indies, they are sometimes used to make a fermented drink, syrup, or medicinal remedies.” NC State Extension
It isn't on the ASPCA plant list, and NC State Extension doesn't flag it for pets.
🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.
Where does it grow?
USDA PLANTS records firebush in 1 states.
recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded
See the full list of states
Florida.
Florida counties with USDA records: Brevard, Broward, Collier, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Okeechobee, Orange, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Sumter, Volusia.
Names, range and relatives
Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Lower 48 states: Native; Navassa Island: Native; Puerto Rico: Native; U.S. Virgin Islands: Native.
Other scientific names (synonyms in USDA PLANTS): Hamelia erecta.
County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 20 counties across 1 states; the most are in Florida (20).
More from the Rubiaceae family (18 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Partridgeberry, Buttonbush, Azure bluet, Field madder, Largeflower Mexican clover, Buttonweed, Tiny bluet, Shiny-leaved wild coffee.
More Florida flowers
Sources
- USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile HAPA3.
- iNaturalist, Hamelia patens: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- Wikipedia, Hamelia patens (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Florida: Florida Regulated Plant Index (Fla. Admin. Code 5B-40.0055).
- Florida: Florida Noxious Weed List (Fla. Admin. Code 5B-57.007).
- USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
- NatureServe Explorer, Hamelia patens (global and state ranks).
- Edibility and toxicity: NC State Extension.
- Photo: carbenoid via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.