Bloomipedia
Firecrackerbush (Bouvardia ternifolia)
Photo: L. Reid via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Firecrackerbush

Bouvardia ternifolia

Firecrackerbush (Bouvardia ternifolia) is a shrub in the Rubiaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly May–September across the U.S.

Native to Arizona

Firecrackerbush is a flowering plant that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Arizona it's most often seen in bloom in May–August.

3states where USDA records it
1,277AZ sightings*
2,097U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Arizona

Quick look

Bouvardia ternifolia, the firecracker bush, is a shrub widespread across much of Mexico, the range extending south into Honduras and north into the southwestern United States.

  • It belongs to the Rubiaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as a shrub / a subshrub with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 3 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Arizona. NatureServe
  • In Arizona, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–August. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 1,277 research-grade sightings of it in Arizona, ranking #75 among the 132 flowers on our Arizona list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

In Arizona, most flowering sightings come in May–August.

Flowering records by month in Arizona (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (63 records)

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
Arizona
Not listed Not on Arizona Native Plant Law protected plants (Ariz. Admin. Code R3-3 Art. 11, App. A, eff. Feb. 2, 2025). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Arizona. AAC R3-3 App. A
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?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.

🌿 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 firecrackerbush in 3 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Arizona, New Mexico, Texas.

Arizona counties with USDA records: Cochise, Graham, Greenlee, Pima, Pinal, Santa Cruz.

Names, range and relatives

Other scientific names (synonyms in USDA PLANTS): Bouvardia glaberrima.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 11 counties across 3 states; the most are in Arizona (6), Texas (4), New Mexico (1).

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.

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★ AZ state flowerNative

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Creosote bush (Larrea tridentata)

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Sources