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Odontonema strictum

 
Odontonema strictum
Second-year plant in July, having returned from the base following winter freeze
firespike
Odontonema strictum
Small plant, just purchased

Common name firespike
Family acanthaceae
Life cycle shrub (Z9-11)
Flowers red (late summer-winter)
Size to 6'
Light sun-part shade
Cultural notes ordinary garden soil, not too dry

Shrub with stiff upright branches and shiny elongated leaves to six inches long, arranged oppositely. Spikes of tubular pink-red flowers start appearing in late summer or early fall (early to mid-October in our Houston-area garden). Tends to act as a dieback shrub in areas with winter freezes, resprouting from its roots in spring. Will bloom even if given quite a bit of shade, and does better with at least some shade in hot climates. Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds. Native to Central America.

firespike
Killed back by a series of overnight light freezes in December
Odontonema strictum
Returning from its base in mid-March, after a winter with some moderate freezes (by Houston standards)

This plant used to grow in our garden, but it slipped away...

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Last modified: May 22, 2022
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