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Firespike for winter color
by
Douglas Hunt
(IC: professional)
Many Southern gardeners are acquainted with red firespike, Odontonema strictum, which, depending on how far south you are, is either an herbaceous perennial or a medium-sized shrub. (It's root-hardy to zone 8.) The bright red flowers, which appear sporadically year-round, but particularly in fall and winter, are favorites of migrating hummingbirds. But there is also a purple-flowered version, Odontonema callistachyum, whose flowers I actually prefer. Unfortunately, it is not as hardy, and when there's a hard frost you don't get flowers. We haven't had one of those in two years, however, so mine are putting on a show. Both types of firespike will bloom in a good deal of shade. And they are among the easiest plants to propagate: You basically just take a cutting and stick it in the ground.
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Published March 1st, 2014 7:08 AM
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Phyl Schenk on Mar 09, 2014Stunning. Never seen these before.
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