Flame Acanthus
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Anisacanthus quadrifidus var. wrightii
Also known as Flame Acanthus, Hummingbird Bush, Wright's Desert Honeysuckle, Wright Acanthus, Mexican Flame, Wright's Mexican Flame
Please take note of the following information: Anisacanthus quadrifidus var. wrightii, commonly known as Texas firecracker, is an upright, deciduous shrub that can reach up to 5 feet in height and 4 feet in width, giving it a spreading and informal appearance. It is native to the extreme south-central region of Texas and the adjacent northern parts of Mexico, and it typically grows on rocky, calcareous slopes, and floodplains. The plant has slender, brittle stems with attractive, peeling bark. The leaves are small, nearly clasping, and have a lanceolate shape. The Texas firecracker blooms mostly from spring to late summer after rain, producing numerous bright red-orange tubular flowers measuring 1-1.5 inches long. This plant is highly attractive to hummingbirds, butterflies, and other pollinators, but deer avoid it.
It is best to grow the Texas firecracker plant in medium to dry, well-draining soils in full sun, although it is adaptable to different soil types, including poor, rocky, and heavy clay soils. The plant is drought-tolerant and can be grown in a pot. In desert landscapes, occasional but regular summer irrigation may be required. The plant is hardy in Zones 7 to 10, and in colder areas, it dies back to the roots in winter and regrows in the spring with new growth on top. Pruning is unnecessary, but the plant can be trimmed for shape in the fall or pruned back more severely every few years.
Butterfly Host Plant: Banded Peacock (Anartia Fatima); Tulcis Crecent (Anthanassa tulcis); Rosita Patch (Chlosyne rosita)
Height: 3’-5'
Spread: 3’-4'
Bloom: June-September
Light: Full sun, Part Shade, Dappled Shade
Water: Low
Zone: 7, 8, 9, 10
Origin: Texas & Mexico
Winter Shipping: We will continue to ship throughout winter. If you prefer, we are happy to hold your order until spring; please include that request in your shipping notes.
When you order plants from our nursery, you can expect them to arrive in the best possible condition. Our team carefully packs each order using sturdy, biodegradable packaging materials.
Your plants' appearance may vary depending on the season and their current growth stage. We may cut back the leafy growth of some plants to prepare them for shipment and transplanting.
5 Gallon and Up: Any plant purchased to ship over 5 Gallons will be shipped bare root. This means we will remove the plant from its original pot, remove the soil surrounding the roots, and wrap the roots with a biodegradable plastic bag. This reduces weight and the likelihood of damage during shipping.
Once your plants arrive, it is essential to plant them as soon as possible. This will help them rebound and thrive. If you cannot plant immediately, water regularly and keep the roots off heat-conducting surfaces.
Newly transplanted plants often require more water until their roots are well established. Plan to water them 1-3 times weekly for the first few months.
