Flame Acanthus

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.