I know you guys can help on this one. How much growth will a small purchased plant make the first year? How can it best be used? Hanging pot? Maybe in a dry bed by a driveway? How do they handle getting dug up in the fall and brought inside?

Here, a plant in the ground is a slow grower, for the first two years. I have spoken with others and they say in a hanging pot, it doesn't do so good. It seems to display best, if you can put it where it will hang over a low wall, where the color will really 'pop'. In the ground it will grow straight up, but may eventually need a trellis for support and it can get to be at least 8ft tall. I would advise putting it in a large pot, since you have to take it inside. It likes full sun. When I see a new shoot, I pinch a half inch off of the top, to promote side branching otherwise it just gets taller. Do this as low as possible.
I found very little info on this plant.
The cream species grows faster, lower and spreads fast but it doesn't seem to be a hummer favorite.
The photo was taking when the Ruby throats first returned and was gaining his strength back.

That is really helpful. Am I right in thinking it has fairly low water needs?

Ward, "needs" and "wants" are two different things. This is a plant that grows in neglected gardens all over New Orleans. I think it will survive on very little water, BUT, if you saw the profusion of blooms that spring temps and rains brings, you'd want to coddle it a little.

Lizette, New Orleans, La.
USDA Zone 9

It's a very good hummer plant in my garden. I have it in a large pot and it is surrounded by other plants, so it has to go straight up to get light. I have it in a couple of other places in my yard and it tends to hang over and lie down.

So, best in a tall pot or somewhere where it can hang down a bit.

We call it the cigar plant sometimes and sometimes the coral plant.

Forgot to say, I have an ivory one in a hanging basket that's done well. I do water it every day though. The birds seem to use it more than the one in the ground.
Last year I put a couple of pups from a red one in with it and came up with candycane flowers, hope to get more this year.




Lizette, New Orleans, La.
USDA Zone 9

I like the looks of that one Lizette. That is really interesting.

I have never been able to keep the ones that I have dug up and potted for the winter to survive.
In pots they seem to make it alright through the winter with not a lot of care. I have some that are in 2 pots that are 20 gallon size and they easily put out growth of 3ft in the summer.

Lizette, after seeing you bi-colored plant last year on this forum, I am hoping for some similar ones!

Ward, I believe it likes to be rootbound. Anyone who knows otherwise feel free to correct me.

Joan Garvey - Metairie, LA Zone 9

I have two in pots and are root bound, I am sure, but the ones growing in the ground are obviously much larger and bloom more profusely.

They grow fairly fast here in central Florida but with a 12 month growing season, my sense of timing may be off. They grow into great clumps of color when planted in the ground and allowed to grow naturally. It does seem to take water to get them to bloom when they're planted in the ground. Or, at least, there is a correlation between watering and periods of extensive blooming. It may not be a necessity to get some blooming to occur. Here's a picture of one growing in my yard under an oak. Two nights at 25 degrees this past January had no affect on it.

If grown in among other plants, they will tend to climb. I've got one that's climbed about 6 feet up a fence but I prefer their uninhibited growth like in the picture above.

I find that they do great in hanging pots. Like others said, they need to get root bound and along those lines, they don't want to be too wet too early. I drowned many of them about 15 years ago before I learned that. Here's a photo of one that I had hanging on my patio back then. Unfortunately, I can't find the photo of it from the inside where it looked like Tina Turner's wig.

I'm not sure if you'd be able to got one to survive the winter indoors or not. Anything's worth a try.

Steve Backes
Valrico, FL (east of Tampa)

Here are a couple of my favorite photos of this plant.

Canivet's emerald really enjoying this bloom!

Gotta try this one....

Carol
Milford, CT
Zone 6

Folks, that was one of the best sets of answers I've ever seen at our forum. Wow. I feel like I know a lot more about the subject now and the replies were also nice reading. You all out-did yourselves. Thanks.

I have been wondering how cuttings of this will do? I've seen it sheared when it gets too wild about 12-18",and comes back great. Hummingbirds love this plant.

Jana
Montverde,Florida
USDA zone 9

Jana, I'm about to find out. I was VERY naughty. (I have a personal bank account leftover down in Florida I keep for real estate transactions with about $25. in it. I used it and blew 3.50 plus shipping for a rooting of this plant.)

From what I've read you can root the tips, and it looks like that's exactly what this gal in Valdosta did from the Ebay pic.

We'll see soon!

Maryjane
W Ga
Zone 8a

(What a typo! I typed can't when I meant can.)

I managed to kill this one. I have not gotten up enough nerve to buy another one.

Dianne
Southeast Alabama
Heat Zone 8
Sunset Zone 31

Dianne, I'm so used to caring for tropical touchy plants I'm hoping I'll fare ok with this one. It's one of those "don't let it dry out but let it almost dry out" between watering PITA's, lol. I use certain tricks with these jokers like adding additional sand and styrofoam to the soil mix, and I tell hubby "don't touch it!" because he's always watering things.

(Obviously, I'm going to put it in a hanging basket. This clay would do it in in no time.)

If I don't succeed I'm only out $3.50..

Maryjane
W Ga
Zone 8a

Lets face it, the problem in the north is getting summer shrunk down so that it will fit comfortably in the house. And to get it timed so that when it is finally bursting through the walls and windows it can be released to transform the countryside. This has made me very careful when it comes to tropical plants. This could be a whole line of discussion - shrinkable plants for northern gardeners. The perfect solution is the seed, but that won't work with many plants

Maryjane, down here you can purchase a 3gal pot for about $8.00. I've been looking for 1 gals, too lazy to dig a big hole. I wil be taking one North for my Aunt in May.

Jana
Montverde,Florida
USDA zone 9

I love this thread. Less than an hour ago I put in my order to Bustani Plant Farm for some coral plants and have a lot of questions.

Linda V
CT zone 6b

The large Russelia equisetiformis that is growing in a half whiskey barrel near the street is typically at its best in early September. However, I noticed this morning that it is quite nice right now. I purchased it in a 3-inch pot and put it out there with some surrounding plants to take up the extra space. It has been there for more than 10 years and now seems to be bursting out of the container.

At one time, I had one that was pale yellow. It grew alright in a container, but it never seemed as robust as the red one. I put it in the ground and it grew quite nicely though it didn't seem to get as much interest as the red one. Nevertheless, the nectar values were high and exactly the same for each color variety.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nancy L Newfield
Casa Colibrí
Metairie, Louisiana USA
USDA Zone 9

One thing seems clear in the ongoing sugar content story, the nectar ratio is only part of the story - very important but not the whole story.

Jana, here's a small one on EBay that's cheap (free shipping too):

http://cgi.ebay.com/FIRECRACKER-PLANT-RUSSELIA-EQUISETIFORMIS_W0QQitemZ380068920644QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0

Maryjane
W Ga
Zone 8a

MJ,
I didn't see free shipping on that link that you sent. Unless I missed something he charges 7.50 for shipping

Penny
Niagara Falls, NY
USDA zone 6a/6b
Heat zone 4
Sunset zone 39

I made a mistake. I'm sure it won't be my last, I am sorry.

Maryjane
W Ga
Zone 8a

We all make mistakes. He does have a nice list of plants though. I went to his regular site and shipping is higher ($10.00) on his own website so you do save a little by ordering on ebay

Penny
Niagara Falls, NY
USDA zone 6a/6b
Heat zone 4
Sunset zone 39

I'm going to try cuttings of this. I can always run up to Lowes to purchase them, saw them this weekend.

Tom, Winter Garden will be having their annual plant sale in April, also Knox Nursery (in Winter Garden) has been open to the public on Saturdays. I haven't been out there yet. If you get out that way also stop by Biosphere Nursery they have Natives (HB & butterfly)plants and very helpful.

Jana
Montverde,Florida
USDA zone 9

I purchased some small red-flowered Russelia equisetiformis a couple of years ago from one of the mail order nurseries that has a high ratio of negative reviews on Garden Watchdog--decided to take a chance because the price was so low. I purchased it because I was looking for a good hummer plant for hanging containers. The first year they did little and bloomed sparsely, I was disappointed in their performance Nonetheless, I overwintered them inside and put them out again last summer. What a difference a year made--last year they grew nicely, draped over the side of the pots, and bloomed profusely at the end of the summer. I did notice numerous hummer visits. I brought them inside again, but unfortunately I let them dry out for too long and they died. They really aren't difficult to keep alive inside, I just neglected them too much. I really regret killing them and will try them again if I can find them for a good price.

Zone 4 Red Wing MN

Check Bustani, I think their price was reasonable.

Our local Ace Hardware Stores carried these. I have not check this year.

Dianne
Southeast Alabama
Heat Zone 8
Sunset Zone 31

Remember the Russelia equisetiformis I bid on at EBay and won for $3.50? I got it today, and wow...I am happy with this seller!



Maryjane
W Ga
Zone 8a

MJ,
You got a real steal for $3.50

Penny
Niagara Falls, NY
USDA zone 6a/6b
Heat zone 4
Sunset zone 39

Thanks! It didn't hurt that the seller was in Valdosta, Ga. and I put a note on my bid saying I was waving Hey from Randolph County Ga..lol. Folks here are very nice to one another that way.

Maryjane
W Ga
Zone 8a