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Scarlet Bouvardia

Bouvardia ternifolia

Other common name(s):

Firecracker Bush, Trompetilla, Clavillo

Family:

Rubiaceae (Madder Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

Chihuahuan Deserts
Chihuahuan Desert Grasslands, Chihuahuan Montane Woodlands, Low Mountains and Bajadas

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Shrub

Height

3
to
5
ft.

Spread

2
to
3
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Sand, Loam, Gravelly, Rocky, Well Drained, Dry

Light Requirement

Part Shade

Water Requirement

Low

Native Habitat

Woodland

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

Red

Bloom Season

Spring, Summer, Fall

Seasonal Interest

Nectar, Flowers

Wildlife Benefit

Hummingbirds

Maintenance

Snipping old blooms will maintain a dense appearance. Not very winter hardy. Can be grown in a container and taken indoors in cold weather. Good drainage very important. Propagation: Seed, Softwood cuttings.

Comments

Blooms May-November. Most often used as a flower in mass or singly. It makes a beautiful border. Firecracker-bush has shiny, oval, dark-green leaves and bugle-shaped red flowers in loose clusters at ends of numerous erect branches. The Spanish name, Trompetilla, which means “little trumpet,” refers to the corolla’s shape. It occurs on rocky slopes and canyon bottoms; pine-oak and juniper-oak woodlands; oak chaparral; granite at 2500-8000 ft.
Previous Scientific Name(s): Synonym(s): Bouvardia glaberrima

References

1) Griffith, Bryce, Omernick & Rodgers (2007). Ecoregions of Texas. 2) http://bonap.net/TDC/Image/Map?taxonType=Species&taxonId=21986&locationType=County&mapType=Normal 3) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=BOTE2. 4) https://portal.torcherbaria.org/portal/taxa/index.php?taxon=Bouvardia+ternifolia&formsubmit=Search+Terms. 5) Wasowski, Sally and Wasowski, Andy, Native Texas Plants, Landscaping Region by Region, 1988, 1991, pg 234. 6) Miller, George O., Landscaping with Native Plants of Texas 2nd Ed., 2013, pg 48., 7) https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=34953#null

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State Office Phone: 830.997.9272

State Office Address:
Native Plant Society of Texas
PO Box 3017
Fredericksburg, TX 78624

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