Alphabetical Plant Listing

Anisacanthus quadrifidus var. wrightii (Desert Honeysuckle)

Texas Firecracker, Desert Honeysuckle, Wright's Desert Honeysuckle, Wright's Anisacanthus, Flame Acanthus, Hummingbird Bush, Wright Acanthus, Mexican Flame, Wright's Mexican Flame


Adding vibrant color to the landscape, Anisacanthus quadrifidus var. wrightii (Desert Honeysuckle) is an upright, deciduous shrub with slender stems adorned with exfoliating bark and clothed with small, light-green, lanceolate leaves. Blooming from early summer to fall, nectar-filled brilliant red-orange tubular flowers, 2 in. long (5 cm), resembling those of honeysuckle, appear in abundance. As with many other xeric plants, rain triggers a flush of blooms, covering the plant in fiery orange. The blossoms are highly attractive to hummingbirds, butterflies, and other pollinators. This heat-loving, drought and cold tolerant shrub will survive with little water, but for best flower production, water deeply every 2-3 weeks in summer. A showy shrub with ornamental blooms for perennial gardens. Takes well to shearing and can make a dense, low hedge.

  • Grows upright with a bushy habit to 3-5 ft. tall (90-150 cm) and 3-4 ft. wide (90-120 cm).
  • Easily grown in average, medium to dry, well-drained soils in full sun. Will grow in poor soils, rocky soils and heavy, clay soils. Drought tolerant.
  • Great for beds and borders, hedges, cottage gardens, Mediterranean gardens, or rock gardens.
  • Virtually disease and pest free. Deer resistant, Desert Honeysuckle attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.
  • Pruning is not required, but can be cut back by one-half to two-thirds before new spring growth to promote compact shape and prolific blooms.
  • The easiest method of propagation is to take cuttings from the current season’s growth.
  • Native to Texas, Mexico.

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Requirements

Hardiness 7 – 10
Climate Zones 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, H1, H2
Plant Type Shrubs
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Summer (Early,Mid,Late)
Fall
Height 3' – 5' (90cm – 150cm)
Spread 3' – 4' (90cm – 120cm)
Spacing 36" – 48" (90cm – 120cm)
Water Needs Low
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy
Native Plants United States, Southwest, Texas
Tolerance Clay Soil, Deer, Drought, Rocky Soil
Attracts Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Garden Uses Beds and Borders, Hedges and Screens
Garden Styles Gravel and Rock Garden, Informal and Cottage, Mediterranean Garden

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By KevinCupp/Shutterstock, Katja Schultz/ Flickr

While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.


Requirements

Hardiness 7 – 10
Climate Zones 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, H1, H2
Plant Type Shrubs
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Summer (Early,Mid,Late)
Fall
Height 3' – 5' (90cm – 150cm)
Spread 3' – 4' (90cm – 120cm)
Spacing 36" – 48" (90cm – 120cm)
Water Needs Low
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy
Native Plants United States, Southwest, Texas
Tolerance Clay Soil, Deer, Drought, Rocky Soil
Attracts Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Garden Uses Beds and Borders, Hedges and Screens
Garden Styles Gravel and Rock Garden, Informal and Cottage, Mediterranean Garden

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Anisacanthus quadrifidus var. wrightii (Desert Honeysuckle)

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