Plant of the Month
Firecrackerbush
Firecrackerbush, Bouvardia ternifolia, is a small shrub with dark-green oval leaves and bugle-shaped orange or red flowers. Native to parts of Texas, New Mexico and Arizona, firecrackerbush was recommended as our September Plant of the Month by SBTH member David Mainz of Alpine, Texas. The Spanish name for this beautiful plant is Trompetilla, which translates “little trumpet.” It is not cold tolerant, and does best in sunny and dry sandy or rocky soil.
David Mainz is an able birder, a Texas Master Naturalist, and a volunteer with the Chihuahuan Desert Institute. The images are his, photographed in his yard in the high desert landscape of west Texas. Hummingbirds love this native plant.
Plant of the Month Archives
December 2008 - Witch Hazel
January 2009 - Winterberry
March 2009 - Desert Ironwood
April 2009 - Marsh Marigold
May 2009 - Serviceberry
June 2009 - Choke Cherry
July 2009 - Northern Bush Honeysuckle
August 2009 - Butterfly-weed
September 2009 - Firecrackerbush