The Genus Odontonema
Family Verbenaceae
This is a medium-sized genus of herbaceous perennials native to warm climates in North America and South America.
Other plants in the verbena family, Verbenaceae, include the sweet almond verbena (Aloysia,) golden dewdrop (Duranta,) lantana (Lantana,) porterweed (Stachytarpheta,) verbena (Verbena) and chaste tree (Vitex.)
Other plants in the verbena family, Verbenaceae, include the sweet almond verbena (Aloysia,) golden dewdrop (Duranta,) lantana (Lantana,) porterweed (Stachytarpheta,) verbena (Verbena) and chaste tree (Vitex.)
Odontonema callistachyum
Odontonema callistachyum
purple firespike
This is a large herbaceous shrub, evergreen in subtropical climates. The tubular flowers are pale lavender to bright purple-pink. They are borne in terminal spikes in winter. This plant grows best in a well-drained, sunny to partly shady site. It is fairly drought tolerant. It is cold hardy in zone 9 and 10. In northern zone 9a, it dies to the ground most winters and the developing flowers are destroyed.
This plant is uncommon in local nurseries.
My plants are damaged by winter temperatures in the mid- to upper 20's F. They are killed to the ground at about 23º and resprout in late March to early April. Early cold snaps prevent flowering most years in my upper zone 9a garden. In middle zone 9a, this plant is evergreen most years and flowers from December through May.
This is a large herbaceous shrub, evergreen in subtropical climates. The tubular flowers are pale lavender to bright purple-pink. They are borne in terminal spikes in winter. This plant grows best in a well-drained, sunny to partly shady site. It is fairly drought tolerant. It is cold hardy in zone 9 and 10. In northern zone 9a, it dies to the ground most winters and the developing flowers are destroyed.
This plant is uncommon in local nurseries.
My plants are damaged by winter temperatures in the mid- to upper 20's F. They are killed to the ground at about 23º and resprout in late March to early April. Early cold snaps prevent flowering most years in my upper zone 9a garden. In middle zone 9a, this plant is evergreen most years and flowers from December through May.
Odontonema cuspidatum (syn. O. strictum, O. tubiforme)
Odontonema cuspidatum
firespike
This is a large herbaceous shrub that is similar in culture and appearance to the preceeding species. Tubular red flowers are borne in terminal spikes, in late fall and winter. Leaves of this species are smaller and thicker than the leaves of O. callistachyum. This plant grows best in a well-drained, sunny to partly shady site. It is drought tolerant and at least moderately salt tolerant. It is cold hardy in zone 9 and south.
This plant may be found in local nurseries. Plants are propagated easily by cuttings and division. Presumably, they may be propagated by seeds but I have not seen seeds produced.
My plants flower from late August into January or until the first hard freeze. Because it flowers earlier than O. callistachyum, I see flowers most years in my upper zone 9a garden. Temperatures below freezing damage the foliage. Plants are killed to the ground by temperatures in the low 20's F. New leaves first appear in late March. In the northern part of our region, this plant is best in a site protected from cold winter winds. A little further south, it is reliably evergreen and can flower year-round. A plant at UNF has grown well with reclaimed water irrigation so it has some salt tolerance.
This is a large herbaceous shrub that is similar in culture and appearance to the preceeding species. Tubular red flowers are borne in terminal spikes, in late fall and winter. Leaves of this species are smaller and thicker than the leaves of O. callistachyum. This plant grows best in a well-drained, sunny to partly shady site. It is drought tolerant and at least moderately salt tolerant. It is cold hardy in zone 9 and south.
This plant may be found in local nurseries. Plants are propagated easily by cuttings and division. Presumably, they may be propagated by seeds but I have not seen seeds produced.
My plants flower from late August into January or until the first hard freeze. Because it flowers earlier than O. callistachyum, I see flowers most years in my upper zone 9a garden. Temperatures below freezing damage the foliage. Plants are killed to the ground by temperatures in the low 20's F. New leaves first appear in late March. In the northern part of our region, this plant is best in a site protected from cold winter winds. A little further south, it is reliably evergreen and can flower year-round. A plant at UNF has grown well with reclaimed water irrigation so it has some salt tolerance.