What Is a Firecracker Plant?
Several plants enjoy the common name of “firecracker plant,” but this name is most commonly used in reference to Russelia equisetiformis, a Mexican native grown in tropical to subtropical regions all over the world. This plant is named for the colorful waterfall of foliage and flowers that do indeed superficially resemble an exploding firecracker. Nurseries may carry firecracker plant seedlings and it is also possible to grow them from seeds, which may be obtained through gardening exchanges and catalogs. The firecracker plant produces long, trailing, wiry stems and foliage, topped with tubular red flowers. The plants will bloom through the summer and into the fall in a favorable climate, and while they die back slightly during the winter, they return in spring. Firecracker plants are excellent bedding and specimen plants, and they can also be grown in containers. The drooping foliage can make them very attractive for hanging containers.
