Red Flowering Bushes in Florida

Eastern Coral Bean

• Eastern coral bean (Erythrina herbacea) is a low growing thorny shrub with glossy leaves. This deciduous shrub produces 12-inch spikes of red flowers during the spring before the leaves emerge. Hummingbirds are attracted to the scarlet red flowers until the blooms die off during the late fall. During the late summer and fall months, large seedpods develop. The bright red seeds are poisonous. This native Florida shrub normally grows to a height of 4 feet but can grow to a height of 16 feet. This drought-tolerant, red-flowering bush prefers average soil conditions and partial shade. Other common names for this bush include Cherokee bean and Red cardinal.

Firebush

• Firebush (Hamelia patens) is an evergreen indigenous Florida shrub that can grow to a height of 10 feet. The reddish veined leaves are gray on the underside. This native Florida shrub produces clusters of scarlet or reddish-orange flowers and small black berries year round. This drought-tolerant, red-flowering bush prefers average soil and a sunny location but tolerates light shade.

Swamp Hibiscus

• Swamp hibiscus (Hibiscus coccineus) is an evergreen native Florida shrub that grows to a height of 7 feet. This red-flowering native shrub prefers to be in moist soil and can tolerate short periods of flooding. The 6-8 inch wide crimson flowers only last for one day but the shrub continually flowers from late spring until fall. The long, narrow leaves resemble palm fronds. This sun-loving bush dies back during the winter months and comes back during the spring.

Sweet Shrub

• Sweet shrub (Calycanthus floridus) is a deciduous shrub that grows to a height of 10 feet. This native Florida shrub produces flowers that are 1 inch wide. Sweet shrub produces red to reddish-brown flowers throughout the spring, summer and fall. The flowers have a light, fruity scent. This fast-growing, red-flowering bush has a mounding growth habit that quickly forms a thicket when it does not receive regular pruning. The leaves are green on top with fuzzy, light green undersides. The leaves turn a golden-yellow color in the fall. This indigenous Florida shrub grows best in full sun to partial shade.