The Hummingbird plant is a tender herbaceous perennial, though often grown as an annual. It is native to central South America and will bring a vibrant burst of color to your garden. Its vibrant orange/red flowers blossom throughout the summer and into the autumn months. It is drought tolerant and endures humidity, making this an ideal plant for many areas which have such conditions. It typically forms a shrubby mound 18 to 24 inches tall and as wide. Flowers are attractive to hummingbirds, hence the sometimes common name of hummingbird plant. The genus name is from the Greek diklis meaning double-folding and pteron meaning wing in reference to the two wing-like divisions in the capsule. The species name means with parts spreading or recurved at the ends. The Hummingbird plant is easy to grow in average, medium, well-drained soils in full sun. It tolerates some light shade and drought and is winter hardy to Zones 8-10 and with mulch protection, can tolerate temperatures down to 0 degrees F. It can also be grown in containers or hanging baskets. You can also take cuttings that can be overwintered indoors and planted in the spring. This amazing, showstopper plant attracts not just the human eye but also hummingbirds and butterflies, which only adds more the attraction and beauty of this plant. This firecracker-looking plant will be the fire you will not want to put out but enjoy for many years as a showstopper in your garden. Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No known diseases or insect pests.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Occasionally Dry
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 6 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping; Mounding
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Gray/Silver; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Ovate
Leaf feel
Soft; Velvety
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
1-3 inches long
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Dicliptera squarrosa has leaves that are soft, fuzzy, light grey/green, and about 3 inches long. Leaves are opposite but then switch the other direction for the next layer (but are still opposite each other).
Flower color
Orange; Red/Burgundy
Flower value
Showy
Flower shape
Tubular
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
The flowers occur in terminal clusters from July to September and are two-lipped, tubular, bright reddish-orange flowers (1-3/4 inches long)