Scarlett bush is a semi-evergreen to evergreen perennial shrub or small tree in the coffee family (Rubiaceae) native to tropical and sub-tropical America. It can be found in Florida and as far south as Argentina. The genus name honors Henri Louis du Hamel du Monceau of the 1700's, a celebrated French writer on trees and shrubs. Specific epithet means spreading. In its native habitat, it will grow 10 to 15 feet tall, but as an annual, it grows 2 to 3 feet tall in a season and 1 to 2 feet wide. Grow in full sun to partial shade in average well-drained soils. If grown in a container, it will require additional water. It is heat and humidity tolerant. Scarlett bush blooms year-round in its tropical habitat, but as an annual, it blooms from summer to fall. The red clusters of tubular flowers resemble a firecracker, hence one of the common names. Butterflies and hummingbirds visit the flowers. The small berries that follow are enjoyed by the birds. Their gray-green leaves have pinkish veins and turn dark red in the fall. In temperate climates, use this plant in a container and bring indoors in winter if desired or plant in the ground in borders of a pollinator or cottage garden for a tropical feel. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems.
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; Sand
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Spreading
Texture
Medium
Leaf color
Green
Leaf arrangement
Opposite; Whorled
Leaf shape
Ovate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Oval gray-green leaves have pinkish veins and turn red-burgundy in the fall. They are 4 to 8 inches long and occur in whorls of 3 to 7 but are sometimes opposite. They are glossy green with paler undersides.
Fall color
Red/Burgundy
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Orange; Red/Burgundy
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Cyme
Flower shape
Tubular
Flower detail
Showy tubular orange-red to red flowers appear in terminal clusters from summer to fall.
Bloom time
Fall; Summer
Fruit color
Black; Red/Burgundy
Fruit type
Berry
Fruit value
Edible
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Small dark red juicy berry turning black at maturity
Stem color
Green; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
Reddish triangular stems
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Origin
Florida, West Indies, Mexico, Central and South America
Distribution
Florida to Argentina
Wildlife value
Birds eat the berries. Adult food source for Pluto Sphinx moth. Butterflies and humminbirds visit the flowers.
Attracts
Butterflies; Hummingbirds; Songbirds
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Fruit
Fruit type
Berry
Edibility
Berries are edible but not often used due to the aftertaste. In Mexico and the West Indies, they are sometimes used to make a fermented drink, syrup, or medicinal remedies.