Plant Database

Other Names:  Mexican Firecracker

Description:

This variety is very drought tolerant, producing rosettes of spoon shaped foliage that is gray-green, and covered with silvery fuzz; distinctive red and yellow flowers on arching cymes in spring; ideal for rock gardens and containers

Ornamental Features

Mexican Fire Cracker features unusual spikes of red tubular flowers with yellow tips rising above the foliage from mid spring to early summer. Its attractive succulent oval leaves emerge grayish green in spring, turning silver in colour the rest of the year.

Landscape Attributes

Mexican Fire Cracker is a dense herbaceous evergreen perennial with tall flower stalks held atop a low mound of foliage. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other garden plants with less refined foliage.

This plant will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and should not require much pruning, except when necessary, such as to remove dieback. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

• Spreading

Mexican Fire Cracker is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Rock/Alpine Gardens
• Border Edging
• General Garden Use
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Mexican Fire Cracker will grow to be only 6 inches tall at maturity extending to 12 inches tall with the flowers, with a spread of 8 inches. Its foliage tends to remain low and dense right to the ground. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 20 years. As an evegreen perennial, this plant will typically keep its form and foliage year-round.

This plant should only be grown in full sunlight. It prefers dry to average moisture levels with very well-drained soil, and will often die in standing water. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for a low-water garden or xeriscape application. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in sandy soils. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This species is not originally from North America. It can be propagated by division.

Mexican Fire Cracker is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. It is often used as a 'filler' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination, providing a mass of flowers and foliage against which the larger thriller plants stand out. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.