Butterfly bush, Fire bush
Hamelia patens
Family: Rubiaceae
What it is like
An erect shrub or small tree. It grows 7 m tall. It spreads 2-5 m wide. The leaves are simple and dull green. They are 5-10 cm long and broadly oval. They are softly hairy. The flowers are orange-scarlet. They are 2 cm across. They are downy and tube shaped. The fruit are berries and are 8 mm across. They are fleshy and red to purple.
There are about 16 (40) Hamelia species. They grow in tropical and subtropical America. It is used in medicine.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. They prefer a rich, moist but well-drained soil. It can tolerate some salt spray. In Argentina it grows from sea level to 1,500 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 10-12. In XTBG Yunnan.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Bahamas, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil (country/location of origin), Caribbean, Central America (country/location of origin), China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Honduras, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Jamaica, Mexico (country/location of origin), Mozambique, Myanmar, Nicaragua, North America, Pacific, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, SE Asia, South America (country/location of origin), Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, Trinidad-Tobago, USA, Venezuela, West Indies, Winward Is., Zambia, Zimbabwe
How it is used for food
The fruit are edible. They are acidic. They are also fermented to make an alcoholic drink. Caution: Alcohol is a cause of cancer.
It is cultivated.
Edible parts
Fruit, flower nectar
How it is grown
Plants can be grown from seed or by half ripened cuttings under glass. They can also be grown using air layering.
It is fast growing.
Its other names
Local names
Amelia, Ashiluna muyu, Chacoclo, Coloradillo, Coralillo, Cuseje'cho, Firebush, Hierba de la mula, Jimia-jimias, Llaga panka, Manvel, Mariposa panka, Ongay, Perdu api, Ponasf, Prathat-lek, Prathat-thawng, Scarlet bush, Tisiku panka, Tuta pishku panka, Uvero, Wipenimo, Yana muyu, Zorrillo real
Synonyms
Duhamelia odorata Willd. ex Roem. & Schult.; Duhamelia patens (Jacq.) Pers.; Duhamelia sphaerocarpa (Ruiz & Pav.) Pers.; Hamelia brachystemon Wernham; Hamelia brittoniana Wernham; Hamelia coccinea Sw.; Hamelia corymbosa Sessé & Moc.; Hamelia erecta Jacq.; Hamelia intermedia Urb. & Ekman; Hamelia lanuginosa M.Martens & Galeotti; Hamelia latifolia Rchb. ex DC.; Hamelia nodosa M.Martens & Galeotti; Hamelia patens var. axillaroides Wernham; Hamelia patens var. erecta (Jacq.) DC.; Hamelia patens var. glabra Oerst.; Hamelia patens var. quinifolia DC.; Hamelia pedicellata Wernham; Hamelia sphaerocarpa Ruiz & Pav.; Hamelia suaveolens Kunth; Hamelia tubiflora Wernham; Hamelia verticillata Moc. & Sessé ex DC.; Hamelia viridiflora Wernham; Schoenleinia thyrsoidea Miers;