Explore Plants
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
Can't find the answer in our existing FAQs, submit a question to Mr. Smarty Plants.
Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.
rate this answer
Friday - October 03, 2008
From: Onalaska, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Pruning, Shrubs
Title: Freeze-back of Hamelia patens in winter in Texas
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
Will the hamelia patens freeze back in the winter ?ANSWER:
Hamelia patens (scarletbush) will die back to the ground in winter, but the roots will survive and sprout back up in spring in USDA Hardiness Zones 8 to 9. Onalaska appears to be in Zones 8a to 8b, so the plant will probably thrive there. If you do not have a very cold winter, it might not even die back, and would do well with some pruning before it begins to bloom.
For more information see this Horticulture Update from Texas A&M Extension, Firebush (Hamelia patens) and pictures.
More Shrubs Questions
Plants to hold a slope in NY
May 17, 2010 - We recently built a house (on a hillside) and now are having some drainage issues on a fairly steep slope (a small creek is forming in the swale the excavator made "deal" with the drainage). Yester...
view the full question and answer
Blue Natives for San Antonio
June 28, 2012 - What are the best flowers or trees to buy since we are always in stage 2 and sometimes in stage 3 water conservation? I love flowers that are blue, preferably year around. THANK YOU
view the full question and answer
Non-native red-tip photinias dying in San Antonio
August 20, 2009 - A 17 year old Red tip Photinia in a hedge shows signs of dying. The main stalks are quite large and offshoots from two of the stalks have brittle, drooping leaves. The center of the plant looks norm...
view the full question and answer
Bird-friendly plants for the Texas coast
July 13, 2012 - I'm interested in starting a native plant garden, specifically with an eye towards providing food (either from the plants or insects that are attracted to the plants) for migratory birds. However, s...
view the full question and answer
Smarty Plants on arborvitaes
March 28, 2005 - Hello,
I live in Allentown, PA and have a 7-foot arborvitae shrub in my backyard, planted in the corner of the yard where a wood fence intersects with the brick wall of the garage. I have had ma...
view the full question and answer
 |
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. Mr. Smarty Plants wants you to be his Facebook friend. Click the Facebook icon to add yourself to Mr. Smarty Plants list of friends. |
