Dicliptera

( dik - LIP - terr - uh )

At-A-Glance Information

Dicliptera, also called Hummingbird Bush, Firecracker Plant, and Uruguayan Firecracker Plant, is a genus of perennials that produce brightly colored tubular blossoms. They do not take well to cold weather and appreciate a somewhat sheltered space to perform well. The flowers on these shrubs will attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds to the garden. Grow these plants in hanging baskets, in mixed flower beds, or in borders. They can also be used for erosion control in sloped areas of the landscape.

Dicliptera Species and Varietals

The genus Dicliptera belongs to the Bear's Breeches family, Acanthaceae and includes 223 species. Synonyms include Peristrophe and Dactylostegium. Growing zones for Dicliptera vary by species; see the descriptions below for more information. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Dicliptera brachiata (False Mint, Wild Mudwort, Branched Foldwing)
This species is native to North America and Central America, and produces a plant that reaches just over three feet tall with green foliage. Flowers are pink. Wild Mudwort grows well in USDA hardiness zones 6-10, and is considered somewhat weedy and aggressive in the landscape.

Dicliptera resupinata (Arizona Foldwing)
These plants are native to high-elevation areas in Arizona and northern Mexico, growing well in USDA hardiness zones 8-10. It reaches up to 2 feet tall when mature, and produces glabrous green leaves and pink flowers in spring that last through autumn. Blooms are pinkish-violet, and typically bloom in groups of three.

Dicliptera sericea (Dicliptera suberecta)
Native to Uruguay and Argentina, these woody perennials grow to 2 feet tall and 1.5 feet wide. It grows best in USDA hardiness zones 7-11 or Sunset growing zones 12, 13, 15-17, 19, and 21-24. Leaves are greyish-green and downy. In summer, clusters of bright orange-red flowers attract hummingbirds. Needs moderate to regular water, though once established it can receive only supplemental water in the warmest times of the year.

Dicliptera tinctoria (Peristrophe roxburghiana) (Magenta Plant, Lá Cẩm, Magenta Leaf Plant, Dye Foldwing, Noja, Tshuaj Kua, Txob Liab)
This species is native to Sri Lanka, Java, mainland Southeast Asia, China, and Taiwan. It is an herbaceous perennial that reaches up to 3 feet tall, and produces green leaves and magenta to reddish-pink flowers. This species does well in USDA hardiness zones 7-10.

Caring for Dicliptera

Plant Dicliptera, or Firecracker Plant, in a space in the landscape that receives full sun; ideally, they appreciate between 6 and 8 hours of sun each day for the best blooms. When these flowers are grown in less light, they will not flower as profusely. Ensure that soil is well-draining, rich in nutrients, and has a pH of between 6.0 and 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral). If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. Apply a layer of mulch around the planting area to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and to increase soil moisture retention. Water new plantings regularly as they establish a strong root system in their new home. At maturity, these plants are considered drought-tolerant, able to get by on rainwater alone for much of the year with supplemental irrigation during extended periods of drought. As a general rule of thumb, water whenever the top few inches of soil feels dry to the touch.

Fertilize yearly in early springtime with an application of 2 inches of compost around the base of plants. Pull mulch back before applying, work the compost gently into the soil a bit, water it in, and then replace mulch. These plants are very low-maintenance, requiring very little ongoing work and thriving in neglect. Pruning is simple; remove any damaged, diseased, or dead foliage at any time during the growing season, and remove spent flower spikes to neaten up the appearance of plants and encourage reblooms. Cut plants back to their base in early springtime to rejuvenate for the season's new growth. Dicliptera plants will go dormant in wintertime in temperate zones.

Caring for Dicliptera in Containers
Dicliptera will grow well in a pot, as well, though it will require a bit more care and watering than its in-ground counterparts. Choose a pot that is at least 16 inches tall and wide. Ensure that the container has adequate drainage holes on the bottom to ensure that excess water can flow away from the root zone. Fill with a well-draining potting mix and top with a layer of mulch to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and to increase soil moisture retention. Water new plantings regularly as they establish a strong root system in their new home. These plants are drought-tolerant when mature, but when grown in containers will need more frequent irrigation than those grown in the ground. As a general rule of thumb, water whenever the top few inches of soil feels dry to the touch. Dicliptera does not need to be potted up very frequently. These shrubs actually flower more profusely in pots when they are slightly root-bound, so don't pot them up too quickly.

Propagation

Hummingbird Plant can be propagated either by using cuttings or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your shrub, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Dicliptera by Cutting

Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. A good substrate for propagation of cuttings is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
Choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 6 inch portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to eight weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth on your propagation, you'll know you have roots.
Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new shrub.

Propagating Dicliptera by Seed

Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need an envelope, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. The best potting medium for seed germination is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
Harvest your seeds. The seed pods on Dicliptera plants are left behind after flowers fade, and once they are turning brown they are ready to drop their seeds. Harvest the seeds out of these pods (as many as you can!) and place them in an envelope until you are ready to use them.
Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 7-14 days from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.