Embothrium Coccineum

( em - BOTH - ree - um    kock - SIN - ee - um )

At-A-Glance Information

Also called Chilean Fire Bush, this woody evergreen or deciduous shrub or tree grows best in full sun or light shade with regular to ample water. It is native to Chile, and puts on a profuse floral show in late spring to early summer that will attract hummingbirds and butterflies to your garden. Chilean Fire Bush reaches its full size in about 10-20 years. They look great in mixed beds, alongside walking and sitting areas, against walls and fences, in entryways, or as potted patio plants. Chilean Fire Bush grows best in zones 5, 6, 14-17, and 21-24. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Caring for and pruning embothrium coccineum shrubs

These shrubs prefer to be planted in late spring or early summertime in full sun in acidic, rich soil that is well-draining but kept relatively moist. Once established, they are relatively drought-tolerant, but do best with twice weekly waterings . Plant in a sheltered area that receives some frost and wind protection. These shrubs can either be grown in ground or in containers (though they do better in-ground); in areas with cold winters, it may be best to grow in a container so the plant can be moved inside during the cooler months of the year. Avoid fertilizing these shrubs; they do not do well with potassium or phosphorus added into the soil and are best with a simple dressing of organic matter each year. Prune out dead or damaged branches as needed, and complete a wintertime hard pruning each year, cutting the bush back to a few feet high. The plant will produce profuse spring vegetative growth and flowers in the same year.

Propagation

Chilean Fire Bush can be propagated either by using volunteers or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the volunteer 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 Embothrium coccineum by Seed
  1. 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 a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows.
  2. Harvest your seeds. The seed pods ripen after warm spells in summertime, opening to reveal winged seeds, and will be ready to harvest in late October. Store the seeds over the winter in cool (but not frosty), dark conditions.
  3. In early spring of the next year, 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 is usually pretty quick for these shrubs.
  4. 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 late summertime when they can be potted up. Young seedlings are best stored in a shaded area of a greenhouse. Direct sun can scorch the developing leaves.

Propagating Embothrium coccineum by Volunteer
  1. Volunteer seedlings are likely to pop up around your Chilean Fire Bush if you do not remove suckers when they pop up. If you see these appearing, you can remove them and repot or replant them wherever you'd like. To propagate your plant via volunteer seedlings, you'll need a garden shovel, potting soil, and a pot (if you won't be replanting it immediately in your garden).
  2. Dig up your volunteer shrub using your garden shovel, being careful to not damage the roots. Then, either in your prepared pot or a prepared spot in your garden, replant it. Water it in, and continue providing regular waterings until the shrub has established itself in its new home.

Problems and Pests

Chilean Fire Bush is bothered by the following pests and diseases:
  • ​Aphids
  • Mealybugs
  • Scale
  • Powdery Mildew
  • Root Rot
For more information on these issues, including how to prevent and eradicate them, see the following links:
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Gallery

Plant Chilean Fire Bush alongside walkways and to add color to otherwise monochromatic gardens.
Cutting back these shrubs every winter allows them to come back and flower strong in springtime.
The flowers on these shrubs will attract both hummingbirds and butterflies to your garden.

Videos

How to harvest and store Chilean Fire Bush seeds.
How to care for Chilean Fire Bush seedlings.
How to grow and care for Chilean Fire Bush.
 

Resources

Firebush Care
Chilean Fire Trees are Worth the Effort
Embothrium coccineum
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 300, Embothrium coccineum (Chilean Fire Bush)
If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or photos you’d like to add to the gallery, please let me know by sending me a message using the button below!
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