Description
Odontonema strictum is a species of plant in the family Acanthaceae which is endemic to South America.
Firespike is one of the few red tubular flowers to bloom in autumn and is very popular with hummingbirds and all kinds of butterflies. Unfortunately, white-tailed deer love firespike too, and will eat the leaves.
Defoliated plants will grow new leaves, but if the deer persist, the plant eventually will be killed. Odontonema strictum is a species of plant in the family Acanthaceae which is endemic to South America. The plant grows to a height of two metres or half that if it grown in a container. The waxy flowers grow in twelve inch spikes and in their native country they attract hummingbirds and butterflies when they bloom in the autumn.Plant Specifications
| Common Name | Firespike. |
| Maximum Reachable Height | Upto 2 Meter. |
| Flower Colour | Red |
| Bloom Time | Late summer through winter. |
| Difficulty Level | Easy. |
Planting and care
If frost or freezing temperatures threaten, cover the firespike bushes to protect them. If they do get frozen, it will kill off the growth above ground, but it will usually grow back in the spring as soon as the soil warms.Firespike plant care also includes keeping them from taking over your flower beds. When the branches get too long or unruly, prune them back. Do this two or three times a year for the best looking plants.
Odonotonema strictum care
Give firespikes plenty of room to grow when you plant them. Space the small bushes 24 to 36 inches apart. They will fill in this space in a few years, creating a single wall of glossy green leaves and spikes of flaming blooms.
| Sunlight | Full sun to partial shade. |
| Watering | Keep the soil moist. Once established it can tolerate draught but You should water even established plants if it hasn t rained for more than two or three weeks. |
| Soil | Well-drained soil. |
| Temperature | Hardiness upto 40 degrees F. |
| Fertilizer | A balanced fertilizer (10-10-5) or equivalent can be used monthly from June through october. |
Odonotonema strictum uses
Ornamental Use:
- Used in landscapes and mixed shrub borders