Dwarf Firebush

[Nemoose]

Anyone have any experience with Dwarf Firebush. I just picked up one that is pretty leggy. Can I do a hard prune. Will it back bud on bare branches? Should I leave some foliage and cut back slowly?

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

Not familiar with the species. Do you have a scientific name for it? Common names can be confusing.

 

[coachspinks]

Hamelia Patens Dwarf
Florida native
I don't have personal experience with them but I saw on general plant forum where people have cut them off at the ground and they have grown back. They are shrubs so I suspect that they do tolerate hard pruning.
I would do it at the right time though. Probably as it is waking up in the spring.

 

[JoeH]

They are going down now for the winter so maybe just leave it be. It does freeze, too, so have a plan for protecting it.

 

[Nemoose]

Thanks all. I got some advice from Ben Agresta on another site. He has a large bonsai collection (250 trees) near me. He just did a hard prune to the bare trunk on one just last week. So in guess I will follow his lead

 

[JoeH]

I wouldn't cut them back till they go dormant or freeze back in a landscape setting.

 

[Doogliebop]

Thanks all. I got some advice from Ben Agresta on another site. He has a large bonsai collection (250 trees) near me. He just did a hard prune to the bare trunk on one just last week. So in guess I will follow his lead

Any updates? Or a chance you could share the info or the link to the info page? I picked up a couple at home despot and am also attempting to develop them.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

Any updates? Or a chance you could share the info or the link to the info page? I picked up a couple at home despot and am also attempting to develop them.

The OP hasn't been back since 2015, but @coachspinks is still around, perhaps he can help you. I know little about this species.

 

[coachspinks]

The OP hasn't been back since 2015, but @coachspinks is still around, perhaps he can help you. I know little about this species.

I am still around, a little! First hand info...all I can help with is what I originally posted. However, ironically, I am currently on vacation in the panhandle of Florida and on a bike ride today I passed a couple of varieties and then get this notification! I did a little more reading and this sounds like a tough bush. I would cut back a test branch and see how it responds. From about north central on down, it sounds like it grows year round.