Firespike (Odontonema strictum)
Tall red spikes in fall and winter, happy in shade, and hummingbird approved.
Tall red flower spikes that hummingbirds chase all fall.
Invasive status alert
Honest caveat on spreading: UF/IFAS notes firespike has invasive potential and may self-seed each year, so keep an eye on it and pull volunteers, especially near natural or wild edges. It spreads readily from the roots too, so give it a defined bed.
Why it works here
This is a go-to for red color in a shady spot, which is hard to find, and the tall spikes of tubular red flowers come on in fall and winter right when hummingbirds are migrating through. Butterflies work it too. It is easy, fast, and forgiving, and it fills in a shaded bed quickly.
Care
Water it while it establishes, then it handles our conditions with occasional help in a drought. Compost in spring and a couple inches of mulch keep it going. Winter cold naturally trims it, and many folks cut it to the ground after bloom to clean it up and let it flush fresh in spring. It spreads by division and cuttings very easily, so it is simple to make more or pass along.
Common problems
Honest caveat on spreading: UF/IFAS notes firespike has invasive potential and may self-seed each year, so keep an eye on it and pull volunteers, especially near natural or wild edges. It spreads readily from the roots too, so give it a defined bed.
Cold burn: expected. Cut it back after a freeze and it returns from the roots.
Basically pest-free otherwise: no major bugs or diseases to fight.
Common questions
Will it really bloom in shade?
Yes, that is its best trick. You will get more flowers in sun, but it is one of the few plants that gives you red spikes in a shady bed.
Is it invasive?
It is not on the formal do-not-plant list I could confirm, but UF/IFAS does flag it for invasive potential and self-seeding, so I treat it as a plant to watch. Keep it away from wild areas and pull any seedlings, and you will be fine.
When do I cut it back?
After it finishes blooming or after a freeze knocks it down. Cut it low and it comes back fuller.
Interested in a firespike (odontonema strictum) in your landscape?
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