Slender evergreen or semi-deciduous tree of Patagonian Andean forest reaching 10 m, with leathery dark leaves and spectacular fiery scarlet-orange tubular flowers in spring. Among the great Southern Hemisphere ornamental trees.
Hardiness ratings
| System | Rating | Temperature range | How to read it |
|---|---|---|---|
| USDA hardiness zone | Zone 7–9 | −17.8 °C to −1.1 °C | Plant tolerates down to this zone |
| RHS hardiness rating | H5 | −15 °C to −10 °C | Plant needs at least this level of cold tolerance |
| Canadian plant hardiness zone | Zone 7–8 | −12 °C to −1 °C | Plant tolerates down to this zone |
| Australian (ANBG) zone | Zone 2–4 | −10 °C to 5 °C | Plant tolerates down to this zone |
Growing notes
- Native to the Andean Valdivian forest of Patagonian Chile and Argentina — cool wet maritime climate
- Demanding cultivation — needs cool moist summers, acidic moist well-drained soil, shelter from drying winds; succeeds in coastal western UK, Ireland, Tasmania, New Zealand
- Member of the Proteaceae — phosphorus sensitive, do not feed phosphate fertilisers
- Pollinated in the wild by Patagonian hummingbirds
Categories
Related plants
Cross-check Chilean firebush against your zones