Bouvardia (Hummingbird Flower, Trumpetallia, Firecracker Bush)

Common Name: Hummingbird Flower, Trumpetallia, Firecracker Bush

Kingdom: Plantae

Order: Gentianales

Family: Rubiaceae

Tribe: Spermacoceae

Genus: Bouvardia

Bouvardia is a flower, belonging to the Rubiaceae family, that has about 30 species of different flowers in it. It has single or double star-like blooms. These blooms are mounted on a tubular neck. These flowers have a very pleasant scent and the tubular star shape gives them a very beautiful appearance, making them an ideal choice for decoration purposes in the vases and bouquets. The shelf life of these flowers ranges from one to two weeks.

These flowers come in variety of colors ranging from pink, white, red or salmon. Each stem of this flower resembles a bouquet in itself with a bundle of several flowers surrounded by large, deep-green leaves that are pointed in shape. The shrub of this flower blooms in the months of May till October and it lives for a period of ten years.

Bouvardia flower’s fragrance is very attractive and butterflies and hummingbirds get easily attracted to it.

How to Grow:

Bouvardia blossoms best in the temperatures above 50 F. It cannot survive in temperatures that are very cold or below 20 F. Under such temperature, this plant loses its all leaves.

For growing bouvardia in your house follow the following steps:

1. Take a pot and fill it with soil enriched with organic matter.
2. Place this pot away from direct sunlight, but not in a very cold area as both can destroy the plant.
3. Plant the sapling in this pot and make sure you water this pot regularly such that the soil always stays moist. But, don’t make the soil soggy with water.
4. Keep the soil properly fertilized so that the plant gets sufficient nutrition.
5. Prune the plant regularly during its growing period. This helps in making the plant appear neat and beautiful.
6. This plant is very vulnerable to insects like whiteflies, so keep a check on that and make sure you take necessary steps to save your plants from these pests.

Propagation:

Bouvardia can be grown using the cuttings of the stem taken from the plant during early summers.

Uses:

It is mainly used as a decorative plant, both inside and outside the house because of its beautiful flowers and pointed shapely leaves. Also, the fragrance makes it appropriate for keeping it inside the house.

Back to Home