Bouvardia (boo-VAR-dee-uh) is an evergreen flowering shrub that belongs to the genus Bouvardia and is a member of the family Rubiaceae, also known as the Madder, Coffee, or Bedstraw family.
The Rubiaceae family comprises mostly terrestrial trees, shrubs, herbs, or lianas,
The closest relative of Bouvardia is the well-known lovely Gardenia flowers.
The genus name Bouvardia was derived in honor of Charles Bouvard, a French chemist who lived from 1572 to 1658 and was a physician to France’s King Louis XIII.
Bouvard also acted as Paris’s superintendent of the Jardin des Plantes.
According to the Floriography or the language of flowers, Bouvardia is said to signify enthusiasm and is commonly given as a gift to people with a zest for life.
This compact, shrub-like flowering plant is native to Central America and Mexico, with one of its species, Bouvardia ternifolia, growing abundantly in Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas.
Bouvardia was introduced back in 1854 to the UK and has grown in Canada, Europe, and other sub-tropical zones.
It goes by many names, including:
- Trumpetellia
- Hummingbird flower
Bouvardia is prized for its cluster of lightly-scented trumpet-shaped blooms and dark green leaves.
Because of its fragrant and lovely blooms rich in nectar, Bouvardia frequently attracts hummingbirds, butterflies, bees, and other pollinators.
This is why it got its other common name, Hummingbird flower.
Some of the accepted Bouvardia species include:
- Bouvardia albiflora
- Bouvardia bouvardioides
- Bouvardia capitata
- Bouvardia elegans
- Bouvardia leiantha
- Bouvardia longiflora
- Bouvardia pungens
- Bouvardia rosea
- Bouvardia sancaroli
- Bouvardia ternifolia
Among the Bouvardia species, the most popular and widely grown are:
- Bouvardia longiflora
- Bouvardia leiantha
- Bouvardia ternifolia
Quick Tips On Bouvardia
- Family: Rubiaceae
- Light: Full sun, bright sunlight; partial shade
- Temperature: 55° to 60° degrees Fahrenheit
- Water: Watered deeply once or twice a week
- Fertilizer: All-purpose and balanced fertilizer
- Propagation: Root or stem cuttings
- Common Problems: Aphids, mealybugs, mites, and beetles
Bouvardia Care
Bouvardia plants have a reputation for being relatively fussy about growing conditions, so attention and patience are necessary when growing and caring for these plants.
Here are the different aspects you need to consider when planting Bouvardia:
How Big Does The Firecracker Bush Grow?
Bouvardia is a herbaceous perennial, often reaching about 1′ to 2′ feet tall.
However, it can reach up to 2′ to 4′ feet high when grown in ideal growing conditions and locations, such as an enclosed porch or greenhouse.
The Firecracker bush has a medium growth rate, typically lasting up to 10 years.
When Does The Firecracker Bush Flower? Are The Flowers Fragrant?
Bouvardia features loose clusters of a star or trumpet-shaped flowers with four stamens and four petals carried on tall stalks.
Each cluster of flowers is fringed and interspersed with large, dark green pointed leaves.
Each flower typically comes in shades of white, red, pink, yellow, and orange that attract hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies.
The firecracker bush flowers from mid-summer to fall (May to October) for several weeks with a delightful light fragrance resembling fresh jasmine. Also, the light scent becomes more pronounced at night.
However, the blooming season may vary depending on the Bouvardia variety and location.
The colors of the Bouvardia flowers also have various representations.
White Bouvardia flowers often symbolize truth, purity, modesty, and elegance. Therefore, they are also often used in floral displays.
Red Bouvardia flowers represent strength, passion, and desire and are commonly used in bouquets for Valentine’s Day.
Pink Bouvardia flowers mean youth, innocence, and young love and may even represent romance when used for a wedding or holiday bouquet.
Yellow Bouvardia flowers represent the sun’s color and bring joy, happiness, and lightheartedness.
What Are The Lighting Needs And Temperature Requirements?
Bouvardia plants thrive in full sun to bright sunlight but may also tolerate partial shade.
They require exposure to direct sunlight for 6 to 8 hours daily when planted in full sun locations.
Avoid planting Bouvardia in too much shade, as it can prevent the plant from blooming and hinder its full growth potential.
When grown indoors, the firecracker bush must be placed in the brightest window and under grow lights or fluorescent bulbs during the winter.
The firecracker bush grows best at a consistent temperature ranging from 55° to 60° degrees Fahrenheit.
It can also tolerate temperatures as low as 10° to 15° degrees Fahrenheit, but anything below that will injure the plant.
In addition, Bouvardia is a tropical perennial that thrives in USDA plant hardiness zones 9 through 11 and must be grown in temperate regions as annuals.
How And When To Water And Fertilize The Firecracker Bush?
Generally, deeply water your Bouvardia plant one or twice weekly to ensure the soil doesn’t completely dry out.
However, do not overwater it as it can cause root rot.
For fertilizer application, feed your firecracker bush with al-purpose and balanced fertilizer during the summer and flowering season. Do this once per week.
For potted Bouvardia plants, the best fertilizer is water-soluble fertilizer.
What Is The Best Soil For Bouvardia, And When Should You Transplant?
Bouvardia thrives in well-drained, nutrient-rich soil but also prefers clay loam or sandy soil.
This plant also grows best in neutral to acidic soil with a pH level between 6.1 to 7.3.
You can also amend your soil with well-aged manure, compost, or peat moss to boost soil fertility, improve aeration, and provide a source of slow-release nutrients.
For transplanting, it’s best to do it annually to a larger pot, especially when the firecracker bush is already three years of age.
Does Bouvardia Need Special Grooming Or Maintenance?
Bouvardia plants are generally low maintenance but may require regular deadheading to stimulate more blooms.
It’s also best to remove wilted flowers to keep the plant neat and tidy-looking.
You can also hard trim the firecracker bush when it’s actively growing to encourage healthy growth.
In the springtime, pinch the young Bouvardia stems once or twice to promote bushier growth.
How To Propagate Trumpetellia?
Bourvardia, also known as Trumpetellia, can be propagated by two methods:
- Root cuttings
- Stem cuttings
To propagate a Trumpetellia plant via root cuttings, here’s what you need to do:
- First, take 1″ to 2″ inches root cuttings with 4 or 5 nodes before the spring, preferably in January or February.
- Put the root cuttings in the soil mix of sand and peat moss.
- Cover them with 1/2 inch of the same soil mix.
- Keep the soil moist and at a temperature of about 55 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
- These Bouvardia roots cutting will germinate within 3 to 5 weeks.
For propagation via stem cuttings, do the following:
- Take 4″ to 6″ inches of stem cuttings from a healthy Trumpetellia plant in the spring or summer.
- Ensure the stems are free from any disease.
- Remove the lower leaves from the stem cuttings but leave a few leaves.
- Dip the stem cutting’s lower end in rooting hormone powder.
- Place the stem cuttings in the same soil mix of root cuttings.
- Cover them with plastic wrap that will act as a greenhouse.
- Place the stem cuttings in a warm area with a temperature of up to 80 or 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
- For aeration, open the plastic wrap once in 3 days and keep the soil moist.
The stem cuttings will develop roots in 6 to 8 weeks.
Bouvardia Pests And Diseases
Bouvardia plants are pest-resistant but sometimes prone to pest attacks by the following:
- Aphids
- Beetles
- Mealybugs
- Mites
- Whiteflies
If this happens, spray the Bouvardia plant with an insecticide like neem oil or insecticidal soap spray to keep the pests in control.
Uses Of Hummingbird Flower
With their light-scented, lovely trumpet-shaped flowers, Hummingbird flowers can be grown outdoors to attract hummingbirds, butterflies, bees, and other pollinators.
They can also be grown as indoor houseplants and ornamental plants in temperate regions.
Bouvardia plants are also excellent as centerpiece plants for gardens or any landscape, providing a wonderful display of colors.
In addition, they are also prized as florist flowers or cut flowers that are often used in wedding arrangements or bouquets.