Hamelia ‘Lime Sizzler’

Beautiful foliage sets ‘Lime Sizzler’ apart from the typical medium green

We have a new firebush for you and when we say new, we mean new—‘Lime Sizzler’ was discovered in 2014 in Florida. Boy, is it hard-to-get. We featured it in a Field Day trial a while ago where it was a hit with our crowd. Beautiful variegated foliage sets it apart from the typical medium green; however, ‘Lime Sizzler’ disappeared from the market for the next two years. This year, it reappeared in limited quantities so we snapped it up as soon as it was available.

This firebush is new to the playing field

Now, the good news is that if you know Lantanas you already know how to use Hamelia ‘Lime Sizzler’. Down in Florida, ‘Lime Sizzler’ grows as a bush but here in Cincinnati we use it as an annual. It grows a few inches taller than Lantana for us and exhibits similar cultural virtues as Lantana: pest and drought tolerance; beautiful colors in high summer; and great performance in poor soil. Yet the look is very different.

These funky flowers are full of nectar

Brilliant red-orange tubular flowers are rich with nectar, attracting hummingbirds and butterflies to the garden all summer long. Each golden yellow leaf is a separate work of art, splashed with a unique pattern of vivid chartreuse with some darker green in the middle. They form a collective glow that lightens the landscape. This is definitely a plant you want to get for those customers who appreciate interesting alternatives.

Plant in full sun for the best color show

For the best color plant this shrub in full sun—that way you’ll get the most flowers, too. It’s a good size for a focal point and can be used as an outside-the-box hedge as well. ‘Lime Sizzler’ can be grown in partial shade as well but the colors will be a bit tamer.

‘Lime Sizzler’ as a single specimen—it mounds out with no pruning or shaping

Note that the foliage keeps its great two-tone pattern for the season, and then adds red to the tips with blooms that reach over and above the foliage itself. You can make ‘Lime Sizzler’ a conversation starter by placing it as a centerpiece—the plant creates a neat dome-like shape all on its own. This firebush is also loose enough to spread out as a canvas where you can intermix it with other exotics or interesting vertical choices.

Mix it up with other exotic choices

'Lime Sizzler' is also an interesting choice for patio pots. It draws the visiting pollinators up close where we can enjoy them, and the plant has a lot of interesting details to entertain guests for a long time. This bright eye-catcher also creates balance when used in between plants with darker foliage.

Flowers extend beyond the foliage where they are easily visible from a distance

Hamelia ‘Lime Sizzler’ is available in the 4.5-inch pot.