Russelia equisetiformis

[M Farooq]

Botanical Name	Russelia equisetiformis
Family	Plantaginaceae
Genus	Russelia
Specie	equisetiformis
Local Name in Urdu	Not a local plant, but occasionally seen in Pakistani gardens
Common Name	firecracker plant, coral plant, fountain plant
Life Cycle	Perennials Tropicals and Tender Perennials
Cultivar Name	NA
Fragrant or Not	No fragrance
Category(Bush/Vine/Tree)	Bush
Height	2-3 feet
Spacing	24-36 in.
Flowering Months	Through out the year
Flower Color	Orange red
Growing Areas	All warm areas
Frost Tender	Not available
Exposure	Full sun to partial shade
Soil pH	No specific issues
Propagation	Stem cuttings
Uses	Ornamentals
Other Details	Russelia is a relatively less known but easily available plant for Pakistani gardens as major nurseries do sell it. But plant is native to Mexico. It requires well draining soil. As one can see from the pictures, there are no leaves, just thin drooping stems and pendant orange-red flowers. Russelia is said to be fast growing, easy to cultivate and it blooms almost continuously. It also grows very well in pots. A unique plant indeed in terms of the absence "foliage". The plant is said to attract lots of butterflies. Image by: M. Munir

image courtesy Dr AYKHAN.

[Munir]

The full bush has sufficient foliage; here it is only a twig growing in the stone wall, without any soil for roots. I had removed the bush from the ground just below this remnant, which somehow got stuck in the stone( see left bottom corner of the picture) & has survived for over a year & flowered.It may be getting nourishment from the air.

[M Farooq]

The full bush has sufficient foliage; here it is only a twig growing in the stone wall, without any soil for roots. I had removed the bush from the ground just below this remnant, which somehow got stuck in the stone( see left bottom corner of the picture) & has survived for over a year & flowered.It may be getting nourishment from the air.

Munir shb, nice to see you today (Farhan's visit). Just as we say about some children who do not eat anything...(huva per zinda hey), you said the same thing about your plant (huva per zinda hey). That is like a true fatherly gardener. Joke aside, I guess, your plant is growing inside a bottle necked cavity in the stone i.e. there might be a relatively large cavity inside while apparently on the exterior, the opening is narrow. I cannot think of any other possibility. May be Russelia roots secrete something that slowly dissolves the rocks! This will be fancy science. Wish we could easily do X-ray photography ;-)

Do others have explanations as to how Munir sahab's Russelia is growing on a stone wall? Ficus is another interesting plant which grows on stones- one can see Ficus (peepal trees) growing on the walls of old apartment buildings of Karachi (unfortunately, drawing water from the leaking sewage lines).

[Munir]

Farooq you are right, it can't survive on 'nothing' . Certainly there must be some minimal growing environment that keeps it going. What I meant was that it is not a proper full size plant & is there on its own with practically no care.I seem to have over-emphasised this aspect earlier.