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Russelia equisetiformis
Posted: July 9th, 2013, 9:40 am
by 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.
Re: Russelia equisetiformis
Posted: July 10th, 2013, 12:15 am
by 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.
Re: Russelia equisetiformis
Posted: July 10th, 2013, 2:32 am
by M Farooq
munir wrote: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).
Re: Russelia equisetiformis
Posted: July 10th, 2013, 8:47 am
by 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.
