# Firespike (*Odontonema tubaeforme*)

Firespike is a bright and colorful flower that attracts butterflies and hummingbirds. Its tall, spiky shape makes it stand out in gardens and nature.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Tropical areas

![Firespike](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Odontonema_tubaeforme.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Tauʻolunga, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Odontonema_tubaeforme.jpg)

## Appearance

The Firespike has striking upright spikes of bright, tubular flowers, typically vivid red or fiery orange. Its long, glossy green leaves provide a lush backdrop, making the vibrant flower spikes truly stand out in any garden.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Lamiales
- **Family:** Acanthaceae
- **Genus:** Odontonema

## Interesting facts

- Even though it loves the sun, Firespike can grow happily in partial shade too!
- Its fiery red flowers are like natural magnets for curious hummingbirds!
- Some people call it the 'Hummingbird Bush' because they just can't resist it!
- The plant's scientific name, Odontonema tubaeforme, means 'toothed thread, tube-shaped'!

## Special abilities

- **Enduring Bloom:** Firespike can bloom for many months, even year-round in warm climates, ensuring a long show of color.
- **Resilient Roots:** Firespike can regrow from its roots after a light frost or hard pruning, making it quite durable.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 90-180 cm
- **Spread:** 60-120 cm
- **Flower Size:** 2-3 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Summer to Fall (year-round in frost-free zones)
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Bird

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** [Ruby-throated Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/ruby-throated-hummingbird) (*Archilochus colubris*) — Feeds on nectar, transferring pollen.
- **Pollinates:** [Monarch Butterfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/monarch-butterfly) (*Danaus plexippus*) — Visits flowers for nectar.
- **Pollinates:** European Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Gathers nectar and pollen.

## Traits

- [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form.
- [Everblooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/everblooming): Everblooming plants produce flowers continuously or in repeated flushes over a long period.
- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
- [Spiky/Thorny](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spiky-thorny): Possessing sharp, pointed projections or spines on the body or surface.

## Collections

- [Flowers](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/flowers)
- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always look but don't touch flowers without asking an adult.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Firespike?

Count the petals where you can, then compare the flower's center, its symmetry, how the blooms are grouped and the leaves below. Color varies between garden varieties and shifts with the light. Flower Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Firespike?

90-180 cm

### How wide does Firespike spread?

60-120 cm

### How big are the flowers on Firespike?

2-3 cm

### When does Firespike bloom?

Summer to Fall (year-round in frost-free zones)

### Is Firespike edible?

No

### Is Firespike toxic?

None

### What is Firespike's lifecycle?

Perennial

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Firespike: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/firespike)