Dicliptera squarrosa

Dicliptera squarrosa, also known as firecracker plant and Hummingbird plant, is a species of flowering plant in the acanthus family, Acanthaceae. A scrambling subshrub, it is native to central South America.^[2][3]

It is a drought tolerant, subshrub approximately 60 cm in height and a width of 45 cm, with an upright to drooping habit, and thin stems. The opposite, hairy leaves are 4 to 8 cm long, oval, dull or velvety medium green, and covered with grey down.^[2]

The vibrant reddish-orange flowers, 2 to 4 cm long, are borne in axillary and terminal clusters, which blossom throughout the summer and into autumn. In addition to butterflies, its flowers attract hummingbirds, hence its common name.^[2]

The genus name is from the Greek diklis which means double-folding, and 'pteron' meaning wing, denotating the two wing-like divisions in the capsule. The species name means with parts spreading or bent at the extremities. This plant is cited in Flora Brasiliensis by Carl Friedrich Philipp von Martius.^[2]

It is native to Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, northern Argentina, Uruguay, and southern, southeastern, and west-central Brazil,^[1] including the Cerrado ecoregion of Brazil. It grows primarily in the seasonally dry tropical biome. In Costa Rica, it flowers during the dry season (summer) at altitudes of 1630 m above sea level.^[2]

The Hummingbird plant is a tender, herbaceous perennial that can easily grow in well-drained soils such as loam and silt under full sun. Tolerating mild shade and drought, it is winter hardy to Zones 8-10 in the US, which can be protected with mulch cover. It can tolerate temperatures down to −17.7 °C (0 °F) and may also be grown as an annual. It may be grown in containers or hanging baskets. Cuttings can be taken and overwintered indoors.^[2][3]

• (in Portuguese) Flora Brasiliensis: Dicliptera sericea