Russelia sarmentosa

"Firecracker Plant," "Coral Fountain," and "Fountain Bush.", Antiqua Sage

Message of the Flower

Spiritual Aspiration in the Physical

The Mother’s Comment

Comes in bursts to counteract and overcome resistances which cannot succeed in making it give up.

Spiritual Message by the Mother/ Quotes by Sri Aurobindo

When I speak of the physical consciousness, I mean the physical mind and the physical vital as well as the body consciousness proper.

Sri Aurobindo, Letters on Yoga - I: The Physical Consciousness

In my view the body as well as the mind and life has to be spiritualised or, one may say, divinised so as to be a fit instrument and receptacle for the realisation and manifestation of the Divine. It has its part in the divine Lila, even, according to the Vaishnava sadhana, in the joy and beauty of Divine Love. That does not mean that the body has to be valued for its own separate sake or that the creation of a divine body in a future evolution of the whole being has to be contemplated as an end and not a means—that would be a serious error which would not be admissible. In any case, my speculations about an extreme form of divinisation are something in a far distance and are no part of the preoccupations of the spiritual life in the near future.

Sri Aurobindo, Letters on Himself and the Ashram: Spiritual Force and the Body

Colour

bright red or orange-red.

Family

lantaginaceae (formerly Scrophulariaceae)

Cultivars

does not have a wide range of distinct cultivars

Flower Size

small, typically less than 1 inch (2.5 cm) in length.

Flower Texture

soft and delicate texture

Number of Petals

five petals fused into a tube

Floral Symmetry

bilateral symmetry

Fragrance of Flower

subtle fragrance

Leaf Texture

small, lance-shaped, and have a smooth texture

Leaf Arrangement

arranged alternately on the stem

Leaf Color

green

Structural Variation (Shrub or Tree)

sprawling, semi-woody shrub

Life Cycle

perennial

Blooming Period

late spring through summer and into fall, producing flowers continuously.

Climate

warm and tropical climates

Water Requirements

regular watering, especially during dry periods

Soil Type

Well-draining soil

Temperature Ranges

warm temperatures and cannot tolerate frost.

Sun or Shade

full sun for optimal growth and flowering.

Susceptibility to Insects and Diseases

It is generally resistant to many pests and diseases

Pollinators

Hummingbirds

Habitat

native to Mexico and Central America and is often found in tropical and subtropical regions.

Role in the Ecosystem

nectar source for hummingbirds

Ornamental

ornamental plant for its cascading, tubular flowers.

Endangered Status

No