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Russelia equisetiformis 'Flamingo Park' (Pink Coral Plant) - A multi-branching, evergreen (in our climate), subshrub with 4 to 5 foot long arching 4-angled stems that have leaves that have been reduced to very small scale-like ovate leaflets. Both stems and leaves are a bright green color and new grow starts erect but rapidly bends over to form a graceful mound. Primarily in spring and summer the tips of the branches are graced with bright coral-pink tubular flowers, but flowering can occur any time of the year with flower buds only dropping off if temperatures are too cool.
Plant in full sun to deep shade. Tolerates wind and most any soil with medium drainage but does requires fairly regular to occasional irrigation to look its best - can be kept drier in shade but does not bloom well.. Hardy to 25° F and can resprout after a freeze. Great for a large pot or used spilling over a wall. Can be trained up a trellis to make a taller more vertical plant. This species is grows naturally from Mexico south to Guatemala. The name Russelia was given to the genus by the Dutch scientist Baron Nikolaus von Jacquin (1727-1817) to honor the Scottish naturalist Alexander Russell (1715–1768). The specific epithet means "like Equisetum" in reference to this plants resemblance to the a horse tail rush. It has also been described as Russelia juncea, an epithet that would refer to it being "rush-like". Another common name for this plant is Firecracker Plant. We started growing this plant in 2006 and also grew the darker red flowering species, Russelia equisetiformis, as well as a yellow flowering cultivar Russelia equisetiformis 'Aurea'.
The information displayed on this page about Russelia equisetiformis 'Flamingo Park' is based on the research we have conducted about it in our nursery library as well as from information provided by reliable online resources. We also include our own observations made about this plant as it grows in the nursery gardens and other gardens visited, as well how the crops of this plant have performed in the containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments that we have received from others and welcome hearing from anyone with information about this plant, particularly if it includes cultural information that will aid others to better grow it.
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