Anisacanthus wrightii, is the only species hardy in temperate gardens. It has wonderful orange-red, tube-shaped flowers that attract hummingbirds (and butterflies), is drought-tolerant, and is not palatable to deer. What more can you ask for in a perennial?

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More Information About Anisacanthus

The genus Anisacanthus, as the name implies, is related to bear's breeches (acanthus). There are around 18 species in the genus Anisacanthus, all native to the Americas. The northernmost species, Anisacanthus wrightii, is the only species hardy in temperate gardens. The common names of anisacanthus (hummingbird bush, flame acanthus, texas firecracker, desert honeysuckle) tell you a lot about the plant...it attracts hummingbirds (and butterflies), has orange-red tube-shaped flowers, is drought-tolerant, and is not palatable to deer.

Anisacanthus begins blooming in summer and continues until fall. Summer rains will trigger an extra heavy flush of blooms. Although it is very adaptable to different soil types in its native habitat, it needs well-drained soils in temperate gardens to prevent winter root rot. Anisacanthus will grow into a loose shrub up to 6' tall in the wild but winter dieback or mid-spring pruning will tame its height to 3-5'. This flowering perennial looks great in a large container or a mixed border, where it can be combined with other hummingbird plants such as buddleia or kniphofia. Note that anisacanthusis frequently misspelled as aniscanthus in the trade. When you are ready to buy anisacanthus for your garden, check out our online offering of anisacanthus for sale.