Ornatec InternationalSpecies reference sheet ยท ornatecinternational.com
Odontonema strictum
Firespike
The Odontonema strictum, known as Firespike, sends erect terminal spikes of narrow scarlet tubular flowers up out of glossy dark green foliage, and it does it in shade, mostly through autumn and into winter when very little else is working.
That timing and that shade tolerance are the reasons it holds a place in understorey planting beneath canopy trees and along the shaded side of buildings, where it also draws nectar feeders in numbers.
Specifications
- Height1 to 2 metres
- Width0.8 to 1.5 metres
- Native toCentral America, from Mexico through to Panama
- FoliageOpposite, glossy dark green, wavy-margined ovate leaves; evergreen
- Growth rateFast
Conditions
- SoilPrefers fertile, humus-rich, free-draining soils
- LightPartial shade to full sun, with the best flowering in part shade
- WaterModerate to regular through the warm months
- ClimateThrives in tropical and warm subtropical regions
Additional Features
- FlowersErect terminal spikes of narrow scarlet tubular flowers, mainly through autumn and into winter
- UsesIdeal for shaded understorey mass planting, informal hedging, and nectar and wildlife beds
- SpacingPlant 0.8 to 1 metre apart for a continuous mass
- Low MaintenanceCut back hard after flowering; it reshoots freely from the base
- Pest ResistanceGenerally sound with basic care
- Wildlife AttractionA strong nectar source for sunbirds, hummingbirds and butterflies
- Seasonal AppealFlowers in the cooler months when most tropical shrubs have finished
Firespike is the answer where a shaded bed needs strong colour at the wrong end of the year.
Availability by project review. Sizes, quantities, origin and export readiness are confirmed after your plant schedule is reviewed against destination, timing and quarantine requirements. MEWA certified for supply into Saudi Arabia; Australian Export Registered Establishment.
Enquiries: sales@ornatecinternational.com
310 Donkin Rd, Utchee Creek QLD 4871, Australia
Prepared 09 September 2026