Hamelia patens is native to the American subtropics and tropics. Its range extends from Florida in the Southern United States to as far south as Argentina. It grows best when well supplied with moisture and prefers a full sun to partial shade location in the landscape . In Kampala, this tree can be found within Makerere II zone C, at Upper Kololo terrace, Phillip road among other places.

Firebush is a large, soft-stemmed shrub that reaches a height and width of 1.8 - 3 meters tall without support. It can grow to 5 meters tall or more if given support on a trellis or other structure with a short bole around 8cm in diameter.

BARK: reddish, typically multi-trunked or clumping stems; not particularly showy. Young stems also appear red.

LEAVES: evergreen, covered with red tomentum (hairs) when young and are speckled with red or purple at maturity. The petiole and young stems also appear red, arranged in whorls of 3.

FLOWERS: bright orange-red flowers appear in forking cymes at the tips of the branches throughout the year. The slender flowers are tubular and reach a length of 1 to 1 ½ inches. Although tolerant of shade, flowering is much reduced.

FRUIT: small dark red berry, turning black at maturity, oval fruit less than .5 inch.

Medicine: leaves, stems and flowers. https://florafaunaweb.nparks.gov.sg/Special-Pages/plant-detail.aspx id=2058

The stems and leaves have been used in tanning leather.

The sap has been used to treat skin rashes.

Edible: the small, black, glossy fruits can be eaten. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fp237

The firebush can be used as a foundation plant for large buildings and is superb when placed in the background of a mass of shrubs in a border.

It can be used in a mass planting and functions well as a screen or border.

An ornamental tree.