Anisacanthus quadrifidus aka Texas Firecracker

Anisacanthus quadrifidus is a shrub in the acanthus family. This family bears the name Acanthaceae. Kew gives Mexico as its native range. Kew places it in a tropical biome with dry seasons. Virginia Tech describes a dense shrub with a round shape. It grows about 5 feet [1.52 metres] tall. The supplied species account does not state its width. Its woody frame holds thin twigs and bright green leaves.

The bark ranges from reddish shades to gray-brown. It starts to shred as it grows old. The thin twigs have a gray-brown shade too. They bear swollen points where pairs of opposite leaves once grew. Fine hairs may cover these twigs. These small stem traits help describe more than its blooms. The leaves grow in opposite pairs along each stem. Each leaf is simple: one blade, not split into leaflets.

The leaves are lanceolate, with a narrow shape and smooth edges. They range from about half an inch to two and a half inches long. Both sides of each leaf are bright green. Some leaves have a coat of fine hairs. The shrub sheds its leaves but may stay evergreen without frost. Its leaf cover thus depends in part on frost. The evidence gives no heat or cold limit for this change.

The main show comes from red to orange flowers. Four joined petals form each tube. Each tube is about one and a half inches long. The flowers grow on spikes about eight inches long. Virginia Tech says bloom starts in midsummer. Flowers may last until the first frost with enough moisture. This ties the length of bloom to the water supply. It does not give a full plan for garden watering. The fruit is a capsule with two chambers. It splits open when it matures.

The evidence leaves some garden questions about the species open. It gives no soil needs or sun needs for the species. It sets no hardiness zones and names no pest or disease risks. It gives no basis to judge safety as food or toxicity. The detailed care pages cover Anisacanthus quadrifidus var. wrightii. They do not cover the species as a whole. Their care tips and landscape uses cannot safely fill these gaps. The species account supports its round shape, leaves, bark, blooms, and fruit.