by Bob Harms ()

H. patens population with abundant greenery & small ice eruptions shown in red boxes.

The hillside behind our Austin home has a large population of escaped Hamelia patens (firebush). With record low temperatures 17°–19° F the second week of January 2010, this Mexican native exhibited crystallofolia. Unlike nearby Verbesina virginica it was not dry and dormant above ground, as can be seen in these pictures. And although not as spectacular as with V. virginica, frost formations followed roughly the same pattern, with the following exceptions, perhaps because the plants were not dormant above ground:

• The source of liguid appeared to be local, rather than from below, via the roots. The base of the eruptions were often smaller than the top.
• The crystallization at times seemed more 'coarse,' not as fine-grained, indicating that the liquid contained nutrients other than water.
• A lower temperature (in the teens F) seemed necessary.

H. patens crystallofolia, Jan. 8–9, 2010.

Frost ‘wing’ – indicating local source of nutrient laden sap

Online information indicates that H. patens is sensitive to freezing (e.g., "it will freeze and die most years" answers.com [in our area]), but our plants have been in place for several years now. It remains to be seen how well they will tolerate our current record-breaking freeze of 2010.