Plant in shade to full coastal sun where it tolerates most soils. Water occasionally to regularly. This plant is typically evergreen in our coastal California climate but can be cut to the ground by a hard frost, reemerging in spring to rebound and bloom in the summer. From reports it seems root hardy to around 15 F so it can be grown as a tropical perennial that reaches to 4 feet tall in colder locations or as a summer annual anywhere. It is attractive to hummingbirds.

Odontonema callistachyum is native to Mexico and Central America. The name for the genus is from the Greek words 'odonto' meaning teeth and 'nema' meaning "thread" in reference to the stamens having toothed filaments. The specific epithet in a combination of the Latin word 'callos' or 'calli' meaning beautiful and the Greek word 'stachys' meaning a "spike" or an "ear of corn" in reference to the beautiful spikes of flowers of this species. 

The information about Odontonema callistachyum displayed on this web page is based on our research conducted in the nursery's horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also include observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments we receive from others and welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share cultural information that would aid others in growing this plant.