Probably Hamelia patens

"griffon" wrote in message
...
Anyone know of a shrub commonly refered to as "firebush" in the south?
An older lady wants me to find her one and she does not know the
shrub's true name - it sounds a lot like a quince from the
description: thorns, new leaves are red, red blooms, blooms around the
same time or right after forsythia...

But I have not heard anyone refer to a quince as firebush before.