Clerodendrum is a genus of flowering plants in the family Lamiaceae, comprising about 400 species. The genus is native to tropical and warm temperate regions of the world, with most of the species diversity happen in tropical Africa and southern Asia. The common names include Glorybower, Bagflower and Bleeding-heart. The genus name is from Greek, meaning 'lottery tree'. Dendros meaning tree.
Clerodendrum is a deciduous or evergreen climber, shrub or tree, usually growing to 1-12 m tall, with opposite or whorl leaves. Clerodendrum species are food plants for larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Endoclita mamabaricus and Endoclita sericeus.
Clerodendrum glabrum is a small to medium deciduous tree, native from Tropical to Southern Africa. The bark is covered in prominent white lenticels. The leaves come in a whorl of three and produce a fetid smell when crushed. The fragrant mauve flowers are borne in dense, terminal clusters, with exserted stamens and style.
Clerodendrum thomsoniae (Bleeding Heart Vine, Glory Bower, Bleeding Glory-bower), 4 m tall, is a tender, evergreen, twining climber, native to tropical west Africa, from Cameroon west to Senegal. It is an evergreen liana growing for its decorative two-colored flowers. It has leaves that are large, ovate to heart-shaped, 8-20 cm long. The bell-shaped flowers are borne in clusters of 8-20, each flower is a pure white to pale purple five-lobed calyx, and a red five-lobed petals.
Clerodendrum bungei (Glory Flower) is a deciduous half-hardy shrub, 1.8 m high and across. It has dark green leaves of up to 20 cm long. In late summer and autumn, clusters of fragrant, dark pink flowers are borne.
Clerodendrum trichotomum, 3 m tall, is a large shrub, native to China and Japan, cultivated for its fragrant flowers, autumn color, and the colorful berries. The leaves are ovate, soft and hairy. The fragrant white flowers are borne on branching peduncles, held within a brown calyx. Its fruit is a bright blue drupe.
C. trichotomum var. fargesii, 6 m high and across, is a hardy, vigorous and deciduous shrub. In spring, bronze leaves emerge and the fragrant white flowers are followed by blue berries.
Clerodenfrum is good in containers and grows well in sun, in fertile, moisture-retentive and well-drained soil. Propagation is by seed in spring; semi-ripe cuttings in summer; or root cuttings in winter. Diseases are mealybugs, red spider mites and whitefly.
Clerodendrum chinense http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Starr_061212-2299_Clerodendrum_chinense.jpg Forest & Kim Starr
Clerodendrum bungei http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Clerodendrum_bungei_2.jpg A. Barra
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Starr_061212-2299_Clerodendrum_chinense.jpg
Forest & Kim Starr
