Clerodendrum

( kleer - oh - DEN - drum )

At-A-Glance Information

This genus is commonly called Glorybower, Bloom, Bag Flower or Bleeding Heart, and includes evergreen and deciduous shrubs and vines that need regular waterings. These plants have large clusters of showy, brightly-colored, fragrant (in some species) flowers. They are native to New Guinea and the Philippines, and their flowers will attract hummingbirds, bees, and long-tongued butterflies into the garden. Use these shrubs in mixed beds, as accent plantings, as a privacy screen, or for hiding foundations. Take care when planting these shrubs in your garden, as some species have poisonous parts.

Clerodendrum Species and Varietals

The genus Clerodendrum belongs to the Mint family, Lamiaceae (though it was previously included in the family Verbenaceae). It includes between 150 and 450 distinct species, and was first formally described by Carl Linnaeus in Species Plantarum. The genus name is derived from two Greek words: kleros (chance or fate) and dendron (tree). Growing zones for Clerodendrum depend on the species. For more information, see the descriptions below. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

​Clerodendrum bungei (Clerodendrum foetidum) (Cashmere Bouquet, Rose Glory Bower, Glory Flower, Mexican Hydrangea)
This species is evergreen and grows best in zones 5-9 and 12-24. Native to China, this plant grows rapidly to 6 feet tall and wide. Leaves are large, oval-shaped and dark green with rust colored fuzz underneath. Leaves have an unpleasant odor when bruised or crushed. Blooms in fragrant red clusters in summer and fall. Should be pruned back severely in springtime and pinched back throughout the growing season. Needs deep shade in hotter regions, and partial shade elsewhere.

Clerodendrum chinense chinense (Clarodendrum fragrans  pleniflorum) (Glory Bower)
This is an evergreen to semi-evergreen shrub native to China, Nepal, and Malesia that grows best in zones 8, 9, and 12-24. These shrubs reach between 5 and 8 feet tall and spreadfreely by suckers. 10-inch leaves and pale pink double flowers with a sweet fragrance clothe these shrubs in beautiful foliage and blooms. Needs partial shade to perform best.

Clerodendrum floribundum (Lolly Bush, Smooth Clerodendrum)
Native to Australia and New Guinea, this species grows in coastal regions in dry rocky sites. Leaves can have sharp tips. The species typically forms a small tree, though in their native range they can reach up to 100 feet tall. Flowers are fragrant and white, blooming from September through December in the plant's native range.

Clerodendrum infortunatum (Bhat, Hill Glory Bower)
This is the type species of the genus Clerodendrum, and is native to tropical areas of Asia. It forms a shrub or small tree, and has large leaves. The species reaches up to 13 feet tall, and produces white flowers with pink centers. Fruits that follow are metallic and blue.

​Clerodendrum myricoides 'Ugandense' (Clerodendrum ugandense)
Native to tropical Africa, this evergreen shrub grows to 10 feet tall and 5 feet wide. Grows well in zones 9, 14-24 H1 and H2. Does not grow as large in California's climate, where it only reaches about half its natural size. Has glossy, dark green leaves and violet-blue with pale blue flowers. Needs partial shade.

Clerodendrum palmatolobatum
This species is native to Cambodia and Vietnam, and reaches up to 10 feet tall when mature. Flowers are bright red, and leaves are large, green and palmately lobed.

Clerodendrum phlomidis (Clerodendrum multiflorum)
These large shrubs are native to Myanmar, and are valued in Ayurvedic medicine. Leaves are green, wavy, and have hairy undersides. Flowers are small, white, and bloom in terminal inflorescences from August to February in the shrub's native range. Blooms are very fragrant.

Clerodendrum quadriculare (Bronze-Leaved Clerodendrum, Fireworks Plant, Philippine Glorybower, Shooting Star, Starburst Bush, Bagawak, Bagawak Morado)
These shrubs reach up to 16 feet tall, and produce green leaves with purple undersides. Flowers are showy, blooming in clusters at branch tips. They are white. These shrubs are widely grown as ornamentals, but in many areas are considered invasive. Check with local authorities before importing or installing.

Clerodendrum thomsoniae
Native to tropical areas of western Africa, these plants are grown as ornamentals for their decorative two-toned flowers. It requires a sheltered, frost-free environment, and must have part of its root system in standing water for most of the year. Flowers are white to pale purple.

Clerodendrum trichotomum (Harlequin Glorybower, glorytree, Peanut Butter Tree)
This species is deciduous, and grows best in zones 15-17 and 20-24. Native to Japan, Korea, Taiwan, India, and the Philippines, this shrub can reach 15 feet tall and wide with many stems growing from its base. This species can be trained into a small tree. Fragrant white and scarlet blossoms and dark green leaves. Fruit is metallic blue-green. Cultivars include 'Farges' Harlequin Flower' and 'Carnival'.

Caring for and pruning clerodendrum shrubs

Plant in full sun to partial shade; flowers will bloom best in full sun exposure. These shrubs prefer loamy, humus-rich soil that is acidic to neutral (pH of between 5.6 and 7.5). They prefer well-draining soil that is kept somewhat moist. Prune minimally to shape and remove spent flower heads (more in-depth pruning directions can be found in some of the species descriptions above). The best time to prune is in wintertime, when the plant is dormant. Fertilize up to three times per year (in spring, summer, and fall) with a balanced granular fertilizer. If blooms are fading, it may be a good idea to add some bone meal in with your spring fertilization. If grown in container, repot every 2-3 years. Clerodendrum shrubs are hardy to -5 to -15 degrees Fahrenheit (depending on the species grown).

Propagation

Clerodendrum can be propagated either by using cuttings or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your Clerodendrum, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Clerodendrum by Cutting
  1. Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand.
  2. In summertime, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 6 inch portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
  3. Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth on your propagated shrub, you'll know you have roots. 
  4. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new shrub.

Propagating Clerodendrum by Seed
  1. Keep in mind that the Clerodendrum plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows.
  2. Harvest your seeds and soak them in lukewarm water for 24 hours before sowing.
  3. Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 20-60 days from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
  4. Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.
Clerodendrum seeds are part of the fruits that the shrubs produce.
Harvest seeds after blooms have faded and fruit is nearing its end.

Problems and Pests

Clerodendrum shrubs are relatively pest- and disease-free, though they can suffer from:
  • Spider Mites
For more information on how to eradicate and prevent this issue, see the links below:
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Gallery

The habit of Clerodendrum shrubs is very pleasing.
Fruit on these shrubs is almost as showy as the flowers produced.
Clerodendrum shrubs come in a variety of shapes, colors and sizes. Choose the one that's right for your garden!

Videos

All about Clerodendrum shrubs.
How to incorporate Clerodendrum into your garden design.
A garden walk film featuring Clerodendrum.​
A video about Clerodendrum ugandense.

Resources

Clerodendrum - Planting, Care and Pruning
Growing Clerodendrum Plant: How to Care for the Bleeding Heart Vine
Wikipedia: Clerodendrum
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Pages 253 - 254, Clerodendrum
If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or photos you’d like to add to the gallery, please let me know by sending me a message using the button below!
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