Clerodendrum bungei
Common Names: rose glory bower, Kashmir bouquet, Mexican hydrangea,
Cashmir bouquet
Family: Verbenaceae (verbena or vervain Family)
Shrub Attracts Butterflies, Flowers Fragrant
The large flower clusters and leaves of this Clerodendron bear a
resemblence to those of the French hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla)
inspiring its common name Mexican hydrangea (even though it is from
Asia and not actually related to the hydrangeas). Click to download
a large version of this image for a closer look.
Description
Rose glory bower is a deciduous shrub that spreads aggressively by
sending up suckers all around itself. The upright, minimally
branched, shoots can get 6 ft (1 m) tall and they have opposite,
oval shaped leaves, to 12 in (30 cm) long, with long petioles and
coarse marginal teeth. The leaves have a strong musky, but not
unpleasant, smell. The rose colored flowers are in rounded clusters
8 in (20 cm) across and carried above the leaves. Individual flowers
are funnel shaped with five spreading petal-like lobes. The flowers
are very fragrant and last from summer until first frost. In winter,
the upright stems, mostly devoid of branches, are not very
attractive and may appear to be dead.
Location
Clerodendrum bungei is native to China and northern India. The
invasive nature of rose glory bower has allowed it to become
established in numerous areas throughout South America, Mexico,
Florida and other southern states.
Culture
Light: Glory bower grows best in full sun but does pretty well in
partial shade.
Moisture: Established glory bowers are tolerant of drought. They are
hard to kill!
Hardiness: USDA Zones 7-11.
Propagation: Propagation of glory bower is easy. Tip cuttings root
readily. Suckers can be dug up and repositioned. Pieces of root can
be dug up and replanted. Or, you can just wait a few weeks and it
will probably propagate itself all over the place.
rose glory bower
This rose glory bower is infesting a country roadside where pieces
of plant where dumped. This is a pretty plant with bad manners -
think twice before inviting it into your garden! Click to download a
large version (800x600) of this image.
Usage
Use glory bower in your landscape at your own risk. It will surely
spread. I confine my stands to isolated beds that are surrounded by
lawn where no plants taller than 6 in (15 cm) can escape the savage,
if dull, blades of my trusty lawn mower. Others keep them in
containers. Once incarcerated, rose glory bower is a beautiful
landscape flower and one that attracts butterflies, both as a nectar
source for adults, and a food plant for the caterpillars of several
species. Some states may ban the sale and propagation of rose glory
bower.
Features
Floridata has profiles on six different species in this popular
genus. Check out the others by using the plant list feature.
WARNING
Clerodendrum bungei usually becomes invasive by suckering. Be sure
to keep this plant contained. Even goats won't eat it! |
