This is a plant with showy sky blue flowers that look very much like butterflies and it also attracts butterflies.
It has many common names:
English : Blue Glory Bower, Blue Butterfly Flower, Clerodendron, Blue Butterfly Wings, Butterfly Bush, Oxford Bush, Cambridge Bush
Chinese : 紫蝶花 (zi die hua) meaning Purple Butterfly Flower,
Malay : Semak Bunga Kupu-kupu Biru meaning Blue Butterfly Flower Bush
Did I leave out any names?
Scientific name: Rotheca myricoides
Synonym: Clerodendrum ugandense
Family: Lamiaceae (fomerly Verbenaceae)
Origin: Kenya, Uganda, East Africa
Photographs taken by Autumn Belle at The Secret Garden of 1-Utama
The flowers occur in loose panicles (clusters) as inflorescenses borne at the ends of long, arching branches. Each flower is about 1" (2.5cm) long and composed of 5 lobed petals, of which 4 are pale blue and 1 violet-blue. There are 6 showy stamens made up of 6 long arching pale blue filaments and dark blue anthers. It blooms continuously throughout summer and fall. In the tropics, it blooms the whole year through. Each flower lasts only a day.
The evergreen leaves are bluish-green, opposite, elliptical and strongly toothed, about 7-10cm long.
I'm sure you can see why the flowers are described as "show-stoppers" and "head-turners".
Grow in moist, well drained soil under full sun to partial shade. It grows vigorously and require little maintenance. Water regularly. Fertilize during growing season. Watch out for aphids attack. Propagation is by softwood cuttings.
This plant is used in landscaping and it is also suitable as container or house plants.
The flowers which are nectar-rich attract a lot of butterflies and carpentar bees, wasps and even the occasional humming birds. They just can't stop loving them.
Clerodendrum ugandense is an upright, open and sprawling shrub that can grow to a height of 10 ft. The branches resemble canes. Some harsh prunning will result in another round of vigorous flowering.
Caution: Handling of plant may cause allergy or skin irritation. Parts are poisonous if ingested. Be careful of bees and wasps which may sting.
Andrea of Andrea In This Lifetime blog is posting a red, medicinal, Clerodendrum intermedium today. Her link is here.
My post today is dedicated to my lovely friend, Ms Radhika, India of Ever Green Tree blog, the first commenter of my Purple Fountain Grass post. She is posting beautiful skylines where "The Hills Beckon".
NOTE:
This post has been updated on 29 Dec 2012 to incorporate the name change from Clerodendrum ugandense to Rotheca myricoides.
Fabulous photos and this really is such a gorgeous flower! I just love that first close-up - you can see why it's called the Blue Butterfly Flower!
ReplyDeleteLove your new blog design too!
I've recently cut my Clerodendron and stuck the branches in another pot with Plumeria. Every branch I cut propagated. Great woody perennial
DeleteI have in my gardem.It's beautiful.S.Paulo,SP,Brasil.
Deleteyay, thanks for letting me know in your comment.
DeleteI have one of these. My favourite, bluest of blue flowers. Oxford AND Cambridge bush, because it has the blues of both universities.
ReplyDeleteHello Autumn Belle, What a fantastic flower! I have never seen one. It is so blue and beautiful! Love the butterfly too! Thanks for sharing:-)
ReplyDeleteBella
great pull back I have musical notes..
ReplyDeleteWow, what a pretty flower and my favorite color. Looks very delicate. I wonder if it grows in my zone? I'll will have to check it out.
ReplyDeleteI grew them in Mentor, OH on the lake but in pots.
DeleteSo beautiful blue flowers :)
ReplyDeleteVery pretty blooms and I like the foliage color! It has a pretty spot in your garden.
ReplyDeleteThese are amazing and very interesting flowers. They really do look like butterflies. I've never seen such flowers before. Thanks for your lovely and informative post for Today's Flowers.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful flowers.
ReplyDeleteCostas
The flowers look just like butterflies. I think it does not flower profusely like the other clerodendrons?
ReplyDeleteReally a beautiful butterfly flower -nature imitating itself!! Great pics, as usual.
ReplyDeleteHi Autumn Belle! I like the shape of these flowers! Charming blooms...
ReplyDeleteLovely flower you got there, i have never seen it befour. Great shots :)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for introducing me to this gorgeous flower. It's absolutely stunning and I have enjoyed all your photos very much.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I've ever seen this and it is gorgeous. It's got that sort of exotic feel and does very much resemble a butterfly. Thanks for the lovely photos and info.
ReplyDeleteA fantastic flowering shrub. I have always been fascinated by this flower when I first saw it. It is very special, charmingly beautiful. Great photos.
ReplyDeleteHi AutumnBelle - this is a lovely houseplant in our part of the world but you've shown it in all its glory here in your photos. The flowers are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThe flower seems to be scooping drops of sky!
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness, what a beautiful flower! Such an amazing color blue, and a butterfly magnet to boot. Wow! -Jean
ReplyDeleteThe flower has an awesome beautiful form, as in a graceful "something" i still cannot discern what! But of course you know i have special propensity for blues, e a bit biased. However, when it comes to the form of the plant itself, i am not very appreciative of that bush, but i will surely plant it if available because of the butterflies which frequent them. It is Clerodendrum, while there is also Clerodendron, now i am tempted to post my red Clerodendrum! Are you ready!
ReplyDeleteWow, what a super cool flower! I love that blue and the flower is so unique.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful flower! I love its color (blue is always my favorite!) and the shape! With butterflies, and bees, even hummingbirds visiting it, this bush is full of life! Gorgeous! Thanks for the post.
ReplyDeleteEach flower only lasts a day? Does it wilt that fast? What a shame for such a pretty flower. I've never seen this type before and it sure does look like butterfly. Surprise to read that it attracts butterflies.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful flower... the color and shape together make it a special flower.
ReplyDeleteGreat captures
Looks like Secret Garden is really a place for those who adores pretty flowers and gorgeous plants. This one is really pretty!
ReplyDeleteA very Good morning to you.... n Thx a ton for the dedications Autumn Belle... you have made my day! Stunning snapshots of the blue n white flowers.... too bad we don't get to see them here in Lucknow. Thx for sharing
ReplyDeleteThey sure do look like butterflies Lovely!
ReplyDeleteWow! I have never seen one of these...it is just so pretty with that clear sky blue that my eyes opened wide with surprise when I opened your post and looked at that first photo :)
ReplyDeleteHi Autumn Belle, these must be the most beautiful of all the clerodendron varieties. And your photos are such a treat!!
ReplyDeleteI was very touched by the messages you left on my blog. And for sharing so much...about your parents. I know I'm a little late but I'm catching up on blog posts now. Thank you so much for your love, your thoughts and prayers. All my messages (and yours is treasured) have given me strength. And although I won't be posting regularly, I'd like you to know that you're in my thoughts too.
Have a great gardening week. I look forward to all your posts.
Kanak
What a great blog u have here. I definitely will be visiting more often! There are so much to see.
ReplyDeleteFrom the front, the flower looks a bit like a butterfly, from the side, it looks to me like a praying mantis.. :) Gorgeous flower by the way! And true, if the tree attracts butterflies, it's garden worthy.
Hi, everyone. Thank you very much for the visits. It is really nice to have your comments and opinions about the plants posted here.
ReplyDeleteLotusleaf, Dr. Ng has grown this plant into a tall bush, hence it does flower profusely. Just look again and you can see so very many flower buds everywhere.
RoseBelle, eventhough the flowers lasts only a day, it is replaced by other new ones during the bloom period, so you won't mind.
Kanak, I'm so happy to see you back to blogging again. I look forward to viewing the wonderful flowers and wildlife you have over there.
Note:
This flower does attract the butterflies. But it also attracts a lot of big bees too. So, if you have confined garden space and small children, do be careful of the bees. Eventhough the flowers are small, they are really gorgeous to look at. Beauty at a price?
Nice true-blue coloring. Gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteI also have these plants in Hungary. Your beatufiful blog. If you like, look at me.
ReplyDeletehttp://novenyimado.freeblog.hu/
Pepi
Manda sementes para mim..pleaseeeeeee!!!!!
ReplyDeleteÉ lindaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!
superb...
ReplyDeleteWe just bought this plant the other day and will be planting it today. I'm so excited!! Thank for your webpage, it is informative and helped us to decide on where to plant it.
ReplyDeleteHi friends, I'm so glad you like this butterfly flower too. I haven't got mine yet as I haven't found any nursery nearby that sells it. I have readers who bought it in Penang. Meanwhile, each time I go to the Secret Garden of 1-U, I'll always say Hi! to this plant ;>)
ReplyDeleteyes of course, i loved this plant since the last time you posted it. However its needs a bigger space as it grows to a bigger bush.
ReplyDeleteGood morning, my dear friend!
ReplyDeleteIt can be trimmed down for a container/flower pot.
I've never see the Purple Butterfly Flower. Such unique flower!
ReplyDeleteIn Malaysia, we can find it at the nurseries but not on a regular basis. Asha, you are right. The flowers are indeed unique, so I'm it'll become an attention grabber in the garden.
ReplyDeleteHow amazing...nature replicating itself in flora from fauna ...like the dancing dolphin vine, sail plant, bat plant, egret flower and many others to be named by better than I.
ReplyDeleteI simply love nature...it brings such joy to those who are willing to take what is given for nothing more than the parameters a glance or a bit of maintainence..it is the onlookers or participants choice.
The beauty of nature's gifts to mankind.
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ReplyDeleteGreetings from Brasil !
Congratulations to Autumn Belle, for so nice Blog with so specials informs.
I have those amazing Blue Butterfly Flower in my little garden and it is a special iten in my Atelie.
I am passionated for those delicate and wonderful blue Butterfly Flowers and I use to take photos of it and everytime it is blooming as right now.
My Atelie is in the top of a mountain and that plan is fine there and blooming nature as possible.
Sucess always !
My best regards
Lucy
Hi Lucy, thanks for visiting and commenting here. It is much appreciated. I am so glad you have the butterfly flower in your Brasil. Cheers!
Deletewhere to buy these?
DeleteLucky Clover, you can try asking the nurseries near your place. Otherwise send me an email. I'll try to help you.
DeleteI just bought two of these today, $5 US American dollars each. They have no tags on their plants but I knew what they were. I googled them and found your blog posting about them. I love blue flowers in the garden and look forward to growing these and propagating more from cuttings.
ReplyDeleteHave a great 2013. ~ FlowerLady Lorraine
Lorraine, these butterfly flowers are real treasures you've got there. This is not a common plant in Malaysia and nurseries here only sell them once in a while. I too have been looking for this plant until today. Happy 2013!
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