Clerodendrum paniculatum Pagoda Flower

This is the final part of my feature on Clerodendrums, a genus of about 400 species of flowering plants in the Verbenaceae family.

Clerodendrum is from the Greek word, meaning "lottery tree". Dendros means tree. The lottery refers to unsure possibility of medicinal value from certain plants of this genus. (Source: Wikipedia)

In Asia, many people believe they have magical powers.

It is native to the tropical and warm temperate regions of the world which include the most of Tropical Africa and Southern Asia, and some parts of Tropical America and Northern Australia.

Clerodendrum has often been misspelt wrongly as Clerodendron.

Scientific name: Clerodendrum paniculatum
Family: Verbenaceae (Teak family, previously Lamiaceae)
Origin: Myanmar to South China and Southeast Asia.

Photographs taken by Autumn Belle at The Lake Gardens of Kuala Lumpur

Common names: Pagoda Flower

Chinese name: 赪桐 , 宝塔龙船花 (Bao da lung chuan hua or pagoda dragon boat flower ?),
龙船花 lung chuan hua (dragon boat flower)

Malay name: Panggil-panggil,* Pepanggil 

* Source: A Field Guid to Tropical Plants of Asia by David H. Engel and Suchart Phummai, a Marshall Cavendish 2007 Edition

Additional information:
1. In Malaysia and Indonesia, some Clerodendrums are believed to have supernatural powers, i.e. the plants have 'pepanggil' meaning the ability to summon spirits. In Malay language, 'panggil' means call or summon. The flowers protruding stamens are thought to have the power to beckon, so hunters use the blooms to lure game. ..... Javanese believe that Pagoda Flower has "panggil-panggil", or magic powers. Newborn Amboinese infants are washed ceremoniously in an infusion of the leaves. (Source: Book titled, "Tropical Shurbs" by Horace F. Clay and James C. Hubbard by University of Hawaii Press, 1987 Edition).

2. In Malay, species of Clerodendrum are called "panggil-panggil" (to summon), and trappers use such plants when setting traps for mouse deer to summon the animal. (Source: Tropical Horticultural and Gardening by Dr. Francis SP Ng, Clearwater Publications 2006)

3. C. Paniculatum is one of the plants used to sprinkle the 'air tepung tawar' (sacred water) at traditional malay wedding and blessing ceremonies. - Source: http://www.rinbundahan.org/, there reference text is here.

Clerodendrum paniculatum is an upright shrub with large evergreen leaves and showy orange-red, inflorescence flowers. Each tiny flower has a long tube and protruding stamens. The flowers are grouped in clusters and arranged in tiers like a pagoda.

The bush sometimes have multiple stems as new shoots that arise from the roots. Grow under full to partial sun. Propagation is by stem or root cuttings, not from seeds.

Medicinal uses:
Crused leaves are used in the treatment of dysentry
Roots contains an antidote for certain snake bites
A paste of the leaves applied to infected burns


Recently, Dr. Andrea of Andrea In This Lifetime blog wrote a post about the Clerodendrum intermedium. That plant is quite similar to this one, but they are not the same. Her post is here, so do take a look and compare.

My post today is dedicated to Lotus Leaf from Southern India of Garden Tropics blog. I have learnt a lot from her very informative posts and gorgeous flowers in her blog. She is posting a wild orchid with tiger stripes today.

This is my entry for Today's Flowers # 96, a meme which opens every Sunday, 2pm GMT. My grateful thanks to Today's Flowers team members; Luiz Santili Jr, Denise in Virginia, Laerte Pupo and Sandy Carlson. To participate and view other gorgeous flowers around the world, click here.

Clerodendrum speciosum, The Red Bleeding Heart Vine

This is one of the few plants that blooms well in shade.

My previous post was about a White Bleeding Heart Vine (Clerodendrum thomsoniae). Today's post is about the Red Bleeding Heart Vine.

It is important to note that both these Bleeding Heart Vines are different from the Bleeding Heart or Lamprocapnos spectabilis * (formerly Dicentra spectabilis) which is of a different family (Fumariaceae) and the source of the Bleeding Heart folklore about the Princess who's heart bled for her dead Prince.

* please click on the name to go to the link provided.

Scientific name: Clerodendrum speciosum

Synonym: Clerondendrum delectum

Common name: Red Bleeding Heart Vine, Java Glory Vine

Chinese name: 龙吐珠 ('long tu zhu' or dragon spitting pearl)
Malay name: Nyonya Makan Sirih (Maiden/Fair Lady chewing betel leaves)

Family: Verbenaceae

Origin: Horticulture.
Clerondendrum speciosum is a hybrid of Clerondendrum splendens * and Clerondendrum thomsoniae *

Photographs taken by Autumn Belle at The Secret Garden of 1-Utama

Grateful thanks to Dr. Francis Ng of The Secret Garden of 1-Utama.

It is a red flower with a lavender bract. It has herbaceous dark-green leaves and long stems. The leaves looks quite like betel leaves. It grows better on the soil than in pots and best trained on arbors, trellises, arches, up a fence, pillar or tree. A strong support is needed for this soft, tropical perennial climber to thrive and show off its beauty.

Prunning is necessary to remove dead twigs and ends of branches.

Propagation is by stem cuttings. The flowers are sterile and do not seed. 

My post today is dedicated to Nell Jean of Secrets of a Seed Scaterer Blog. At the moment, she is saying Hooray to Hydrangeas and I am extremely green with jealousy over the gorgeous and heavenly scented white gardenias in her garden situated in the humid depths of Southwest Georgia, USA. Thank you very much for being the first commenter of my previous post on Clerodendrum thomsoniae.

This is also my entry for Fertilizer Friday, June 4th, 2010. To participate and view other entries around the world, do visit Tootsie at Tootsie Time.

Clerodendrum thomsoniae Bleeding Heart Vine

Scientific name: Clerodendrum thomsoniae

Common name: Bleeding Heart Vine, Glory Bower, White Bleeding Heart Vine

Chinese name: 龙吐珠 ('long tu zhu' or dragon spitting pearl)

Malay name: Nyonya Makan Sirih (Maiden/Fair Lady chewing betel leaves)

Family: Verbenaceae

Native plant of: West Africa

Photographs taken by Autumn Belle at The Secret Garden of 1-Utama

Grateful thanks to Dr. Francis Ng of The Secret Garden of 1-Utama.

Have you heard the folklore about the bleeding heart?

To participate or view other Wordless Wednesday posts, please click here.

My post today is dedicated to Mr Michael from Dorset, England of Hazel Tree blog. Thank you for being the first commenter of my previous post on the Clerodendrum wallichii Bridal Veil Flower. I like the way this full time gardener writes his very interesting blog. He is posting gorgeous blooms or purple today.

Update: This is Bleeding Heart Vine = Clerodendrum thomsoniae. Please do not confuse it with Bleeding Heart = Lamprocapnos spectabilis as they are not the same.

Clerodendrum wallichii - Bridal Veil

This is a plant with fragrant white flowers that blooms around Thanksgiving.

Its common names are: Bridal Veil, Nodding Clerodendrum, Wallich's Glorybower, Nutans Bleeding Heart, Pendant Clerodendrum

In Chinese, 垂茉莉 (chui mo li) meaning hanging jasmine


Would you like to contribute your local name too?

Scientific name: Clerodendrum wallichii
Synonym: Clerodendrum nutans
Family: Lamiaceae (formerly Verbenaceae)
Origin: Malaysia
Photographs taken by Autumn Belle at The Secret Garden of 1-Utama
Grateful thanks to Dr. Francis Ng

The flowers are held in loose panicles, which are pendulous and cascading. Blooming season is from fall to spring, in the months of October to April for temperate zones but for us in Malaysia, I guess it will be whole year round.

I think it also looks like a bridal bouquet. How about you?

The flower petals are ovate, about 1-1.5cm and with a tube about 1 cm long. The stamens and style protude out. The shiny green leaves which are deeply veined, pointed and narrow are about 10-15 cm long.

Just like the Bleeding Heart Vine where red flowers come out of a white sepal heart, these white flowers emerge from red sepal hearts.

The fruiting sepal cup is red, inflated and thickened. Fruits are about 1-1.3 cm in diameter. They look like berries in the centre of red stars. The berries turn from green when young to shiny black when ripe making them a great display item for the Christmas season.

The branches and stems are quite brittle making it easy to snap.
Clerodendrum wallichii is an evergreen perennial shrub that can grow to about 8-10 ft tall.
Plant in partial shade.


My post today is dedicated to Mr Aaron Ang from the southern state of Johor, Malaysia, of Aaron's Gardening blog. Thank you for being the first commenter of my previous post on the Do-Re-Mi flower. This teenage gardener is a fan of carnivorous plants and video games. He makes anime models and papercraft during his free time.

This is my entry for Today's Flowers # 95, a meme which opens every Sunday, 2pm GMT. My grateful thanks to Today's Flowers team members; Luiz Santili Jr, Denise in Virginia, Laerte Pupo and Sandy Carlson. To participate and view other gorgeous flowers around the world, click here.

This is end of May 2010, time for The Hot, the Loud, and the Proud Meme started by Noel of A Plant Fanatic blog. Please follow my link here to participate or view other spectacular shows around the world. Eventhough my flower is white and not red, this striking bridal bouquet is fit for a bride who will be at her most radiant, hot, loud and proud moment on her wedding day.

Do-Re-Mi Flower Clerodendrum incisum

Scientific name: Clerodendrum incisum

Common name: Do-Re-Mi Flower, Musical Note Plant, Morning Kiss, Witches Tongue, Macrosiphon

Family: Lamiaceae (formerly Verbenaceae)

Native plant of: Nigeria

Photographs taken by Autumn Belle at The Secret Garden of 1-Utama

Grateful thanks to Dr. Francis Ng of The Secret Garden of 1-Utama.

Which common name is your favourite?

To participate or view other Wordless Wednesday posts, please click here.


My post today is dedicated to Ms Bernie from Queensland, Australia of My Dry Tropics Garden blog. Thank you for being the first commenter of my previous post on the Blue Butterfly Flower. Her latest post is on splendid skywatch pictures.

Blue Butterfly Flower Clerodendrum ugandense

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.

This is my entry for Today's Flowers # 94, a meme which opens every Sunday, 2pm GMT. My grateful thanks to Today's Flowers team members; Luiz Santili Jr, Denise in Virginia, Laerte Pupo and Sandy Carlson. To participate and view other gorgeous flowers around the world, click here.