Growing Clerodendrum: How To Care For The Bleeding Heart Vine

Plants grown for the spring market have changed over the past few years. We use to see just the usual foliage mix.

As is the case with many ‘new’ plants, there always seems to be one well-known variety grown. In the case of Clerodendrum, the variety known as the ‘Bleeding Heart Vine’ or Clerodendrum thomsoniae is the species that fits the bill.

Many of the new introductions have been virtually unknown until growers started producing the bleeding heart commercially. There isn’t a tremendous amount of information available on Clerodendrum.

The Clerodendrum comes in a few different forms both vining and bush or small tree types, and a few that can go either way.

Most of them would be considered tropical except for ‘Bungei’ pink. This variety can survive outside throughout the South and up into the northern coastal areas.

Flowers and leaf shapes vary greatly from the familiar urn-shape to tight clusters of small florets and small slender leaves to large round ones.

Cultural Information

Clerodendrums are not real fussy of the soils that they will grow in but prefer a rich well-drained soil that will hold some water. Clerodendrum care is easy as all varieties grow well with an even balanced fertilizer program and are vigorous growers.

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All the growers in south Florida grow their plants in full sun but they will tolerate some shade. If fact, many of the large leaf bush types prefer a woodland setting (shade from high trees.)

Although the variety name ‘Bungei’ will grow in more temperature zones and is a hardier variety; Clerodendrums grow best in a temperature range of 60-85 degrees.

Regular watering is best. Some of the varieties do display some drought tolerance, but for best performance and flower display, water regularly.

For small to large containers these plants are usually trellised. Some are also grown as patio or landscape plants in 1-2 gallon pots.

However, I question how much blooming you’ll be getting indoors. All varieties must be pruned to maintain their shape.

Varieties You Can Expect

All varieties are good year-round bloomers except for ‘Thomsoniae’, which blooms through fall – spring.

All can be grown for 1-3 gallon production. ‘Thomsoniae’, ‘Java Red’ and ‘Ugandense’ will bloom in 6″ or 1-gallon pots. ‘Fragrans’, ‘Mary Jane’, and ‘Bungei’ will outgrow a 3-gallon unless kept pruned.

Here are other varieties of the Clerodendrum plant.

Clerodendrum trichotomum (glory tree, peanut butter tree, harlequin glorybower plant) originally comes from Korea, Taiwan, China, Japan and India. This flowering shrub of the verbenaceae or lamiaceae species grows up to 20 feet high. Clerodendron trichotomum is famous for fragrant and beautiful flowers making it a great ornamental plant.

Clerodendrum quadriloculare, a flowering plant native to the Philippines and New Guinea also serve as a natural pest repellent. It’s an easy to grow evergreen shrub. This plant known for its heart-shaped leaf or foliage is also called bronze-leaved clerodendrum, Philippine glorybower, starburst clerodendrum, and shooting star.

Clerodendrum speciosissimum is a tropical plant native to Indonesia and Papuasia. It can grow up to 4 meters. Its bright red, heart-shaped flowers and square-shaped leaves make them great ornamental plants.

The blue butterfly bush, also called rotheca myricoides or clerodendrum ugandense, is a native to Africa. Growers cultivate this plant for its beautiful flowers, green foliage, hardiness and easy to grow features.

Clerodendrum colebrookianum, also called East Indian Glory Bower, a plant species found in tropical and subtropical areas of Asia. Due to its role in traditional medicine practices, this deciduous shrub became one of the most well known clerodendrum species that exist. Everything can be used from the leaves, wood, and down to its roots.

Clerodendrum infortunatum (hill glory bower), serve as a great health remedy in siddha medicine and other traditional practices.

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