CLERODENDRUM. Glorybower. Africa, Southeast Asia. An odd group of trees, shrubs and vines in the verbena family. Their foliage is nearly as varied as their habit, though many have large, satiny, tropical-looking leaves. A frequent drawback is the strong, unpleasant odor emitted when the leaves are bruised. Irregular flowers, often with long, curved stamens, are clustered at the shoot tips, sometimes in hydrangea-like masses. Many can only be grown in greenhouses, even in California, but the following perform well outdoors in coastal areas. They thrive in sun or light shade, with rich, reasonably well drained soil and moderate to regular watering. Hardy to 20oF or less, recovering quickly from frost damage.
bungei. A suckering shrub with stout, erect stems up to 6’ tall. These are lined by pairs of 6-12" toothed, nearly heart shaped leaves, deep green and satiny above. In summer and fall it bears broad clusters of deep pink to nearly crimson, fragrant blossoms. For best appearance, it should have a lightly shaded, wind-protected site.
philippinum. This is a stockier shrub than the last, growing about 10’ high. It has thick, furry stems and nearly round, stiff, similarly furry leaves up to 10" long. Crowded at the shoot tips in late summer are broad clusters of sweetly fragrant, white to pale pink flowers.
trichotomum (probably var. fargesii, in our material). A bushy tree, up to 20’ high but usually less. It has broad leaves up to 10" long and bears large, open clusters of fragrant blossoms in late summer. Each is about 1" long and combines a white tube and inner segments with a pink to red calyx. The bright greenish blue berries are also ornamental.
ugandense. An elegant shrub with upright, arching branches and shiny 2-4" pointed-oval leaves. The 1" flowers are distinctly two-toned, combining a larger purple-blue lobe with four smaller lavender ones. Adding to their effect are long, gracefully arching stamens. This unnamed selection from Woodlanders is the nicest I have seen.