Clerodendron thomsoniae
I have just moved this Clerodenron thomsoniae, which I got as a cutting from Connie, from the jungle around the bird house in the front to the veg garden fence in back. Everything climbing up the bird house post had to go because the jasmine had got completely out of hand and was invading hydrangeas 50 feet away. (Controlling that is another story.)
I absolutely love these flowers. They are right up there with Kalmia latifolia (which we can’t grow here, alas) on my all time favorite flowers list. But I haven’t completely figured out the plant’s likes and dislikes. It is a well-behaved small vine, that requires a bit of training to climb. And it obviously likes a bit more nutrition than is native to our sandy soil, because mine has a tendency to yellow. Being tropical, it probably likes a lot of organic matter.
It’s the pruning and sun exposure I’m not sure about. Connie slashed hers to the ground and it flowered magnificently on short stalks, so it doesn’t mind heavy pruning. The books say it needs lots of light, but mine flowered best when it was practically invisible under the jasmine foliage, as in this photo from last summer. I guess a bit more trial and error is indicated.