Clerodendrum Incisum Care

This is a small bushy shrub with small leaves, originating in Nigeria. It grows up to about 1 m tall and a similar width. The leaves are usually 4 or 5 cm long, and a dull green. Some leaves have smooth, entire margins, and others have seemingly random serrations. The white flowers form delicate shapes with their long tubular and rounded structure, and appear in large masses. The unopened flowers resemble musical notes in the bud shape, and then open to showy flowers with red stamens. As with many of the Clerodendrum species, the flower has outrageously long stamens that add to the flower’s interest, as they extend outwards about 4 cm beyond the flower’s corolla. The 10 cm long trumpet-shaped flower expands amazingly from a little nubbin, and for a time resembles a musical quaver ♪. As the flower stretches, the round end of the note splits and flattens into a corolla resembling a small white butterfly. Unfortunately the flowers, which don’t have a fragrance, are short-lived, lasting usually only for a couple of days, and they tend to droop in rain. There are usually repeated bursts of flowering during the spring and summer, on about a monthly basis. The plant may be used as a short hedge, in small groupings, or as a single specimen plant. This is a perfect landscape plant, except for the fact that it sometimes sheds its leaves copiously. It is easy to grow, blooms in both full sun or shade, and tolerates a certain amount of drought. It probably does best in afternoon shade. For the best floral display, a light pruning is desirable after flowering.