Clerodendrum ugandense - Butterfly Bush

Clerodendrum ugandense (Butterfly Bush) - An open, evergreen shrub reaching 6 to 10 feet tall by 6 feet wide with 4 inch long dark green glossy leaves. From spring through fall appear the delicate and intricate flowers, suggestive of a butterfly in flight. To create this illusion the flower has four petals of light blue color (the wings) with a bottom petal of violet blue (the body) and the pistil and stamens arching outward and upward (the antennae). Black, fleshy fruit follows the spring blooms. Plant in part to full (coastal) sun and irrigate regularly. Hardy to about 20-25 degrees F. Can be pruned back continually to keep the plant more compact. This species from East Africa (originally described from Kenya and not Uganda) will take rather cooler conditions than most tropical clerodendrums. We have grown this plant since 1983 after discovering it growing neglected in a rather dry location in Franceschi Park, the Santa Barbara home and garden of the turn of the 19th century horticulturist Dr. Francesco Franceschi (AKA Emanuele Orazio Fenzi). This plant was originally described as Clerodendrum ugandense by Prian in 1909 but more recent treatment listed it as Clerodendrum myricoides or Clerodendrum myricoides 'Ugandense' and most recently as Rotheca myricoides. We grew this plant from 1985 until 2010. The information provided on this webpage is based on the research that we have conducted about this plant in our nursery library and that information that we have found about it on reliable online sources. We also take into consideration observations in our nursery of crops of this plant, as well as of plants growing in the nursery's garden and those in other gardens. We will incorporate comments received from others and welcome getting feedback from anyone who may have additional information, particularly if it includes cultural information aiding others in growing Clerodendrum ugandense.