Clerodendrum bungei Steud.

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Credits

Article from Bean's Trees and Shrubs Hardy in the British Isles

Recommended citation
'Clerodendrum bungei' from the website Trees and Shrubs Online (treesandshrubsonline.org/articles/clerodendrum/clerodendrum-bungei/). Accessed 2024-10-11.

Genus

Clerodendrum

Synonyms

C. foetidum Bunge

Other taxa in genus

Clerodendrum trichotomum

Glossary

References

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Credits

Article from Bean's Trees and Shrubs Hardy in the British Isles

Recommended citation
'Clerodendrum bungei' from the website Trees and Shrubs Online (treesandshrubsonline.org/articles/clerodendrum/clerodendrum-bungei/). Accessed 2024-10-11.

The 'travelling' nature of Clerodendrum bungei is very apparent here, with shoots from suckers appearing at a considerable distance from the parent plant in the background (Newby Hall, North Yorkshire, August 2021). Image John Grimshaw.

In the open air this species can scarcely be regarded as a shrub. It is killed back to the ground most winters, but sends up vigorous, erect, woody shoots during the summer 3 to 6 ft high, bearing large heart-shaped leaves 4 to 8 in. long and nearly as wide, coarsely toothed, downy on the veins. In August and September come the terminal rounded corymbs, each 4 to 5 in. across, densely packed with purple-red blossoms. Bot. Mag., t. 4880.

Native of China; introduced by Fortune in 1844. It has lived for many years at the foot of a greenhouse wall at Kew, spreading rapidly by its suckers, and forming in summer a dense thicket of stems. It has proved hardy in an open position in the R.H.S. Garden, Wisley. Although the flowers are fragrant, the leaves when crushed emit a heavy nauseous odour. Easily increased by division in spring.

Clerodendrum bungei flowering at Arboretum Kalmthout, Belgium, on 01 October 2022. Image Tom Christian.

Clerodendrum bungei in flower at Newby Hall, North Yorkshire, September 2023. Image John Grimshaw.

Clerodendrum bungei inflorescence (Arboretum Het Leen Eeklo, Belgium – 30 July 2019). The pleasant scent of the flowers is in stark contrast to the heavy nauseous odour from crushed leaves. Image © Jan De Langhe.

Clerodendrum bungei reaching a modest size near a protecting wall at Arboretum Het Leen Eeklo, Belgium (30 July 2019). Image © Jan De Langhe.