Clerodendrum paniculatum
Family: Verbenaceae
Pagoda Flower, Orange Tower Flower, Clerodendron
Origin: India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia
This is an erect, open semiwoody shrub with large evergreen leaves and huge showy clusters of orange-red or scarlet flowers held above the foliage. The bush sometimes has multiple stems and gets 3-5 ft tall, spreading 2-3 ft across. The handsome, tropical looking leaves can be as large as 12 in across, they have heart shaped bases; lower leaves are lobed and upper leaves entire. They are arranged in opposite pairs along the fast growing stems which often branch from the roots rather than from a single trunk. The flowers are funnel shaped with long tubes. The flowers within the pyramid shaped cluster are tiered, like a Japanese pagoda. The showy display lasts from summer through autumn with additional sporadic flowering throughout the year in frost free climates. Pagoda flower is a fast growing shrub. It does best in a rich, slightly moisture retentive soil. Hardiness: USDA Zones 8 – 11, a returning perennial in zones 8B and 9. It can be expected to sprout back in spring after dying to the ground in winter. The plant is often grown in a mixed border or as a specimen along a wall, even under an overhanging roof.
