Dombeya burgessiae 'Seminole' (Tropical Rose Hydrangea)
Top Tropicals Plant Encyclopedia
Botanical name: Dombeya burgessiae
Common name: Tropical Rose Hydrangea
Family: Malvaceae
Subfamily: Dombeyoideae
Origin: South Africa, Zimbabwe
Tropical Hydrangea. Off-white to pinkish showy flowers in bunches during winter and spring. The large leaves are hairy, with shallow, maple-like lobes. Tolerant to both light frost and periods of drought.
Can be propagated with ease by simply collecting the dried flower heads, which contain the seed.
The new variety "Fragrant White" has flowers with fresh pleasant fragrance.
Dombeya 'Seminole' is a tropical shrub known for its bright pink clusters, attractive bark, and adaptable form suited to warm gardens and container growing.
Dombeya 'Seminole' is also encountered under the name Dombeya x seminole.
What makes Dombeya 'Seminole' distinctive?
Dombeya 'Seminole' forms a rounded shrub that ranges from 5-10 ft in the ground to about 2-5 ft in containers, producing dense foliage and abundant showy flower clusters through the warm season. It performs best in full sun or semi-shade with regular deep watering in well-drained soil and responds well to early spring pinching or pruning, which supports a full blooming cycle and balanced branching. As the plant matures, the bark becomes increasingly decorative, adding structural interest even outside the flowering period. In USDA Zones 9-11 it tolerates short drops to about 30F, but roots benefit from mulching in the ground and protection for container plants during colder nights. With steady warmth and moisture, Dombeya 'Seminole' grows reliably and maintains its vivid seasonal display in tropical and frost-free subtropical landscapes.
Similar plants: Dombeya burgessiae 'Seminole' (Tropical Rose Hydrangea)
This winter bloomer puts on one of the best flower shows of any shrub here in Florida. It is sometimes called the tropical hydrangea because its flowers are similar to the hydrangeas we know from up North. The flowers are pink to rose color and bloom from fall to spring. That means it's blooming all winter in Naples during season, when the most color is desired and appreciated. Dombeya Seminole is a large shrub that grows 7 feet tall and about the same in width. It can be kept to about 5 feet tall with pruning.
This shrub will grow in full sun to partial shade and will tolerate poor soil. The more sun, the fuller the shrub, and that also encourages the maximum number of flowers. It is also fairly drought-tolerant once established.
Recommended Fertilizer: SUNSHINE Megaflor - Bloom Nutrition Booster