Clerodendrum speciosum, Clerodendrum delectum

An unusual color variation of the more familiar Bleeding Heart vine, 'Delectum' has a red flower with a lavender bract behind it. This is one of the few vines that will bloom well in the shade. Use it on arbors, trellises, or in the landscape, where it can run up a fence or a tree. Site your plant carefully in a sheltered location. In climates where winters are harsh, Clerodendrums may be grown in a greenhouse in containers filled with two-thirds fibrous loam, and one-third leaf mold and peat. Sand, wood ash and a bit of bone meal should be added. The climbing kinds do better when planted in a bed of soil rather than in pots or tubs. They should be trained to pillars and rafters to show off their full beauty. They need an annual top-dressing of fresh compost. If they are grown in large pots or tubs, they may be trained around stakes or wires fashioned into the shape of a balloon. During the spring or summer, you should sprits the plants on sunny days. This encourages fresh growth and keeps them free from pests. It's usually necessary to spray with an insecticide every ten days or so during the growing season. When they are grown in a greenhouse, they will benefit from large amounts of liquid fertilizer from April to August. Those grown in a greenhouse also need a resting season during the winter by reducing the water considerably and by lowering the temperature and humidity. Pruning consists of removing the dead twigs on old bushes in the summer. When grown outdoors, there are usually dead ends of branches to cut off following a severe winter.

Similar plants:

• Clerodendrum bungei (Cashmere (Cashmir) bouquet, Glory Bower, Clerodendron)
• Clerodendrum calamitosum (White Butterfly Bush)
• Clerodendrum heterophyllum, Clerodendrum aculeatum (Tree of little stars, Escambron, Tamourette)
• Clerodendrum incisum, Clerodendrum macrosiphon, Rotheca incisa, Rotheca incisafolia (Musical Note, Morning Kiss, Clerodendron, Witches Tongue)
• Clerodendrum inerme, Volkameria inermis (Wild Jasmine, Sorcerers Bush, Seaside clerodendrum, Clerodendron)
• Clerodendrum mastacanthum, Rotheca mastacantha, Rotheca mastacanthus, Rotheca macrodonta (Pink Butterfly Bush)
• Clerodendrum minahassae (Fountain Clerodendrum, Clerodendron, Tube Flower)
• Clerodendrum paniculatum (Pagoda Flower, Orange Tower Flower, Clerodendron)
• Clerodendrum philippinum, Clerodendrum fragrans pleniflorum, Clerodendrum chinense, Volkameria fragrans (Chinese Glory Bower, Cashmere bouquet, Scent Malli, False Pikake, Glory Tree, Clerodendron)
• Clerodendrum quadriloculare (Winter Starburst, Fireworks, Clerodendron)