Mussaenda philippica

The name is a botanical convenience, applied to a group of presumed hybrids.

Mussaenda philippica is a tropical shrub or sub-shrub that will grow to 10ft tall in tropical areas, but more likely will reach 1-3ft tall in containers. Clusters (corymbs) of small, tubular flowers with five spreading lobes bloom in summer, however it is the large and colorful, ovate, leaf-like sepals (to 3" long) that provide the real ornamental display. Some individual flowers in each cluster will develop a single enlarged sepal. Elliptic to ovate, bright green leaves (to 6" long). Hybrids typically feature flowers in red and/or yellow with showy sepals of white, bright red or pink. Winter hardy to USDA Zones 9-11. Use a well-draining potting mix and keep soils consistently moist. Grow in full sun to part shade. Best bract/sepal color in full sun, but plants also appreciate some mid-day filtered sun in hot climates. Bring containers indoors in fall when night temperatures start dropping into the 50s. Overwinter in a greenhouse or a warm sun room. Cuttings may be taken in late summer for overwintering. No serious insect or disease problems. Watch for spider mites and whiteflies on indoor plants.

They may be derived from Mussaenda erythrophilla

and M. frondosa. Zones 11 - 12.

Similar plants:

• Duperrea pavettifolia, Ixora pavettifolia, Mussaenda pavettifolia (West Indian Jasmine)
• Mussaenda Dona Evangelina (Mussaenda)
• Mussaenda erythrophylla (Ashanti Blood, Red Flag Bush, Tropical Dogwood )
• Mussaenda frondosa (Schizomussaenda)
• Mussaenda marmelada (Marmelade Mussaenda)
• Mussaenda philippica Dona Aurora (Mussaenda)
• Mussaenda philippica Queen Sirikit (Mussaenda Queen Sirikit, Peach Mussaenda)
• Mussaenda philippica x flava (Calcutta Sunset, Marmelade)
• Mussaenda sp. (Mussaenda)
• Pseudomussaenda flava, Mussaenda lutea, Mussaenda luteola, Mussaenda glabra, Mussaenda incana (Dwarf Yellow Mussaenda)