Clerodendrum chinense

(Osbeck) Mabb.

Glory Bower, Honolulu rose

LamiaceaeLeavesRootsPotential hazards — see below
Caution — Parts of this plant may be toxic or require specific preparation. Verify with multiple sources before consuming.
Clerodendrum chinense
iNaturalist · cc-by-nc-sa
(c) Kai Yan, Joseph Wong, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA)
Clerodendrum chinense
iNaturalist · cc-by-nc-nd
(c) Sunnetchan, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), uploaded by Sunnetchan
Clerodendrum chinense
iNaturalist · cc-by-nc-nd
(c) Sunnetchan, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), uploaded by Sunnetchan

What to Eat

Edible parts: Roots, Medicine, Leaves

The young leaves are used in salads, and the roots are dried and cooked with pork.

Known Hazards

It can be invasive and is damaged by drought and frost.

Where to Find It

It grows in tropical countries. It is best in a rich, moist, well-drained soil. It needs a protected partly shaded position. It is damaged by drought and frost.

Africa, American Samoa, Argentina, Asia, Caribbean, China, Cook Islands, East Africa, Fiji, Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Laos, Mozambique, Nepal, Pakistan, Paraguay, Philippines*, Rotuma, SE Asia, Seychelles, South America, Suriname, Venezuela, Vietnam,

Countries: United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan, Armenia, Angola, Argentina, American Samoa, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Bahrain, Burundi, Benin, Brunei, Bolivia, Brazil, Bhutan, Botswana, Congo (DRC), Central African Republic, Congo (Republic), Cote d'Ivoire, Cook Islands, Chile, Cameroon, China, Colombia, Cape Verde, Djibouti, Algeria, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Georgia, French Guiana, Ghana, Gambia, Guinea, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Indonesia, Israel, India, Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Japan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Cambodia, Comoros, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Laos, Lebanon, Sri Lanka, Liberia, Lesotho, Libya, Morocco, Madagascar, Mali, Myanmar, Mongolia, Mauritania, Mauritius, Maldives, Malawi, Malaysia, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Nepal, Oman, Peru, Philippines, Pakistan, Paraguay, Qatar, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Sudan, Singapore, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Somalia, Suriname, South Sudan, Sao Tome & Principe, Syria, Eswatini, Chad, Togo, Thailand, Tajikistan, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tunisia, Turkey, Taiwan, Tanzania, Uganda, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How to Identify

A shrub that loses its leaves during the year. It grows 1.2 m high and spreads 1.5 m wide. It produces vigorous root suckers. The branches are downy. The leaves are broadly oval and taper to the tip. They are 12.5 cm long. There are shallow teeth around the edge. The flowers are white and fragrant. They are tube shaped.

How to Grow

Seeds are spread by birds. Plants can be grown by seeds or cuttings.

Propagation: Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe. Germination can be erratic but usually takes place within 20 - 60 days at 20°c. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on until large enough to plant out. Cuttings of the stem or side branches root very easily - simply insert them in the soil and water at regular intervals until they are growing well. Root cuttings, 6 - 8cm long usually grow away well. Division of suckers in the dormant season. Very easy, they can be planted out direct into their permanent positions if required.

Wikipedia

Source ↗

Clerodendrum chinense, called the glory bower, is a species of flowering plant in the genus Clerodendrum. It is native to Nepal, the eastern Himalayas, Assam, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, south-central and southeast China, Southeast Asia, and Malesia. It is a perennial shrub that grows up to 3 m (10 ft) tall. A popular garden plant, it has been widely introduced to the rest of the world, including Florida, the Caribbean, Bermuda, Central America, the Galápagos, South America, Ascension Island, the Gulf of Guinea islands, East Africa, the Seychelles, Pakistan, India, the Lesser Sunda Islands, Taiwan, the Cook Islands, Fiji, Niue, and the Society Islands. It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

Notes

There are about 400 Clerodendrum species. It can be invasive.

Names & Synonyms

Bei bing, Chou mo li, Chou mu dan, De ga pa me, Fragrant glorybower, Gong mie gian, Losa Honolulu

Clerodendrum fragrans Willd.and others
References (8)
  • Bodkin, F., 1991, Encyclopedia Botanica. Cornstalk publishing, p 266 (As Clerodendrum philippinum)
  • Brickell, C. (Ed.), 1999, The Royal Horticultural Society A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants. Convent Garden Books. p 280 (As Clerodendrum philippinum)
  • Cao, Y., et al, 2020, Ethnobotanical study on wild edible plants used by three trans-boundary ethnic groups in Jiangcheng County, Pu’er, Southwest China. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine (2020) 16:66 (As var. simplex)
  • A. L. P. P. de Candolle, Prodr. 11:666. 1847 "Clerodendron" (As Clerodendrum philippinum)
  • Lim, T. K., 2015, Edible Medicinal and Non Medicinal Plants. Volume 9, Modified Stems, Roots, Bulbs. Springer p 24
  • Marinelli, J. (Ed), 2004, Plant. DK. p 449 (As Clerodendrum philippinum)
  • Mot So Rau Dai an Duoc O Vietnam. Wild edible Vegetables. Ha Noi 1994, p 136 (As Clerodendrum philippinum)
  • World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

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