Need an Attractive Flowering Plant for Shade?

Rose Glory Bower is Fragrant and Vigorous

Jul 19, 2009

Rose-colored flower heads start out as a mass of dark pink buds which open to release the scent of Cashmere Bouquet soap.

Sometimes sold in nurseries as "Pink Diamond," another common name for Clerodendrum bungei is Mexican Hydrangea, as it resembles a domesticated French hydrangea. In its native China and Northern India, Rose Glory Bower grows in forests and on moist hillsides.

Rose Glory Bower is in the Verbena family and will bloom spring, summer and fall in Zones 6-11. It is generally disease and pest free, with aphids being the main threat. Drought tolerant, it grows best in sun to partial shade with average water. The foliage will droop in hot, dry conditions but bounces back, especially after a rain. Cut spent flowers off to encourage growth and future blooms.

A deciduous plant, Clerodendrum bungei will lose its leaves in the winter, leaving nothing but a stalk, which will leaf out again in spring. Cutting the stalks to the ground while the plant is dormant will encourage fullness of growth.

Strong-smelling Foliage

Ornamental, heart-shaped leaves and an average height of four feet make Rose Glory Bower an attractive backdrop in the garden, even when the plants are not flowering. When brushed against or cut, the foliage emits a strong, musky odor. While some people find the smell offensive, others believe the plant's sweet-smelling flowers tip the balance.

Butterflies Love It

When Rose Glory Bower blooms, a rounded mound of pink flowers perches atop large, dark green leaves like a bouquet, giving rise to one of its monikers, Kashmir Bouquet. Hundreds of tubular pink flowers make up each head, which can be as large as eight inches across, easily attracting butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees. As well as being a nectar plant, it is a food source for caterpillars.

"A Pretty Plant with Bad Manners" (Floridata)

Rose Glory Bower spreads aggressively by sending up suckers in its immediate vicinity via an underground root system. It has become invasive in the southern United States, as well as in Mexico and South America. Care should be taken to contain this plant in your garden -- a single plant can start a large colony in one growing season. Clerodendrum bungei also grows well in pots.

Share with Friends

Because it is so easy to propagate, Rose Glory Bower is a wonderful plant to pass along to friends and fellow gardeners. Simply dig up a rooted sucker, or collect seeds from the dried flower heads and plant immediately. This plant is commonly found for sale online through auctions and vendors, as well as for free at plant trade web sites.

The copyright of the article Need an Attractive Flowering Plant for Shade? in Scented Flower Gardens is owned by Carol Wells. Permission to republish Need an Attractive Flowering Plant for Shade? in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.