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Clerodendrum speciosissimum is from the Lamiaceae family of plants. It is a tropical, evergreen, perennial shrub that is native to Papuasia, Bismarck Archipelago, Malaysia, New Guinea, and Indonesia, to be more precise, the island of Java. It is also known as Clerodendrum buchananii var. fallax, Clerodendrum fallax, Java Glory Bower, or Flaming Glory Bower.
It was named by Johannes Burman (1707-1780), a Dutch botanist. He specialized in plants from Ceylon, Ambnoia, and Cape Colony. He met Carl Linnaeus in 1735 who hired him on a project.
Clerodendrum speciosissimum is an erect growing shrub. It has heart-shaped velvety leaves and panicles of bright orange-red flowers. Flowers appear in summer into early autumn. Clerodendrum speciosissimum can grow to about 13ft or 4m.
Grow Clerodendrum speciosissimum in the sun. Plant it in slightly acid soil but it adapts to a variety of soil types. Once established it tolerates brief dry periods. Propagate by cuttings in spring or summer or by seeds, the seeds need to be scarified and put in water before planting. It attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.
