111 / 476
GENERAL
Origin
:
tropical
Vigour
:
fairly fast
growing
Humidity
:
semi-humid, very
humid, extremely
humid
Propagation :
sowing and
pricking out,
cuttings
Maintenance :
moderate
CONDITIONS
Urban climate :
vulnerable
Dessication :
vulnerable
Stagnant water :
vulnerable
Irrigation
:
high
Salinity/ppm :
moderate (1500
ppm)
Hardiness
:
0°C
SHAPE
Type
:
climbers
Height
:
1 m-3 m
Spread
:
1 m-3 m
Foliage
:
semi-evergreen
FLOWER
Colour
:
red, orange,
secondary:
yellow,
secondary: white
Size
:
15 cm
Period
:
May - December
FRUIT
Type of fruit :
berry
Fruit size
:
1 cm
The Flaming Glorybower, originating in West Africa, is an attractive and easily maintained, vi-
gorous climber which makes a colourful addition to a garden, and is best planted in the shade
in Arriyadh, where the light is bright enough for it to grow well. Twining in habit, it has large,
up to 15 cm deep-veined, oval leaves arranged in opposite pairs, and bears clusters of bright red
flowers. The 2-cm-large, individual flowers vary in shades of purple to scarlet. The flowering pe-
riod is at its peak at the beginning of winter, and lasts until early summer, but the showy flowers
are present throughout the year. It likes acidic, sandy soil, but will do well in most situations.
Flaming Glorybower is relatively drought-tolerant once it has established itself, but requires deep
watering in summer. It will grow to a height of 5 metres with a spread of 3 metres. This climber
spreads rapidly from root suckers, which may appear through paving, but on the whole it is not
an aggressive vine and climbs happily with support over trellis and shade structures. Once at the
top, its branches go back down again to form a dense wall of leaves and flowers. Without support,
C. splendens spreads itself flat forming a dense groundcover. Propagation is by seed, hardwood
cuttings or splitting off root suckers. Easy to prune, it responds well to shaping or a very hard cut
back. A tropical plant, it will be damaged if there are frosts. It is therefore not suitable for unpro-
tected gardens outside Arriyadh, and should be sheltered from cold and hot winds.
110
Clerodendrum splendens,
Verbenaceae
Flaming Glorybower