Clerodendrum thomsoniae 13cm Care & Tips
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White on the outside, red at the centre ❤️
Family: Lamiaceae • Pot size: 13 cm • Height: 40–50 cm
Clerodendrum thomsoniae is a striking flowering climber that stands out instantly: a white calyx like a porcelain shell, with a red corolla emerging from the centre, all held in hanging clusters that create vivid contrast against its clean green foliage. It is an excellent choice when you want to dress a balcony, trellis or pergola with something genuinely distinctive, because it brings height, rhythm and long-lasting decorative value without needing much support from surrounding plants. With a little guidance onto a support, it quickly builds an elegant, full look and turns an ordinary spot into a clear focal point.
Place it in a bright position with indirect light, plus a few hours of gentle sun if possible, such as morning sun. Harsh midday sun can stress the foliage, especially in a pot. If you grow it as a climber, position it where you can provide reliable support so it can build a clean, elegant line.
Role in a composition: a vertical flowering statement that brings height, rhythm and clean two-tone contrast.
Taxonomic background: Clerodendrum thomsoniae is an accepted species in the family Lamiaceae. It is a tropical liana, meaning a woody climber adapted to rise through supporting vegetation.
Native range, habitat and distribution: Its native range lies in West Tropical Africa to Cameroon, including countries such as Cameroon, Gambia, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal and Sierra Leone. In nature it grows primarily in the wet tropical biome.
Naming and etymology: The genus name Clerodendrum is traditionally linked to Greek roots, while the epithet thomsoniae is commemorative, tied to the historical name Thomson in 19th-century horticultural literature.
Synonyms and horticultural names: In older literature, names such as Clerodendrum balfourii and Clerodendrum thomsoniae var. balfourii were used, but these are treated as synonyms of the accepted species.
Propagation and stability: In cultivation, it is reliably propagated by cuttings, which helps maintain consistent growth habit and flowering performance.
| 🔎 Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| 🌿 Botanical name | Clerodendrum thomsoniae |
| 🪴 Pot/Size | 13 cm • height 40–50 cm |
| 🧗 Habit | Climbing • best trained on support. |
| 💡 Light | Bright indirect light • tolerates gentle morning sun. |
| 💧 Watering | Steady • keep the mix lightly moist, never waterlogged. |
| 🌸 Flower | White calyx with red corolla • striking two-tone effect. |
| 🧪 Toxicity | Avoid ingestion • use caution around children and pets. |
It looks best with support. You can keep it more compact with pruning, but its natural movement is climbing, and that is when it becomes truly impressive.
It needs bright indirect light and, where possible, a few hours of gentle sun. In a very dark spot it may stay green, but flowering becomes less reliable.
The aim is evenly moist soil without waterlogging. Water when the surface starts to dry, then let the pot drain fully.
With light trimming after flowering flushes and proper guidance of the shoots onto their support. That keeps the plant denser and gives it a cleaner outline.
© Original plant description by Greenleaf Garden Center. All rights reserved. | This text is original material. Copying is prohibited.
🔎 Note: Due to the natural variability of plants, the one you receive may differ slightly from the photo. Shape, size and colouring may vary depending on season, growing conditions and the individual plant.