They are family, clerodendrum, a big family. Four hundred species in this genus, with trees and shrubs that vary from 3 to 25 feet, or vines. They all have bright, distinctive flowers. Formerly in the verbenaceae family, they’ve been moved to the mint, lamiaceae family.

One of the first shrubs I saw when I first moved here and liked was java glory bower, (C. speciosissmum). They were everywhere in the landscape. Bright, cheery clusters of red blooms and heart-shaped leaves. I finally got mine, a 6-inch seedling plant that I nurtured into a 5 foot tall shrub. I was so proud of it. Then it turned on me and spread seedlings all over the huge flower bed and beyond. Then I knew why they were everywhere. Controlling it, pulling seedlings before they took hold, is necessary to enjoy this spot of landscape color.

I really wanted to get the bleeding heart vine, C. thomsoniae, growing but never had a climbing spot for it. Those pure white shaped bract blossoms dripping a scarlet bloom were stunning. Everyone else got it to grow up their trees and over their garage doors.

Now there is a lavender bract one dripping a scarlet bloom, C. delectum. They cover arbors, trellises, fences, trees and can be trained into pillars and over rafters. I believe they would make a showy ground cover. A blanket of beauty.

Then several years ago, I bought my daughter a C. ugandense, a blue butterfly clerodendrum. These blossoms looks like flocks of two shades of blue, butterflies with long purple anthers. They can tolerate drier conditions.

Then there is the very fragrant cashmere bouquet, C. phillippinum. Tiny clusters of rose-like blooms that look like a bouquet and are fragrant in the evening. Catch: they are the absolutely most invasive of all clerodendrum.

The least invasive is the new, musical note, C. insisum macrosipho — A 3 to 4-foot-tall shrub with large masses of white, tubular blooms that when unopened look like musical notes.

All this is because I found a new clerodendrum I wanted. I first saw it as a bush, then as trees, large, big large, leaves of green on top and burgundy undersides, giving it a dark appearance. My son-in-law found a small (big) seedling for me. I should have listened to his warning that his friends have to mow down the many seedlings. Did I care? No, because ever since I saw it blooming, with clusters of long, thin, funnel blossoms of pale pink, that look like a fireworks starburst, I wanted one. Got one. Researched it and found it is sometimes called winter starburst because it blooms in January and February.

Clerodendrum starburst, likes sun to semi-shade, average moisture, can be a tree or bush with those large leaves. The spot I deemed perfect had overgrown invasive Phillippine violets used for hedging. Not listed as invasive. Starburst does have suckering shoot runners. I replaced a very invasive with a less invasive and will try to control it. I did buy a smaller, less invasive, variegated one called brandonii, because that was my grandson’s name. Drowned it. There is also a smaller version of the regular starburst that is less invasive, I hear.

When I travel the north side of Hancock Bridge Parkway, I see on the top of several ridges, these tall, dark shrubs lined up like a hedge. Should be spectacular come January.

These species do not have common leaves, though some do stink, or blooms, or colors, or sizes to identify them as related, but butterflies do love them. Talk about multiple personalities.

Joyce Comingore,

President local Am. Hibiscus Chapter,

Master Gardener and Garden Club member