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Clerodendrum indicum
Lamiaceae FAMILY

Clerodendrum indicum

Clerodendrum indicum

Edibility
2/5
Medicinal
3/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Cultivation Details

HabitSemi-deciduous Shrub
Growth—

Clerodendrum indicum grows best in a moist tropical or subtropical climate and is not very tolerant of frost. Succeeds in a moderately to very sunny position in ordinary garden soil[1]. Prefers a moist but well-drained fertile soil[2]. The plant is commonly grown as an ornamental and easily escapes cultivation through its stolons and seeds. It has become naturalized outside its native range but is not currently (2014) viewed as a significant threat to native flora. Monitoring and future reassessment is recommended, considering its now widespread distribution beyond its native range, its rapid growth rate, and its ability to reproduce both by seed and vegetatively[3, 1, 4]. Flowers are produced on the current seasons growth and so, to encourage flowering, any pruning is best carried out when the plant is dormant[5].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe. Germination can be erratic but usually takes place within 20 - 60 days at 20°c[6]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on until large enough to plant out. Root cuttings, 6 - 8cm long usually grow away well[7]. Division of suckers in the dormant season. Very easy, they can be planted out direct into their permanent positions if required. Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2026-02-20. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Clerodendrum+indicum>

Pollinators

Lepidoptera, Bees

References

  1. [1]Tropical Flowering Plants. A Guide to Identification and Cultivation. — Llamas K.A. · Timber Press; Oregon. · 2003 · ISBN 0-88192-585-3 ↩︎A terse guide for the gardener to almost 1,500 species of ornamental tropical plants with brief details on their cultivation and, usually, a small photograph of good quality.
  2. [2]Encyclopedia of Tropical Plants - Identification and Cultivation of over 3,000 Tropical Plants — Ahmed Fayaz · Firefly Books Ltd.; New Zealand · 2011 · ISBN 978-1-55407-489 ↩︎A good photograph and terse but detailed information for over 3,000 species of tropical plants. An excellent reference.
  3. [3]Plant Resources of Southeast Asia — http://proseanet.org/ ↩︎Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
  4. [4]Invasive Species Compendium — http://www.cabi.org ↩︎An immense resource - in depth information on over 900 species of invasive plants (it also has information on animals, fungi etc).
  5. [5]The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. — Huxley. A. · MacMillan Press · 1992 · ISBN 0-333-47494-5 ↩︎Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
  6. [6]Growing from Seed. Volume 4. — Bird. R. (Editor) · Thompson and Morgan. · 1990 · ISBN - ↩︎Very readable magazine with lots of information on propagation. A good article on Yuccas, one on Sagebrush (Artemesia spp) and another on Chaerophyllum bulbosum.
  7. [7]Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. — Sheat. W. G. · MacMillan and Co · 1948 · ISBN - ↩︎A bit dated but a good book on propagation techniques with specific details for a wide range of plants.
  8. [8]Flora of China — Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis. · 1994 · http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/ ↩︎An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
  9. [9]Mansfeld's Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Plants — http://mansfeld.ipk-gatersleben.de/pls/htmldb_pgrc/f?p=185:3:4292127278597336 ↩︎Terse details of a huge range of useful plants.
  10. [10]Plants and People of Nepal — Manandhar. N. P. · Timber Press. Oregon. · 2002 · ISBN 0-88192-527-6 ↩︎Excellent book, covering over 1,500 species of useful plants from Nepal together with information on the geography and peoples of Nepal. Good descriptions of the plants with terse notes on their uses.
  11. [11]Clerodendrum indicum (L.) Kuntze- A folk Medicine for skin ailment (Agiya) from Bhar aborigine of Tikri Reserve Fore — Singh V. et al · 2016 ↩︎
  12. [12]Medicinal Plants of China — Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. · Reference Publications, Inc. · 1985 · ISBN 0-917256-20-4 ↩︎Details of over 1,200 medicinal plants of China and brief details of their uses. Often includes an analysis, or at least a list of constituents. Heavy going if you are not into the subject.
  13. [PFAF]Plants for a Future — pfaf.org ↩︎