June 3, 2022 Fun Fact Friday

This week's Fun Fact Friday topic is Bleeding Heart Vine or Clerodendrum thomsoniae for you science geeks. This vining plant has unique flowers. The first blooming feature is a white calyx followed by deep red corollas with long prominent stamens. Looking at the flower, you can guess how this plant got it's name. The white calyx appears heart shaped and the red corolla appears as a drop of blood falling off the heart. Often, these flowers bloom in clusters on the vine giving it a magnificent appearance in the landscape.

Although this is not a FL native (native to Africa), there is no evidence that I could find accusing it of being invasive in Florida. It does grow very easily and can spread through runners. It is easily propagated by cuttings. I have never seen my plant fruit so I have not tried propagation through seed.

See you.......