This plant was given to me several years ago, the donor has since passed away. Its a profuse bloomer, from early spring till fall, blooms are in clumps along the stems, which are very woody and tough. Its gotten to be about three feet tall. Its NOT a bleeding heart, the leaves and blooms are all wrong. Likes lots of water, and thrives in full morning sun. I've shown it to several local greenhouses, they have no clue what it is, but they all want starts. Maybe a member of the fucsia (sp) family? Leaves are dark green, it goes dormant in the fall (I bring it inside). Blossoms are white, with a bright red center, with yellow pistols. Help?
Important to note that bleeding heart is the common name, not botanical name, and so really has no bearing on what family the plant actually is related to. The botanical family, Clerodendrum, has more logical leaves and flowers. If you google the botanical name that Junglekeeper has given, you'll find, among others, this photo: http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Verbenaceae/Clerodendrum_thomsoniae.html which does seem conclusive.
Judging from other queries posted apparently not difficult to come up with widely known and grown plants that are a mystery to local "experts", so that does not seem to be a reliable basis for concluding a plant is rare. Your mystery plant, for instance is frequently encountered and described, in my experience. Westerners will find a drawing of it on page 283 of the popular Sunset Western Garden Book (2001 edition), with description on the next page. Note that Fuchsia and Clerodendrum are genera, rather than families.
Thats it! I guess the local greenhouses were expecting a more fern-like leaf. Thank You! http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Verbenaceae/Clerodendrum_thomsoniae.html
Here in Florida, your 'Bleeding Heart' (clerodendrum) is quite common. You know what they say, " one man's rare plant is another man's weed". And volunteer Spiderworts are taking over my yard and driving me crazy.
