I've just purchased this plant and live in zone 7 - am unable to find much info about this plant. I would like to know if I can plant it in the ground & then mulch it in the winter, do I need to cut back in winter or would I do better to plant in a pot & bring into the house in winer? Any and all information or links to sites that may help would be greatly appreciated. This plant is clerodendrum thomsoniae.
Hi Nubin68: You do have a few growing issues to deal with. For this plant to be grown in a Zone 22-28 tells me two things. One, your plant cannot handle much for cold and your plant cannot handle real intense heat either. As you can see from one of the URLs below the growth indoors in Holland is not much per year. Some people even in a Zone 9 can grow this plant, not well though, outdoors but in partial shade with a heavy mulch for the Winter. I think you can get by with the heat issue much better than the cold issue. What many people do is grow this plant in a tub so it can be moved outside when the temps are warm enough then bring this plant indoors when the temps start to drop in the early to late Fall. Some people in Florida can get lucky growing this plant under certain trees to prevent leaf scorch but for you the cold will be your biggest issue. If it was me I would not permanently plant this shrubby vine outdoors. I would leave it in a large container and move the plant inside when necessary. I think you would prune this plant to shape it after it has flowered, sometime right after August-October. For this plant you will have to apply lots of water and mist it or give the leaves a good shower almost daily outdoors. You will also want to have a fast draining, rich soil, possibly a nursery grade potting soil with ample sand in the mix. Other than all of that you can grow this plant. I've seen it done pretty much indoors in a Zone 3 and grown in a indoors and outdoors situation in a Zone 7. Below are two URLs to look at. http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Verbenaceae/Clerodendrum_thomsoniae.html http://www.grapheus.com/Plants/Plants-Clerodendrum.htm Good luck, Jim
