Meet the Starburst Bush
Starburst Bush | Clerodendrum quadriloculare
How do you know it’s me?:
I am a large bush or small tree.
My flowers appear in clusters and look like a bundle of shooting stars - a white flower with a long pink or purple “tail.”
My leaves are dark green, with a deep purple underside. They extend up to 8” in length and are alternately arranged along a branch.
I have oval-shaped leaves, with a pointed tip.
My bark is tan colored. It is smooth and develops texture with age.
How big do I grow?: 10’ - 15’ height and 8’ - 10’ spread.
Sun-seeker or shade-lover: Full sun to part shade.
Where I prefer to put my roots: I like moist, well-drained, and fertile soils. I am drought tolerant once established.
Hardiness: Zone 9-11
Original home: I am native to New Guinea and the Philippines.
Colors: Pink or purple flowers tipped in white, and evergreen foliage.
When I bloom: Late winter to early spring.
Wildlife friends: My sweet nectar attracts hummingbirds and butterflies.
Flora Fun Facts: My long, tubular flowers require specialist pollinators to reach my nectar. Long-tongued butterflies and the long, narrow beaks of hummingbirds are well-suited to the task!
More Info: This large bush or small tree catches the eye with its deeply colored foliage throughout most of the year. Come late winter, it then erupts into beautiful displays of flower bursts in shades of pink or purple to accompany its purple leaves. A match made in nature.
Member of the mint family (Lamiaceae).
Can produce root suckers, which can easily be removed by hand pulling or mowing the area around the tree.
Can be pruned and responds well to yearly fertilization.
Parts of the plant can be poisonous if ingested.
In the Philippines, it is used in the treatment of wounds.
Grows well as a container plant, too.
