Japanese name: ゲンペイカズラ（源平葛） Scientific name:Clerodendrum thomsoniae
[Overview]
An evergreen climbing shrub that climbs by twining its stems around other plants.
Young branches are square in cross section and densely covered with short hairs.
The leaves are opposite, ovate to long ovate, about 12 cm long and 6 cm wide, with entire margins.
The flowers are borne in cymes.
The white, bag-shaped calyx has 5 ridges, and from within it open deep crimson flowers about 1.8 cm across.
The corolla is 5-lobed, and the stamens protrude far out.
[History]
It was introduced to Japan in the Meiji era.
[Cultivation]
Propagate by cuttings.
It prefers a sunny location. It drops its leaves when exposed to low temperatures, so it is best kept at 10°C or higher.
[Notes]
The Japanese name, Genpei, comes from the contrast between the white calyx and the red corolla.
