Clerodendrum paniculatum (pagoda flower, "Kakubahigiri")

Japanese name: カクバヒギリ （角葉緋桐）
Scientific name: Clerodendrum paniculatum

[Overview]
An evergreen shrub 1–2 m tall.
The branches are square in cross section.
The leaves are opposite, ovate-orbicular and 15–20 cm long, often shallowly palmately 3–5-lobed, and hairy on the upper surface.
The leaf margins have small teeth or are entire.
The petiole is 3–11 cm long and covered with yellow-brown hairs.
A conical cyme 30 cm long at the stem tip bears many flowers.
The flowers are 1–1.5 cm long and deep crimson to vermilion; the corolla is 5-lobed, and the corolla lobes are somewhat whitish.
The stamens protrude far out.
The inflorescence axis, flower stalks and calyx are also red, so the whole inflorescence looks red.
The fruit is a drupe.

[Cultivation]
Propagate by cuttings, division or root cuttings.
It prefers a sunny, well-drained, moderately moist site.
It also tolerates shade.
The aboveground parts may die back in cold temperatures, so it is desirable to keep it at 10 °C or higher.
It spreads by underground stems, so to keep it from multiplying too much, build a frame underground or plant it in a large pot and bury the pot.
Rainfall is sufficient unless summer brings a long spell of sunny weather and the soil dries out.
No fertilizer is particularly needed if fertilizer is applied at planting.
There are no particular pests or diseases.

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