Family: Lamiaceae
Common name: Chinese glory bower, Glory bower, Wild jasmine, Stick bush, Glory flower, Fragrant clerodendrum, Honolulu rose, Cashmere bouquet, Fragrant glory bower, Madras mallige
Chinese glory bower is a beautiful flowering plant with bouquets of pristine white flowers, commonly seen on roadsides in tropical countries. They are native to Southeast Asian countries; the name Chinensis itself means that they are ‘from China’.
Plant Characteristics
Chinese glory bower plants grow to a height of 1.5 to 3 meters with well-branched, green stems that are erect and woody. The stems can be angled or smooth, woody towards the base and green towards the tip.
Leaves are broad, heart-shaped with a slightly toothed margin. They are dark green and glossy, about 10-20 cm long, and have a pointy tip. The stem and leaf stalks are covered with small hairs, giving them a powdery white appearance.
Flowers of the Chinese glory bower are very beautiful – large bunches of multi-layered, white flowers that look like small bouquets. They are produced at the tip of the stem, and look very much like Jasmine flowers.
These flowers also have a delicate fragrance, which is enhanced in late evening when their natural pollinators are around.
Chinese glory bower flowers are 2-3 cm in diameter and arranged in a thick cluster of 10-25 flowers, creating a spectacular display in the flowering season.
The flowering period is during spring and summer, the tips of all the stalks producing tight, little, cauliflower-like bunches of fragrant flowers. They can also be light pink in color or white with a pink tint.
After pollination, the flowers produce small, round berries that are initially green and then turn dark purple. They are .5-1 cm in diameter and produced in clusters.
Gardening Tips
It is surprising that these beautiful plants are not grown in home gardens, but are seen in the wild. They are capable of producing new plants and spreading quickly, possibly one of the reasons they never forayed into gardens.
Chinese glory bower plants can grow in full sun or in the partial shade of large trees, but they generally prefer moist, warm, tropical weather.
Since these are wild plants, they do not need watering or fertilization. The soil should be loamy and well-draining since their roots cannot stand waterlogging.
Chinese glory bower plants usually grow as well-rounded bushes that do not need pruning. Pesticide applications can be done if you spot any fungal or aphid infestations.
They are closely related to other Clerodendrum species like Clerodendrum japonicum or Japanese glory bower, Clerodendrum infortunatum or Hill glory bower, and Clerodendrum indicum or Tubeflower, all of them wild plants that produce beautiful, unique flowers.
Uses of Chinese Glory Bower
Chinese Glory Bower plants are seen on roadsides and open areas, and are not usually grown as ornamentals. They can be grown in parks or botanical gardens to preserve the species, and also to provide nectar for pollinating insects since these plants bloom in abundance.
They can be used for reforestation of barren lands since Chinese glory bower plants can grow quickly, producing large clumps of plants, filling an area quickly.
They are considered invasive species in some countries, but they can be quickly by hand, or through weedicide applications.
Propagation
Propagation is through seeds, stem cuttings, or from small plants that grow from the base of the parent plants.
Seeds collected from mature fruits can be dried and planted in moist soil to germinate, though it can take many weeks for them to germinate and grow. 20-30 cm long stem cuttings taken from healthy plants can root well in soil.
The easiest method of propagation is by using the offsets or pups that grow from the parent plant. These can be carefully removed, without breaking the roots and replanted away from the parent plant.
Photographed at: Kabini, Karnataka
