Rotheca myricoides aka Butterfly Bush

Taxonomy

Rotheca myricoides, also known as butterfly bush or Clerodendrum myricoides, is a species of flowering plant in the Lamiaceae. Native to Africa, it is widely cultivated in other regions. The cultivar 'Ugandense' is an untidy evergreen shrub that can grow up to 4 meters tall and 2.5 meters broad. It features oval leaves and abundant pale blue flowers with a darker blue lower petal. This plant thrives in summer and autumn and has a minimum temperature requirement of 10 °C (50 °F), making it suitable for glasshouse cultivation in temperate zones. It typically grows at altitudes ranging from 900 to 1680 meters. Notably, Rotheca myricoides 'Ugandense' has been awarded the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. This scrambling evergreen shrub has elliptic or obovate leaves and produces panicles of pale blue flowers with a dark violet lower petal and long-exserted stamens during the summer and autumn seasons. Rheca myricoides 'Ugandense' is a low-maintenance, suckering, evergreen shrub that belongs to the Lamiaceae family. Native to tropical eastern Africa, specifically Kenya and Uganda, it displays attractive light blue to violet-blue pea-like flowers and is commonly grown in containers.

Common names

Butterfly Bush, Cats Whiskers

How to care for Butterfly Bush

Difficulty

Caring for Butterfly Bush is a breeze, as it is highly adaptable and forgiving to minor neglect.

Water

Butterfly Bush should be watered regularly, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings.

Soil

Butterfly Bush loves a well-draining soil. Perlite and vermiculite help with drainage, while coco coir adds organic matter, so a good potting soil mix will have all three. You can improve store-bought soil by adding some perlite to it.

Lighting

Butterfly Bush requires abundant, bright, and direct light to thrive. The best placement for this plant is within one foot of a window to ensure it receives enough light. If you live in an area with more extreme weather, such as hot summers or cold winters, you may need to adjust the placement of the plant accordingly. During hot summer months, it is important to place the plant away from full sun, as this can cause the leaves to yellow or burn. During cold winter months, it is best to move the plant closer to the window to take advantage of the extra light that can help it survive. By keeping an eye on the current weather in your area, you can make sure your Cats Whiskers is always in the right place to thrive.

Toxicity

There is no verified data on the toxicity of this plant in the records of Ploi. If any person, including yourself, a family member, or a pet, consume plant material with an uncertain toxicity level, it is advisable to seek the advice of a healthcare expert.


More info:
Wikipedia