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These delicate-looking blue flowers have graced many a Garden Blogger Bloom Day since 2008 but my plant barely survived last winter when our temperatures dropped to 13°F. It took months before one tiny sprout reappeared from the dead sticks at the base so while it was still on the "Dead-or-Dormant List" I searched local nurseries for a second plant with no luck. My friend Sophia from the Divas of the Dirt checked out Houston nurseries but also came home empty-handed.
Then my garden blogger friend Robin from Getting Grounded found a beauty for me at It's About Thyme. The new plant is blooming in a patio container and how I love those blue flowers!
The original plant (a Passalong Plant from Sophia) has sun for a good part of the day with a little shade when the vines fill in the nearby obelisk. I've added compost and do have to water it, but not excessively. Right now the new plant looks happy in its patio container next to the Pineapple Sage, but it was already nearly 3-feet tall when Robin bought it and it will need repotting soon.
My plan is to bring it inside during cold snaps ... either into the garage or near the window in the breakfast room. Maybe that way instead of putting all its energy into survival and regrowth after winter, it can just concentrate on being beautiful!
I certainly agree with you about never having enough blue in the garden. I'm not familiar with this lovely blue butterfly bush: thanks for the intro. It's going on my wish list!
ReplyDeleteI agree, its going on my wish list.
ReplyDeleteToo fragile for my garden, but nice to meet it.
ReplyDeleteWhat a delightful plant, such delicate blooms. It's definitely going on my "must have one someday" list.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear your Butterfly Bush came out of it. It is so pretty and to answer your question there cannot be too much blue in a garden. I love the true blue blooms.
ReplyDeleteWow, how awesome, nothing like our butterfly bushes in Michigan. It looks so tropical up close and kinda spirea-ish from a distance. :)
ReplyDeleteWhat gorgeous shades of blue! No wonder you love it so, Annie. :)
ReplyDeleteI knew something with such pretty delicate blue blooms wouldn't survive here. It is a beauty and worth any trouble of bringing it in and out during winter.s
ReplyDeleteI just bought a 'Blue Butterfly' after coveting one for a while. I love it! It may be my favorite purchase this year - so far.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a wonderful flowering plant, it really looks like a butterfly! Thanks for sharing...
ReplyDeleteI am an artist here in Texas and I love to paint butterflies and flowers so this is my perfect plant!
What a dandy, I've never seen one before. Now I know why, no nurseries carry them. Blue is good but red is my flower color.
ReplyDeleteI love blue in the garden, and that is a grand plant. I look at it and imagine the possibilities of "scanner" portraits of it. Sounds like it is a very tender perennial and will reward you for being coddled.
ReplyDeleteBlue is my favorite color in the garden, but oh so hard to find plants with a true blue flower. These delicate blossoms are lovely. I would add it to my wish list, too, but I can see it wouldn't like Illinois winters.
ReplyDeleteSuch a lovely bloom -- I can see why you'd want to have one in the ground and one in a pot. Your post reminds me that I've been meaning for some time to visit It's About Thyme. Although it's a bit too far south to be a regular haunt for me, it's on my list for fall shopping.
ReplyDeleteAnnie,it is so pretty and underutilized. Lovely to see Austin having some better weather this summer.~~Dee
ReplyDeleteI have a few plants like that, where I don't expect any blooms from them this year. Ah well. I saw this plant, not in bloom, in a nursery here in Louisiana. Since I didn't know it would be so beautiful, I passed on it. How big do they get?
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of this plant. I'm glad I stopped in to see what you had going in Texas because it is one of the most beautiful blooms I've ever seen.
ReplyDeleteIt looks kind of like a wacky hat.
How nice to have a friend who will watch for things for you! I have one of those (friends) who enjoys shopping way more than I do so I benefit from her travels too. I totally agree with the blue comment and this is a really nice addition.
ReplyDeleteI love that blue too! I've always wondered if they really did well here. But if yours have been great (except in crazy freeze) I may have to try it. Like you, maybe safely in a pot.
ReplyDeleteI have a Clerodendrum ugandense (Blue Butterfly Bush)that I just transplanted from one area to another in my yard. It is about 4 feet tall and full. I hope it survives the move. What do you suggest that I can do to help it along? Vit. B12? Should I cut it back? I live in Los Angeles. Thanks so much for your comment!!
ReplyDeleteRhonda
Hi Rhonda,
ReplyDeleteUsually whenever I transplant I mix some seaweed, sometimes a little SuperThrive into water... add compost & mulch. Maybe that works in Los Angeles, too? Good luck - they're really beautiful!
Annie
Blue Beauty! made me smile when I happened to ran into it at a Farmers Market on FM 2929 Rd. in Tomball TX. I have never seen it in the many Houston Nurseries that we have. It really captivated me with its butterfly resemblance. The flower bloom reminds me of one of the many varieties of orchid flowers. Happy to bring it home.
ReplyDeleteerod
I live in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa and have a number of Clerodendrum Myricoides growing in my garden. I cut them back at the end of winter once the berries (for the birds) are over. This encourages the plant to bush out and the cuttings root very easily to grow into new plants.
ReplyDeleteI live in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa and have a number of Clerodendrum myricoides plants growing in my garden - some in full sun and some getting shade for part of the day. Towards the end of winter I prune back fairly heavily to encourage bushiness. The cuttings slip very easily.
ReplyDeleteJennie
Yesterday I saw tiny sprouts at the base of the original plant and the one bought last year... hoping some of the cuttings will turn into plants strong enough to take our summer!
ReplyDeleteJenny from South Africa - the hint about cutting back to encourage bushiness may help any readers in milder zones, but here in Austin the plants die all the way to the ground. Next winter I plan on bringing at least one plant inside!
Thanks for the comments!
Annie
Only God can make a tree. And only God can make a plant with a butterfly as its bloom. When I first saw the clerodendren ugandense, I became tearful and humble as I thought of God's omnipotence. To me, it was like He said, "So, your flowers don't attract butterflies. Well, I'll make you a plant with butterflies already on it." I love this plant. I have one that I hope is dormant and not dead.
ReplyDeleteOnly God can make a tree. And only God can make a plant with butterflies as its bloom. When I first saw clerodendren ugandense, I became tearful and humble because, to me, it was proof of God's omnipotence and omnipresence. It was like He said, "So your flowers don't attract butterflies. Well, I'll make you one with butterflies already on it." I love this plant. It makes me smile and know that I have a God.
ReplyDeleteJust saw one of these at my local nursery in Spring last week.. After reading this, I think I might need to go back and get it! I didnt realize it was hard to come by.
ReplyDeleteRhonda
Spring, TX
I have been growing this for two years in a garden window in cold weather and it is outside during the summer. I had my first bloom open today! It is beautiful. Aurora Colorado
ReplyDeleteJust purchased a blue butterfly (Clerodendron) at Lowe's Home Improvement. Any tips to grow them in central, coastal, FL region 9?
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty sure that they're easier to grow in Zone 9 - they freeze back most years here. Meems, another Florida gardener, considers them easy care, well-behaved plants for her area. Good luck!
DeleteDigging Dog Nursery in CA carries this!
ReplyDelete