Rotheca myricoides 'Ugandense'

RHS Plant Profile

butterfly bush 'Ugandense'

Other common names

butterfly bush, Oxford and Cambridge bush

Synonyms

Clerodendrum myricoides 'Ugandense'
Clerodendrum ugandense

Conservatory Greenhouse

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A scrambling evergreen shrub with elliptic or obovate leaves and terminal panicles of pale blue flowers with dark violet lower petal and long-exserted stamens in summer and autumn

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Loam

Max Height

2.5-4 metres

Max Spread

1.5-2.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 5–10 years
Max Spread: 1.5-2.5 metres
Max Height: 2.5-4 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam

Moisture: Moist but well–drained
pH: Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: West–facing or South–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H1B

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Lamiaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Climbing
Genus: Rotheca is a genus of shrubs, sub-shrubs and perennial herbs, often with an unpleasant smell when crushed. Flowers are almost butterfly shaped, hence its common name of Butterfly Bush. Flowers can be a mixture of white, blues, pinks and purples.
Name Status: Accepted
Plant Range: Trop. Africa

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow under glass in peat-free, loam-based potting compost in full light with shade from hot sun and good ventilation in the summer. Water freely in growth and apply a balanced liquid fertiliser monthly. Water sparingly in winter

Propagation

Propagate by semi-ripe cuttings with bottom heat in summer or root cuttings in winter

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Patio and container plants

Pruning

Pruning group 11

Pests

May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite, mealybugs and glasshouse whitefly

Diseases

Generally disease-free