Bleeding Heart Vine
Scientific Name: Clerodendrum thomsoniae
Category: plant
Brief Description
A flowering evergreen climbing vine known for its striking bicolor flowers that resemble a drop of blood emerging from a white heart-shaped chalice.
Characteristics
The plant features dark green, ovate leaves and terminal clusters of flowers. Each flower consists of a white, bell-shaped calyx and a bright red five-lobed corolla with long, protruding stamens.
Habitat
Tropical rainforests and humid environments; often grown in gardens or as houseplants in temperate zones.
When to Find It
Typically blooms most profusely from spring through autumn, but can bloom year-round in tropical climates.
Conservation Status
N/A
Ecological Role
The nectar-rich flowers are highly attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds, serving as a food source for pollinators.
Easily Confused With
Clerodendrum speciosissimum (Java Glory Bower) which has all-red flowers and lacks the white calyx; Dicentra spectabilis (Common Bleeding Heart) which is an unrelated herbaceous perennial with drooping, heart-shaped flowers.
Observation Tips
Look for the distinctive white and red contrast. In cooler climates, it is often kept in containers or greenhouses as it is frost-sensitive.
Interesting Facts
Despite its common name, it is not related to the woodland 'Bleeding Heart' (Dicentra). It was named in honor of the wife of William Cooper Thomson, a 19th-century missionary and botanist in Nigeria.
User Notes
what type of flower is this?