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Rotheca myricoides 'Ugandense'

Phonetic Spelling
roth-EE-kah mir-ih-KOY-deez yoo-gan-DEN-say
Description

Rotheca myricoides ‘Ugandense’, or Blue butterfly bush, is a low maintenance, suckering, evergreen shrub in the Lamiaceae family that is native to tropical eastern Africa (Kenya and Uganda). As its common name implies, the plant displays violet-blue flowers that resemble a butterfly in flight. This lanky shrub grows to 6 to 10 feet, but is not very vigorous and tends to have anemic green foliage. It has attractive light blue to violet-blue pea-like flowers and looks great grown in a container, though containers do best if overwintered in a sheltered location. If grown in a container, the plant will likely grow to a height of 4 feet. It grows best in frost-free climates, as it tends to freeze to the ground in zones 8-9 or when temperatures dip below 25 F, but even if it freezes, the roots can survive and rejuvenate in spring. If a compact form is desired, prune back to the ground in early spring.

The plant is easily grown in soils that are moist, well-drained, and have plenty of organic matter. It requires consistent watering and tolerates full sun to part shade, but performs best in part shade.

'Ugandense' is a cultivar originally named was Clerodendrum ugandense, which was later changed to Clerodendrum myricoides ‘Ugandense’. The current name, Rotheca myricoides ‘Ugandense’, was applied in 1998 based on the results of DNA studies.

Diseases, Insects, and Other Plant Problems:

Except for possible bouts of leafspot, no known serious insect or disease problems are associated with this plant. However, aphids, mealybugs, scale, spider mites, and whitefly can occasionally cause problems.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#evergreen#showy flowers#shrub#low maintenance#container plant#patio
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#evergreen#showy flowers#shrub#low maintenance#container plant#patio
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Rotheca
    Species:
    myricoides
    Family:
    Lamiaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Root Cutting
    Stem Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    East Africa
    Dimensions:
    Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Shrub
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Open
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    Low
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    High Organic Matter
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Black
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Description:
    A black fleshy fruit appears in the fall.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Blue
    Purple/Lavender
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Cyme
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Description:
    Violet-blue flowers that resemble a butterfly in flight bloom June-September. The flowers have four light blue side petals (resembling butterfly wings), a fifth dark blue lower petal (resembling butterfly head, thorax and abdomen), and showy, curved, outward-arching, purple stamens (resembling butterfly antennae).
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Smooth
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Leaf Shape:
    Elliptical
    Obovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Length:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Glabrous, elliptic to narrow-obovate, glossy bright green leaves have serrate margins and wedge-shaped bases. Unpleasent smell when crushed.
  • Bark:
    Bark Description:
    Older branches with rough deeply fissured bark
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Surface:
    Smooth (glabrous)
    Stem Description:
    twigs pale brown, ridged or 4-angular, pithy in the centre, glabrous to velvety hairy
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Container
    Design Feature:
    Flowering Tree