Rotheca myricoides 'Ugandense'

From spring to fall the Blue Butterfly Bush produces large clusters of dainty blue flowers that very much resemble little butterflies and thus the name. This is a tropical plant that can be grown as a root hardy perennial in the northern portions of its range (zone 9 and warmer) otherwise it makes an easy to grow container plant. In its native habitat it can reach 10-12'H but more typically it is kept as a 4-6'H shrub. The long canes lend it to use as an espalier. It is interesting to note that the Blue Butterfly Bush was originally grouped with the South American Clerodendrums but as with all of the African Clerodendrum species, sometimes but incorrectly Clerodendron, it has been moved into the Rotheca genus. The flowers are often visited by a variety of pollinators particularly bees, butterflies, as well as the occasional hummingbird.