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(Rotheca myricoides)
Butterfly Bush (Rotheca myricoides)
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Ruth Hartnup
CC BY 2.0
Image By:
Ruth Hartnup
Recorded By:
Copyright:
CC BY 2.0
Copyright Notice:
Photo by: Ruth Hartnup | License Type: CC BY 2.0 | License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/ | Uploader: Ruth and Dave | Publisher: Flickr
Estimated Native Range
Summary
Rotheca myricoides, commonly known as Butterfly Bush, is an evergreen shrub native to open woodlands, forest edges, and savannahs in Eastern and Southern Africa. It typically grows to 4 m (13 ft) tall and 2.5 m (8.2 ft) broad. The plant has an informal, somewhat untidy growth habit with oval, slightly hairy leaves. Its flowers are a major attraction, blooming in summer and autumn with masses of pale blue, purple, and white blossoms. Each flower features a distinctive darker blue lower petal, adding to the plant’s ornamental value. The flowers are highly attractive to butterflies, hence the common name.
Rotheca myricoides is celebrated for its vibrant flowers and ability to attract pollinators. It has earned the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit, indicating its excellence for garden use. While it requires a minimum temperature of 10 °C (50 °F) and is often grown under glass in temperate zones, it thrives in warmer climates. In cultivation, it prefers full sun to part shade and requires well-drained soil with medium to high water availability. This shrub is suitable for creating informal hedges, mixed borders, or as a standalone specimen in subtropical and tropical gardens. Care should be taken in cooler climates to protect it from frost.CC BY-SA 4.0
Rotheca myricoides is celebrated for its vibrant flowers and ability to attract pollinators. It has earned the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit, indicating its excellence for garden use. While it requires a minimum temperature of 10 °C (50 °F) and is often grown under glass in temperate zones, it thrives in warmer climates. In cultivation, it prefers full sun to part shade and requires well-drained soil with medium to high water availability. This shrub is suitable for creating informal hedges, mixed borders, or as a standalone specimen in subtropical and tropical gardens. Care should be taken in cooler climates to protect it from frost.CC BY-SA 4.0
Plant Description
- Plant Type: Shrub
- Height: 2-4 feet
- Width: 2-3 feet
- Growth Rate: Moderate
- Flower Color: Blue, Purple, White
- Flowering Season: Summer, Fall
- Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Growth Requirements
- Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
- Water: Medium, High
- Drainage: Medium
Common Uses
Bee Garden, Butterfly Garden, Deer Resistant, Low Maintenance, Potted Plant, Showy Flowers
Natural Habitat
Native to open woodlands, forest edges, and savannahs in Eastern and Southern Africa
Other Names
Common Names:
Scientific Names: , Rotheca myricoides, Clerodendrum myricoides, Cyclonema myricoides, Clerodendrum bequaertii, Clerodendrum bequaertii var. debeerstii, Clerodendrum myricoides var. capirense, Clerodendrum savanorum, Clerodendrum villosulum, Clerodendrum villosulum var. debeerstii
GBIF Accepted Name: Rotheca myricoides (Hochst.) Steane & Mabb.