Mussaenda Plant

Description of Mussaenda Plant

Mussaenda erythrophylla, commonly known as Ashanti blood, red flag bush and tropical dogwood, is an evergreen West African shrub. In addition the bracts of the shrub may have different shades, including red, rose, white, pale pink or some mixtures. Furthermore Mussaenda plant grows best in warmly temperate or subtropical areas and is semideciduous in cooler parts. Also in its natural habitat the shrub may scramble up to 10 m (33 ft), but is kept compact under cultivation. What’s more the star-like flowers of the shrub are 10 mm (0.39 in) in diameter and have a single, modified sepal. Moreover the caterpillars of the Commander, a brush-footed butterfly, utilize this species as a foodplant.

Planting And Care of Mussaenda Plant

• Train a climbing vine cape honeysuckle plant on a trellis or other supporting object using plant ties to support the vines.
• In addition to maintain the shape of shrubs and prune long or unruly branches back to a side branch or bud with sharp pruning shears.
• Lastly cut off old, damaged or dead branches at their base and remove them.

Mussaenda Care

Tecoma capensis, commonly known as cape honeysuckle, is a flowering, versatile evergreen that is suitable as a climbing vine, border plant, shrub or ground cover. Besides it blooms in clusters of tubular, red-orange flowers that are about 2 inches in length in the late summer, fall and winter.

Special Feature of Mussaenda Plant

Popular plants in southern Florida and California where they are often planted as specimens and massed in gardens and shrub borders or planted as informal hedges or screens.

Uses