Bleeding Heart Vine

Bleeding Heart Vine (Clerodendrum speciosum) is a lush tropical scrambler that covers a trellis or pergola in deep green leaves, then flowers in summer with clusters of wine-red, pink and coral. It grows 1 to 4m tall and 1 to 2m wide, butterflies love it, and it will flower even in shade. It needs a frost-free garden and regular water.

Why you'll love it

• Summer colour in sun or shade. Clusters of wine-red, pink and coral flowers open in summer, and the plant flowers even in shade.
• A butterfly plant. The blossoms draw butterflies, so it earns its place in a wildlife or butterfly garden.
• Quick informal screening. With a trellis or wire to climb it scrambles over a fence to make a soft, leafy screen.
• Salt tolerant in sheltered spots. It copes with salt, which makes it suitable for sheltered seaside gardens.
• Undemanding once settled. Regular water and two feeds a year keep it happy, and it needs little else.

Where it works best

Arbours and pergolas. Plant it at the foot of a post and train the stems up and over. Its leafy cover gives welcome shade in a tropical garden.

Informal screening. Plant 1.5m apart along a trellis or wire fence. It is a scrambling vine, so expect a relaxed, billowing screen rather than a clipped wall.

Butterfly and seaside gardens. Set it in a sheltered spot where butterflies can find the flowers, including a protected position near the coast.

Growing Bleeding Heart Vine in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun to shade. It loves tropical humidity and regular rainfall, so it suits tropical and subtropical gardens best. It must be protected from frost, which makes it a poor outdoor choice in cold-winter gardens.

Soil. Free-draining soil rich in organic matter. Dig compost through the planting hole and mulch the surface.

Water and feed. Mulch and water well until established. Water mature plants more often through dry summer heat. Feed with a controlled release fertiliser twice a year.

Pruning. Give it a trellis, wires or an arbour to scramble over and tie in wayward stems as it grows. A light trim after flowering keeps it within bounds.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Bleeding Heart Vine as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly in warm, moist weather. Plant it where it already has something to climb, and tie the first stems to the support. Expect a modest start, then quick growth as the weather warms.

Tube stock is grown for us and availability moves around. A sold out tube just means the grower has none today, and the notify button on this page emails you the day it returns.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Climbers for trellises and pergolas
• Plants for tropical climates
• Bee and butterfly friendly plants
• Designing a lush tropical garden

Common questions

Does it need a support?

Yes. It is a rambling vine and needs a trellis, wires or an arbour to scramble over, or it will sprawl across the ground.

Will it grow in shade?

Yes. It grows in anything from full sun to shade and will flower even in shade.

Can I grow it in a cool climate?

Only in a frost-free spot. It loves heat, humidity and regular rain, and frost damages it, so in cold-winter regions it is not a dependable outdoor plant.