The Queen’s Crown Plant, also known as Clerodendrum thomsoniae, is an admired ornamental plant, known for its unique and attractive flowers. It adds a vibrant touch to indoor and outdoor spaces, making it a favored choice. Its striking appearance makes it popular among gardeners and plant enthusiasts.
Understanding the Queen’s Crown Plant
The Queen’s Crown Plant is also known as Bleeding Heart Vine, Bag Flower, and Glory-Bower. This evergreen liana is native to tropical West Africa, from Cameroon to Senegal. It typically grows as a vigorous twining shrub or vine, reaching lengths of up to 4 to 7 meters in its natural habitat, though it can be kept smaller in containers.
The plant’s distinctive flowers are its most notable feature. Each flower has a bell-shaped, white calyx, about 2 to 2.5 cm, from which a vibrant scarlet or dark red, star-shaped corolla emerges. This contrast gives rise to its common name, as the red corolla appears to “bleed” from the white “heart.” Flowers are produced in clusters of 8 to 30 on wiry stalks at stem ends during spring, summer, and early autumn, blooming for several months. The leaves are coarse, heart-shaped or oval, dark green with paler vein markings, growing up to 13-15 cm long and 5-7 cm wide.
Essential Care and Growing Conditions
Light
Queen’s Crown Plants thrive in bright, filtered light. While they can tolerate some direct morning sun, excessive direct sun can scorch their foliage. Outdoors, partial shade is preferred, especially in hot climates. Indoors, a south or west-facing window with indirect light is suitable. Insufficient light can hinder flowering.
Water
Consistent moisture is important for the Queen’s Crown Plant during its active growing period. The soil should be kept thoroughly moist, but never waterlogged, to prevent root rot. Water when the top inch or two of soil feels dry to the touch. During winter dormancy, reduce watering, allowing the soil to dry out slightly between waterings. Yellowing leaves and wilting can indicate overwatering, while brittle, brown leaves suggest underwatering.
Soil
The Queen’s Crown Plant prefers well-drained soil rich in organic material. A slightly acidic to neutral pH is suitable for its growth. For container planting, a potting mixture of peat, perlite, and potting soil works well, ensuring good drainage. When planting in a garden bed, loosen the soil and incorporate organic conditioners.
Temperature and Humidity
This tropical plant thrives in warm temperatures, ideally 18°C to 24°C (65°F to 75°F) during the day. During active growth, it benefits from humid warmth. A cooler winter resting period, around 10-13°C (50-55°F), is beneficial for flowering. The plant does not tolerate frost; in temperate areas, protect it or bring it indoors below 7°C (45°F). High humidity is important; misting daily or placing the pot on a tray of moist pebbles helps maintain adequate humidity, especially indoors.
Fertilizer
The Queen’s Crown Plant is a heavy feeder, especially during its active growing season (spring and summer), to support vigorous growth and abundant flowering. Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer every two weeks or a slow-release granular fertilizer every two months. A balanced N-P-K ratio like 10-10-10 is often recommended. Adequate calcium, supplemented with garden lime or crushed eggshells, is also beneficial for optimal flowering. Withhold fertilizer during the winter dormancy period.
Propagating and Pruning
Propagating the Queen’s Crown Plant is commonly done through stem cuttings, especially in spring or early summer during active growth. Select healthy, non-flowering stems 10-15 cm (4-6 inches) long and make a clean cut just below a leaf node. Removing lower leaves and dipping the cut end in rooting hormone can enhance success. Cuttings can be rooted in water or a moist mixture of peat moss and perlite, kept in a warm, humid environment with medium light until roots develop, typically in four to six weeks.
Pruning is important for maintaining the plant’s shape, controlling its size, and encouraging more prolific blooming. Since flowers are produced on new growth, prune in late winter or early spring before new growth emerges. This involves cutting back about half of the previous year’s growth to promote vigorous flowering shoots. Removing dead or damaged stems and thinning overcrowded shoots also helps keep the plant healthy and within desired bounds.
Common Problems and Solutions
A common issue with the Queen’s Crown Plant is a lack of flowering. This is often attributed to insufficient light, as the plant requires consistent, bright filtered light to bloom well. Moving the plant to a brighter location or ensuring adequate light during active growth can resolve this. Inadequate humidity or an absence of a winter resting period can also impact flowering.
Yellowing leaves can signal several problems. Overwatering, a frequent concern, can lead to wilting and yellowing, potentially causing root rot. Ensure proper drainage and allow the soil to dry slightly between waterings. Underwatering results in brittle, brown leaves. Yellowing leaves with yellow dots may indicate chlorosis, a lack of iron in the soil.
The Queen’s Crown Plant can be susceptible to certain pests, particularly indoors or under stress. Common pests include mealybugs, spider mites, and whiteflies. Mealybugs appear as white, cottony masses on stems and leaves, while spider mites can cause fine webbing and yellowing foliage. Treat infestations with appropriate insecticides, insecticidal soaps, or neem oil. Regularly inspecting the plant and addressing environmental stressors can help prevent pest outbreaks.