Must have Mussaenda

Mussaenda, also known as Bangkok rose, or tropical dogwood, are a subtropical riot of colour. They can flower all year round if the weather is warm enough (usually tropical), although they tend to lose their leaves in our climate. But when it warms up, the leaves come out and they are soon covered in blooms. In a warm spot, they can start flowering in spring and keep their colour right through to the end of autumn. If you keep them bushy and they receive enough sun, the flowers can be so dense you can’t see any leaves!

Mussaenda philippica ‘Dona Luz’

Although they kind of resemble a summer flowering Poinsettia, whose colourful ‘flowers’ are actually modified leaves, called bracts, the colourful parts of a Mussaenda flower are true flower parts - the sepals. The sepals (which are collectively known as the calyx) make up the outer most layer of the flower and are often unremarkable, making way for the showy petals. Mussaenda have large sepals, and tiny star shaped petals making up a tubular flower in the centre. In most of the species, there is only one large sepal, but the hybrids often have up to 5, making for a more dense colour display.

The pink parts are the sepals, with the little yellow petals in the centre.

Mussaenda will grow in full sun or a little bit of shade, and likes to be well watered especially during hot weather.