Pagoda Flower (Clerodendrum paniculatum)

A Dramatic, Tiered Flower Display

Pagoda Flower is a semi-woody shrub with large evergreen leaves and huge, showy clusters of orange-red to scarlet flowers held above the foliage. The common name comes from the flower clusters’ tiered, layered arrangement — genuinely resembling the pagoda-style architecture of traditional Asian buildings, creating a striking pyramidal display.

The show runs from summer through autumn, with sporadic additional flowering throughout the year in frost-free climates.

A Genuine Wildlife Magnet

Also known as Butterfly Bush, Pagoda Flower is a real drawcard for nectar feeders — sunbirds and butterflies flock to it, including Ulysses butterflies, which genuinely love this plant. If you’re gardening with wildlife in mind, this is one of the better flowering shrubs to include.

Growing Conditions

• Height: grows to around 2-3m
• Foliage: large, ovate, glossy green leaves that make an attractive backdrop for the flowers
• Light: partial shade to full sun — intense direct sun can scorch leaves in very hot regions
• Soil: fertile, well-draining
• Water: keep consistently moist but not waterlogged — drought stress reduces flowering
• Feeding: a balanced fertiliser monthly through the growing season encourages vibrant blooms
• Pruning: trim spent flower clusters and leggy growth to maintain shape and stimulate further flowering
• Climate: frost-sensitive, needs a genuinely frost-free position, or container/greenhouse growing outside the tropics