This climber is shrub-like with slender twinning stems that form a thicket or climb into trees forming a dense cover. It has dark green broad ovate leaves and the white trumpet-shaped flowers have colourful sepals and appear in clusters during summer.

Hardiness zones 10 to 11 

Mussaenda erythrophylla is naturally found in the sub tropical and tropical areas of Africa growing in moderately fertile well drained sandy to clay loams with reliable moisture in a sunny to semi-shaded open position and is drought and frost tender.

This climbing shrub may become large but responds to pruning and is grown in shrub borders or can be trained over structures for screening or shade. It is also grown in tropical settings and is suitable for coastal and low mountain regions. This shrub establishes in 2 to 3 years but may become straggly with age. ID 1234

Mussaenda (mus-SEEN-da / myoo-say-END-a) erythrophylla (e-rit’-FYL-la)

Rubiaceae (ROO-bee-AY-see-ee)
Coffee and Madder Family