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Pink
Mussaenda
Hybrid
Cultivars
Mussaenda philippica
A. Rich. X M. erythrophylla Schumach. & Thonn.
moos-a-END-ah fill-IPP-ah-cah, err-rith-row-PHIL-ah
Rubiaceae
Explanation
of name:
Philippica refers to nativity in the Philippines. Erythrophylla
means red leaf, in reference to the red enlarged sepal in this species.
Natural
range:
Old World Tropics
Recognition:
See discussion below
Cultivars
include: ‘Queen Sirikit’, and the pink “Doñas,” including ‘Doña Alicia’, which
is often mis-named as a species “Mussaenda alicia,” and often appears
shortened to ‘Alicia’. See discussion below.
Landscape
uses:
A complex of robust, freely flowering, showy, coarse shrubs not well suited to
close cropping. The plants tend to become leggy and bare toward the base with
time, and require pruning to counter this tendency. The massive flower clusters
require deadheading for the best appearance. Although sun-loving, over-exposure
detracts from the appearance. The pink-flowered Mussaendas are not particularly
drought-tolerant.
For an
in-depth discussion of cultivation
see MCL (but beware of minor taxonomic/nomenclatural errors).
See also the
General
Discussion
of Mussaenda.
|
Botanical |
English |
FL native |
Growth form
|
Flowering season
|
Typical dimensions
|
Suggested spacing |
Cultural conditions
|
Problems |
|
Mussaenda erythrophylla
X M. philippica |
Mussaenda
Pink Hybrid Cultivars:
‘Doña Alicia’, ‘Queen Sirikit’ and several others; Mussaenda
erythro. Commonly called Ashanti blood or red flag shrub* |
Exotic; native to West Africa through Indian subcontinent* |
Shrubs |
SP-FA (DAV, MCL) |
8’(15’)
(DAV, PBCC, MCL) |
4’-8’ (DAV) |
SU (with some protection)
ME
Irrigated
Not DT
RS
AC
(PBCC, MCL, DAV); no high PH* |
Hairs can cause skin irritation (PBCC)
ND on alkaline soil; mealy bugs, mites; fungal and bacterial leaf
spotting diseases* |
*www.miami-dade.ifas.ufl.edu
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