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Unidentified plant - hydrangea?

16 years ago

Hi all! I don't post much on the gardening forums but love to read. Anyway, I wonder if anyone can help me. Years ago, I owned a property which had a lovely plant with sweet smelling flowers on it, which I dug up and took home. Back then I lived in the country and planted it. In no time I discovered it was invasive as it started spreading wildly, forming new plants from runners. I have no idea what it is, but it most resembles a hydrangea, however it has HUGE leaves, and large clusters of tight, pale pink flowers which are extremely sweet-smelling and attract ants. The plants get somewhat leggy, quickly.

I wish I had a pic, but not at the property right now, and they are not blooming, anyway. Does this sound like a hydrangea, or something else?

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Comments (4)

yellowgirl
16 years ago
Without more info, I can't say for sure, but most hydrangeas do not have a noticable scent and while they will reproduce by ground layering, they could hardly be called "invasive". What zone are you in and when did these flowers bloom? and for how long? Any additional info you could provide might help someone identify it for you....yg
luis_pr
16 years ago
I started thinking of Cashmere Bouquet (Clerodendrum bungei) since you said it is fragrant but it is hard to tell without information such as your geographical location, blooming time and pictures, pictures, pictures. Close up pictures of the leaves, flowers, stems and several angles of the plant would help. The Name That Plant! Forum could also assist. Luis

Here is a link that might be useful: Cashmere Bouquet
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gypsyrose
Original Author
16 years ago
I will try to get some pictures soon, I should be back at the property in a few days, maybe some will be blooming. Sad to say, it's not Cashmere Bouquet (love that name!) I am in Florida, zone 9 where it is "summer" much of the year. It blooms off and on over the summer and into fall. The flowers are what most resemble the hydrangea, since they are in ball-like clusters; but the individual blooms within the clusters are multi-petaled, like tiny roses or camellias.

These plants grow like fast-growing annuals, mostly a single stalk with the huge leaves, and as I mentioned they spread very rapidly through their roots, and they are very easy to pull out.

Hopefully I can get some pix and someone can help me. It's probably not a hydrangea at all, but I've never seen this plant before anywhere else. The property where I originally found it was an old Victorian home in the city, growing in the midst of azaleas and other common plants to the area.
gypsyrose
Original Author
16 years ago
Well, guess what - Luis, you were right! It was clerodendrum cashmere bouquet, but the pic of the one you posted looked different! I was at a nursery today, and found the pic of my plant in a book the owner had. I found another pic on the web, here is my plant -

http://www.rareflora.com/clerophi.html

So, mystery solved!

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