Rangoon Creeper Vine (Combretum indicum / Quisqualis indica) Multi-Petaled Floral

INTRODUCTION:

Combretum indicum / Quisqualis indica is commonly known as Rangoon Creeper Vine is a tropical vining plant that is native to Asia from surrounding regions of India to South East Asia and also found in the tropical regions of Africa.

It is cultivated mostly for ornamental purpose however in some countries these are often used as Traditional medicinal usage based on their own unique cultural heritage.

There are few varieties concerning the floral display; Here - I'm showcasing the multi-petaled type which comes in 3 colors which turns from white flower bud followed by pink and deep red when matured. There are another variety where it is single petaled type - either comes in 3 colors or only in red, however I had also come across the non-fragrant type too.

LIGHT:

This vining plant requires direct hot sun to bloom, it may able to tolerate half day sun but it will not bloom in full shaded area. This plant can grow wild and leggy and therefore may require pruning time to time to keep it in proper shape. It may form very well on a pergola or a canopy as it loves to grow high first and cascade before it flowers.

One of the most important factor is Lighting. Failing on this part will be a considerable part where this one will rarely gives out flower buds or in most cases just one or two flower buds. Hence do take it in the highest priority that it does get full direct sun throughout or at least it is placed where there is open sunlight for it to receive at least for half a day.

SOIL MEDIUM:

Considering one of the most basic thing about planting material - this one doesn't require anything special - just any balanced potting mix will do. They seem to do fine in a medium or big potted plant - however they will do great if they are planted directly into the garden soil as these will require just that to create those majestic cascading blooms. 

However if limitation occurs where you can only grow in pot - then a good balanced potting mix with rich amount of organic material and equal part of well drained soil which will help from root rot. 

Locally here in Malaysia, this plant is known as "Akar Dani" denoting the emphasis on the roots of the plant - Dani Roots.

WATERING & FEEDING:

It may require a good adequate watering - both morning and evening based on the size of the plant.
You can grow it in a nice medium or large size pot, the plant will behave and grow based on the size of the pot. However I would recommend this to grow freely on ground if you want lushful beautiful cascading flowers.

Also this plant is a heavy feeder and do feed adequately during the flowering season.

PROPAGATION:

Propagation can be done but stem cutting, stripping off the bottom leaves and poking it into a deep pot with a rich potting soil. Keep it in shade until you notice a new leaves growth.

Another method is to put the cutting into perlite medium (soaked in water) 

Once taken roots, it should be carefully transplanted into a good potting mix.
Another option is to look out for a sucker that appears from the root base. 

This happens if the plant is very established and has a huge root system.

Also I had noticed that this particular one can be very challenging to propagate if done wrongly - these are difficult to roots easily.

PRUNING:

One of the most challenging part about this vine is pruning. They do grow extremely fast and become very unruly if not proper care is not given - especially when it comes to growth factor, this plant focus more on branching more vines and over growth rather than blooms which can be one of the down-side coming from this ever blooming plant.

However with the right pruning method and keeping it trimmed and manageable size - this one can be such a beauty. As shown here - the appearance of the blooms can last at least for few months until the next pruning session is done to maintain the blooming cycle from interruption.

This consideration applies very accurately when the plant is matured and had grown for years - that is if it is not flowering in its full potential. Other factors involving lighting / watering / feeding is also essential and necessary.

FRAGRANCE FLOWER BLOOMS:

Rangoon Creeper is very much a celebrated flowering plant due to the showy bunches of inflorescences that forms constantly which often used for adorning flower gardens and also used for worship. These are indeed very captivating especially the fragrance - very much like jasmine: this one emits the fragrance during evening time.

The fragrance is not overwhelming and doesn't not create any distress rather very much calming and refreshing especially if you have this one placed somewhere around a sitting place like a pergola or picnic area - the fragrance often gives that refreshing feeling especially where memory can serve as a happy moment.

It almost have a mix fragrance similar with Ylang-ylang, Night Blooming Jasmine together with Buddha Jasmine - however the distinct fragrance note - does however embedded in memories especially if you have childhood memories - this one stays for a lifetime.

I had taken noticed that this ornamental plant - Rangoon Creeper Vine known locally as Madhumalti plant is very much cultivated in gardens in India where it is grown even on roof tops and cultivated for it's blooms and even for the folk-medicinal uses.

Also there are many other regions around the world where this plant is cultivated and parts of the plant are also used as traditional medicine from many parts of the world as these are endemic throughout India,  Australia, Africa and parts of tropical regions of Southeast Asia and Australia. namely Philippines, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Malaysia and now also broadly grown in India as
ornamental plant in most of the garden. 

OTHER USES: 

The plant is also cultivated for stingless bee - honey cultivation. 

These bees seems to be attracted to the nectar. However, a collection of other floral plants will also make a good variety as this particular plant is nocturnal. 

Another factor is the fruit appears to be elliptical with wings is also cultivated in some part of the world as medicinal uses - described taste very much like almonds however I had seen any forming fruit in my part of the region which occurs to be me that they may require some cold temperate climate for them to form fruit.

PEST CONTROL:

I had found that Rangoon Creeper Vine seemed to be a very resilient plant without strong resistant to pest attack in comparison to many other floral plant - however I had occasionally come across that caterpillars to feed on them and often if the plant is anyway stressed or lacking nutrients may face some damage on it's foliage but rarely fatal to the plant. 

Keeping the plant - Pruned and Compact does make the plant focused on its blooming cycle and also able to take immediate action if any unruly pest attack where pruning is much easily handled rather than spraying pesticide all over the plant.

Also I had noticed that spider mites can easily infect the leaves when the plant is over-stressed.

Apart from this factor, other matters are very much similar with most tropical garden plants.

BLOOM PROGRESSION FROM BUD TO BLOOM:

Often these flowers change colors from the bud to bloom, where in this case - the buds are in full white and slowly turn pink in mid bloom and fully turn red in full bloom and become dark crimson before the flowers fall off. These coloration are remarkable in their red full bloom displays with their mesmerizing fragrance in evening time.

 

15 Tips on How to Care & Cultivate Rangoon Creeper Vine

INTRODUCTION:

Combretum indicum / Quisqualis indica is commonly known as Rangoon Creeper Vine is a tropical vining plant that is native to Asia from surrounding regions of India to South East Asia and also found in the tropical regions of Africa.

It is cultivated mostly for ornamental purpose however in some countries these are often used as Traditional medicinal usage based on their own unique cultural heritage.

There are few varieties concerning the floral display; Here - I'm showcasing the multi-petaled type which comes in 3 colors which turns from white flower bud followed by pink and deep red when matured. There are another variety where it is single petaled type - either comes in 3 colors or only in red, however I had also come across the non-fragrant type too.

Do check out at the last part of this post where I had placed more information concerning this plant in my video below.

LIGHT:

This vining plant requires direct hot sun to bloom, it may able to tolerate half day sun but it will not bloom in full shaded area. This plant can grow wild and leggy and therefore may require pruning time to time to keep it in proper shape. It may form very well on a pergola or a canopy as it loves to grow high first and cascade before it flowers.

One of the most important factor is Lighting. Failing on this part will be a considerable part where this one will rarely gives out flower buds or in most cases just one or two flower buds. Hence do take it in the highest priority that it does get full direct sun throughout or at least it is placed where there is open sunlight for it to receive at least for half a day.

SOIL MEDIUM:

Considering one of the most basic thing about planting material - this one doesn't require anything special - just any balanced potting mix will do. They seem to do fine in a medium or big potted plant - however they will do great if they are planted directly into the garden soil as these will require just that to create those majestic cascading blooms. 

However if limitation occurs where you can only grow in pot - then a good balanced potting mix with rich amount of organic material and equal part of well drained soil which will help from root rot. 

Locally here in Malaysia, this plant is known as "Akar Dani" denoting the emphasis on the roots of the plant - Dani Roots.

WATERING & FEEDING:

It may require a good adequate watering - both morning and evening based on the size of the plant.
You can grow it in a nice medium or large size pot, the plant will behave and grow based on the size of the pot. However I would recommend this to grow freely on ground if you want lushful beautiful cascading flowers.

Also this plant is a heavy feeder and do feed adequately during the flowering season.

PROPAGATION:

Propagation can be done but stem cutting, stripping off the bottom leaves and poking it into a deep pot with a rich potting soil. Keep it in shade until you notice a new leaves growth.

Another method is to put the cutting into perlite medium (soaked in water) 

Once taken roots, it should be carefully transplanted into a good potting mix.
Another option is to look out for a sucker that appears from the root base. 

This happens if the plant is very established and has a huge root system.

Also I had noticed that this particular one can be very challenging to propagate if done wrongly - these are difficult to roots easily.

PRUNING:

One of the most challenging part about this vine is pruning. They do grow extremely fast and become very unruly if not proper care is not given - especially when it comes to growth factor, this plant focus more on branching more vines and over growth rather than blooms which can be one of the down-side coming from this ever blooming plant.

However with the right pruning method and keeping it trimmed and manageable size - this one can be such a beauty. As shown here - the appearance of the blooms can last at least for few months until the next pruning session is done to maintain the blooming cycle from interruption.

This consideration applies very accurately when the plant is matured and had grown for years - that is if it is not flowering in its full potential. Other factors involving lighting / watering / feeding is also essential and necessary.

FRAGRANCE FLOWER BLOOMS:

Rangoon Creeper is very much a celebrated flowering plant due to the showy bunches of inflorescences that forms constantly which often used for adorning flower gardens and also used for worship. These are indeed very captivating especially the fragrance - very much like jasmine: this one emits the fragrance during evening time.

The fragrance is not overwhelming and doesn't not create any distress rather very much calming and refreshing especially if you have this one placed somewhere around a sitting place like a pergola or picnic area - the fragrance often gives that refreshing feeling especially where memory can serve as a happy moment.

It almost have a mix fragrance similar with Ylang-ylang, Night Blooming Jasmine together with Buddha Jasmine - however the distinct fragrance note - does however embedded in memories especially if you have childhood memories - this one stays for a lifetime.

I had taken noticed that this ornamental plant - Rangoon Creeper Vine known locally as Madhumalti plant is very much cultivated in gardens in India where it is grown even on roof tops and cultivated for it's blooms and even for the folk-medicinal uses.

Also there are many other regions around the world where this plant is cultivated and parts of the plant are also used as traditional medicine from many parts of the world as these are endemic throughout India,  Australia, Africa and parts of tropical regions of Southeast Asia and Australia. namely Philippines, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Malaysia and now also broadly grown in India as
ornamental plant in most of the garden. 

OTHER USES: 

The plant is also cultivated for stingless bee - honey cultivation. 

These bees seems to be attracted to the nectar. However, a collection of other floral plants will also make a good variety as this particular plant is nocturnal. 

Another factor is the fruit appears to be elliptical with wings is also cultivated in some part of the world as medicinal uses - described taste very much like almonds however I had seen any forming fruit in my part of the region which occurs to be me that they may require some cold temperate climate for them to form fruit.

PEST CONTROL:

I had found that Rangoon Creeper Vine seemed to be a very resilient plant without strong resistant to pest attack in comparison to many other floral plant - however I had occasionally come across that caterpillars to feed on them and often if the plant is anyway stressed or lacking nutrients may face some damage on it's foliage but rarely fatal to the plant. 

Keeping the plant - Pruned and Compact does make the plant focused on its blooming cycle and also able to take immediate action if any unruly pest attack where pruning is much easily handled rather than spraying pesticide all over the plant.

Also I had noticed that spider mites can easily infect the leaves when the plant is over-stressed.

Apart from this factor, other matters are very much similar with most tropical garden plants.

Here I'm showing how the formation of the/Buds to Bloom Cycle:

This particular one is a multi petaled tri-color. It took awhile for to get them bloomed. It took few years for it to establish into a matured growing plant but once they had established it will be a constant blooming plant.

Flower buds starting with a small like white cotton bud shape which eventually turn pink to brilliant deep red when in full bloom.

I also noticed that it does form thorns at the few of it main stalk and surprised also to note that eventually a leaf grows at the tip of these thorns to cancel off the mean look. I'm guessing that it does have it's wilder side and may revert back and forth depending on how much growth space and pruning that takes place.

I must say, that I had noticed that these ones do grow in wild but they are very dense and produced less flowers. I think they do very well when cared properly and does exceptionally well when pruned after the flowering season.

The flower form a pendant shape and does become top heavy and therefore may require staking if the plant is small or short. Indeed it is a beautiful plant to cultivate in the garden.

Here in this video, I will be showing a timeline of the bloom progression from bud to full bloom and also some pointers about some interesting Plant Facts and Plant Care.

Combretum indicum / Quisqualis indica is commonly known as Rangoon Creeper Vine is a tropical vining plant that is native to Asia from surrounding regions of India to South East Asia and also found in the tropical regions of Africa.

It is cultivated mostly for ornamental purpose however in some countries these are often used as Traditional medicinal usage based on their own unique cultural heritage.

There are few varieties concerning the floral display; Here in this video - I'm showcasing the multi-petaled type which comes in 3 colors which turns from white flower bud followed by pink and deep red when matured. There are another variety where it is single petaled type - either comes in 3 colors or only in red, however I had also come across the non-fragrant type too.

One of the most important factors in blooming Rangoon Creeper Vine is the Pruning Methods

- without this, the plant will focus more on the growth development more than its focus on Blooming.

Here I'm sharing my experiences and Care Tips and How I propagate Rangoon Creeper Vine successfully.

Also, Do click on the link below for more information on Other Types of  Tropical Fragrant Flowers:

6 Best Tropical Fragrant Flowering Plants

Rangoon Creeper Vine (Combretum indicum / Quisqualis indica) Single-Petaled Floral (WILD)

 

INTRODUCTION:

I actually found this particular vine growing wildly along the roadside, often time to time a grass cutter or City Hall workers will clear and cut down this wild shrub, however this one will spring back to life due to the strong well developed root structure which had grown over the years. These root-ball had grown so well that it had stretched itself and spanned over the whole roadside plain.

Due to the abandoned and grown wildly, this particular plant had developed spikes and thorns along the vine to add it to climb above the tree trunk to receive more light - and therefore helps more blooms.

However the downside of it - where it is not manually pruned to create a well balanced structure and the vines spreading everywhere - it may have to discount on the blooming factor where the plant is very much focus on plant growth.

Combretum indicum / Quisqualis indica is commonly known as Rangoon Creeper Vine is a tropical vining plant that is native to Asia from surrounding regions of India to South East Asia and also found in the tropical regions of Africa.

FLORAL BLOOMS:

As I have mentioned earlier where I had found this grown in the wild, abandoned areas - these flowers are not as showy or graceful due to the lack of care and cultivation - hence the flowers are very much sparse and appear to be insignificant.

Even the flower buds are very much produced in a singular cluster rather than multiple cluster.

FOLIAGE AND VINE STRUCTURE:

Here I want to show you how disarrayed it is in appearance when it is not pruned and properly cultivated into one single main stem plant, the vines are scattered everywhere and the plant can't focus its direction on it's growth. It does appear like ground cover plant with shrubs and vines evey where - almost like a jungle / forest appearance. 

It amazes me to note, what a singular plant can actually do, though it appears to be a colony - it is actually one singular plant that creates this jungle like structure on forest floor.

Another factor due to the lack of lighting received from the forest floor -the leaves spanned on bigger in pairs and have a fan like appearance and cascade in layers.

The growth of the vine often appears as such that it will shoot up first and then cascade all the way down and the flowers in pendant formation, creating the chandelier kind of effect. It can be slightly frustrating to actually identify the main vine as they are very much inter-twined.

CATERPILLAR:

I was very much shocked to find a huge caterpillar consuming this plant - it was need camouflaged with the environment , almost like a twig sticking together with it.

Commonly known as he castor semi-looper or croton caterpillar (Achaea janata) is actually a moth found around the Indo-Australian tropics and subtropics and throughout the world.

The moth however does not have a strong visual features, usually in brown tones and considered as a pest due to the crop damage.

Garden Theme: Fragrant Plants (FLORAL TYPES & FOLIAGE TYPES)

 

INTRODUCTION:

I had found that having a garden theme based on fragrant plants can be challenging but not impossible. Based on my experience - these are the plants that will do well in the Tropical Theme Garden and these are the list of Types of Plants both Floral and Flowering Type:

 FLORAL GARDEN THEME TYPES:

1) Water Jasmine (Wrightia religiosa) 

Water Jasmine (Wrightia Religiosa) Part 1

2) Orange Jasmine (Murraya paniculata) 

Orange Jasmine (Murraya Paniculata)

3) Jasmine "Grand Duke of Tuscany" (Jasminum sambac) 

Grand Duke of Tuscany Jasmine  (Jasminum sambac)

4) Night Blooming Jasmine (Cestum nocturnum) 

   

Night Blooming Jasmine (Cestrum nocturnum)

5) Rangoon Creeper (Quisqualis indica) 

Rangoon Creeper Vine

Do click on the link below for more information on Other Types of  Tropical Fragrant Flowers:
Best Tropical Fragrant Flowering Plants

FOLIAGE GARDEN THEME TYPES:

1) Fragrant Pandan (Pandanus amaryllifolius) 

2) Holy Basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum) 

3) Curry Leaf Tree (Murraya koenigii) 

4) Indian Borage (Coleus ambionicus or Plectranthus amboinicus) 

Mum's Garden

This is my mum's garden flowers. I guess this is one of her favourite blooms. (Rangoon Creeper)
It had came from her friend and had passed the plant to me. It had became invasive and I had passed back to her. I guess this flower submits to woman's hands.. (lol)


My mum's pride & joy...

My sis. came from Penang to have a family gathering together for mother's day.

It was a memorable day. We (mum, sis, bro, wife and my elder son) had a nice lunch, visited my other sister and her family, spend time in my place and children, visited a garden centre (mum & sis commented that the plants sold here are too expensive - so, I just got seeds & some fertilisers) had tea in my place and finally an evening with my mum's garden.

My mum use to narrate her story whenever there is a family gathering or among her friends:

That when she was carrying me in her womb, she spend all her time tending garden. And so had passed that tendency to me or so the very reason that Im very receptive to plants compared to my other siblings who didn't go thru that ordeal and therefore not zealous in plants.

This one is a fragrant flower. Have a nice pleasant aroma during night time.

Night Blooming Jasmine

Someone had passed this orchid plant to her (golden showers)

She told me that it was quite in a bad shape. She had nursed it until it bloomed.

Truly she has green fingers..

Her yellow ixora

white wishbone flower

Her overall garden..

My complain is why this has to be so untidy...

I guess thats how she likes it...

Again, each gardener has the right to choose how they would like to keep their garden..

right???

She had passed me few of her plants (begonia, maiden hair fern - bigger version, roses and another few plant sharing on the same pot, and few pots of coleus) I find it hard to say no when she insist that I should take them.

But I guess, there is a lot of work to do in repotting and sorting these plants in my tight small little garden. I do not want to neglect any of my new plants - to take and keep them at optimum level. I hope I can keep up to the challenge...

If not..

My garden may just turned up to be just like my mum's garden...

Hope not..

then my wife will start complaining that its getting into a jungle again..(lol)