Thunbergia erecta, the King's Mantle or Bush Clock Vine, is a tidy evergreen shrub bearing a long succession of rich violet-blue trumpet flowers with creamy-yellow throats. The small, dark glossy leaves form a dense, rounded bush ideal for low hedges, borders and large pots. Easy and free flowering, it blooms through much of the year in India's warm climate, attracting butterflies and bees. Tolerant of pruning, it can be shaped into neat hedges or left informal. Compact, colourful and undemanding, King's Mantle is a dependable choice for adding cool blue tones to sunny and lightly shaded gardens.
Specifications
| Family |
Acanthaceae |
| Native region |
Tropical West Africa |
| Mature height |
1-1.8 m |
| Mature spread |
1-1.5 m |
| Growth rate |
Moderate |
| Foliage |
Small, dark green, glossy, evergreen |
| Flower colour |
Violet-blue with yellow-white throat |
| Flower season |
Most of the year in warm climates |
| Climate zone |
Tropical to subtropical |
Care guide
| Sunlight |
Full sun to partial shade |
| Watering |
Regular; keep evenly moist, avoid drying out |
| Soil / mix |
Fertile, well-drained loam |
| Temperature |
Warm 18-35 C; frost-tender |
| Humidity |
Moderate to high |
| Fertilizer |
Balanced feed monthly in growth |
| Pruning |
Trim regularly to shape; tolerates hedging |
| Repotting |
Every 1-2 years if potted |
| Propagation |
Semi-hardwood cuttings |
| Pests & problems |
Whitefly, aphids, spider mites |
| Toxicity / safety |
Non-toxic |
| Difficulty |
Easy |
Uses
Used as a flowering low hedge, border shrub or container plant; its long-lasting blue blooms attract pollinators and add cool colour.
Growing tips
In India grow it in sun to light shade with steady moisture; trim after flushes to keep it bushy and flowering through much of the year.