Rangoon Creeper
Combretum indicum
📖 About this plant
Rangoon Creeper (Combretum indicum, formerly Quisqualis indica) is a vigorous tropical climber famous for its colour-changing flowers that open white in the evening, turn pink the next day, and deepen to red on the third day. The blooms release a delicious fruity fragrance at night, attracting moths and butterflies. Native to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, it is one of the most beloved ornamental climbers in Indian gardens — commonly trained over pergolas, arches, fences, and balconies. The plant blooms almost year-round in warm climates, with peak flowering during the monsoon and post-monsoon season. It can be grown as a climber or pruned into a large shrub. The flowers are followed by small, dry, winged fruits. Apart from ornamental use, the seeds and leaves are used in traditional medicine across Southeast Asia for treating fever, diarrhea, and intestinal parasites (though self-medication is not recommended due to toxicity).
🧑🌾 Care requirements
Full sun to partial shade
2-3 times per week
High (60-80%)
20-35°C
Well-draining loamy soil enriched with organic matter; pH 6.0-7.5
Balanced NPK 10-10-10 every 4 weeks during growing season; bone meal or superphosphate to boost blooming
🌐 Common Names
📋 Plant facts
- 🌍 Origin
- India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Malaysia, Philippines, Papua New Guinea
- 📏 Max height
- 6-10 m (20-33 ft) as a climber; 2-3 m (6-10 ft) as a shrub
- 📐 Spread
- 2-4 m (6-13 ft)
- 🕰️ Bloom time
- Late Spring through Autumn (March to November in India)
- 🎨 Bloom color
- White at opening, changing to pink, then deep red over 3 days
- 🍃 Foliage color
- Dark green, glossy, elliptic leaves 10-20 cm long
- ⏳ Lifespan
- 20-30 years with proper care
- 📈 Growth rate
- Fast — 1-2 m per year once established
- ☠️ Toxicity
- Mildly toxic — may cause stomach upset if ingested; keep away from children and pets
- 🌱 Propagation
- Stem cuttings (semi-hardwood, 6-8 inch), layering, or seeds. Cuttings root in 4-6 weeks with rooting hormone.
🛡️ Health & Safety
Mildly toxic — may cause stomach upset if ingested; keep away from children and pets
Common issues
- Aphids on new growth
- mealybugs in leaf axils
- spider mites in dry conditions
- powdery mildew in high humidity with poor air circulation
- leaf spot from overwatering
- failure to bloom in too much shade or excessive nitrogen fertilizer
💡 Care tips
- Plant in full sun for maximum flowering — shade produces lush foliage but few blooms.
- Provide a strong trellis, pergola, or fence as it grows rapidly.
- Prune hard in late winter to control size and encourage bushy new growth.
- The colour-changing flowers are most fragrant at dusk — plant near a seating area or window to enjoy the scent.
- Mulch heavily to retain soil moisture.
- In containers, use a 16-18 inch pot with a trellis.
- Feed with potassium-rich fertilizer (like potash or bone meal) during blooming season to enhance flower production.