How to Grow Rangoon Creeper
Combretum indicum
Rangoon Creeper thrives in full sun with fertile, well-drained soil. Plant against a strong support — it can reach 6-8m. Water regularly during the growing season and apply a balanced feed in spring and mid-summer. The flowers open white, turn pink, then deepen to red over 2-3 days, and are intensely fragrant at night. Prune lightly after flowering. Frost-tender: protect or move under cover when temperatures drop below 5°C.
Yearly Lifecycle
Care Essentials
Feed in spring and again in mid-summer with a balanced fertiliser. Avoid high-nitrogen feeds once established, which promote leafy growth at the expense of flowers.
Watch For
- Mealybugs
- Scale insects
- Powdery mildew
- Root rot in waterlogged soil
Companions
Bougainvillea, Plumbago, Lantana, Heliconia
Pet Safety
Care Requirements
Light
Full sun
Requires at least 6 hours of direct sun daily. Flowering is reduced in shade. In very hot climates, light afternoon shade is tolerated.
Watering
Regular watering during growth; drought-tolerant once established
Water deeply and regularly during the growing season, especially while flowering. Once well established, Rangoon Creeper becomes fairly drought-tolerant. Avoid waterlogging.
Fertilizing
Balanced feed in spring and mid-summer
Apply a balanced fertiliser in spring as growth resumes and again in mid-summer. Avoid excessive nitrogen, which promotes foliage over flowers.
Pruning
Light prune after flowering; hard prune in early spring if needed
Remove spent flower clusters after blooming. Hard-prune overgrown plants in early spring before new growth starts to keep size manageable and encourage vigorous new flowering shoots.
Spacing
3m between plants; strong support essential
Allow at least 3m between plants. Provide a robust pergola, trellis, or fence — the plant can reach 6-8m and becomes heavy over time.
Growing Tips
Let the colour shift happen
Each flower cluster opens white, turns pink, then deepens to red over 2-3 days — all three colours appear on the plant at once. This is normal; resist deadheading until the whole cluster finishes.
Support early and firmly
Train young shoots onto their support from the start. Rangoon Creeper grows vigorously and tangled growth is hard to sort out later without breaking stems.
Water deeply in dry spells
During flowering and active growth, water thoroughly at the root zone rather than lightly and often. Mulch to retain moisture in hot weather.
Night fragrance
The strongest perfume is at night. Plant near a path, window, or seating area to make the most of the scent.
