The flowers, which appear in late summer, are coloured rose, crimson, or pink, and arranged in a conspicuous rounded terminal inflorescence known as corymb, which is up to 10 cm in diameter.

[2] Clerodendrum bungei possess extrafloral nectaries that produce a sweet secretion attracting ants (and other arthropods), which in return often protect plant from herbivory.

[3][4] Clerodendrum bungei was discovered in 1831 by Russian botanist Alexander von Bunge in Beijing during his long scientific expedition in East Asia.

[8] It grows along roadsides and in mixed forests on mountain slopes below 2500 m.[8] Clerodendrum bungei was first introduced into Europe c. 1850 by Scottish plant collector Robert Fortune.

As in nature, cultivated plants grow to the height of 2 m. In the British Isles it is frequently killed to the ground by frost only to send up "vigorous, erect, woody shoots" next summer.