Well the title says it all. My Brazilian Red Cloak really is going off this year. I believe the hard pruning I did two springs ago and the unseasonably warm weather all year are the main contributing factors. My neighbor even stopped over to ask what that plant was called in my backyard “that looks like it is on fire.”
Brazilian Red Cloak (Megaskepasma erythrochlamys) is a very showy plant when in flower. When not in bloom, I could see it being confused for another semi-woody shrub—Justicia. Native to rain forests of Venezuela, I find they grow best in moist, organic, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade, but they really aren’t too finicky if these conditions can not be met. Brazilian Red Cloak is a fast-growing plant when treated right. Don’t believe much of what you read about this plant’s size in cultivation attaining a height of only 3 to 6 feet. My largest is already 8 feet tall. It would be larger had I not chopped it back two years ago. Here is the same plant as the photo above from another angle. Notice how the leaves are darker green on the shady side versus the full sun?
Brazilian Red Cloak has exceptional ornamental value in the garden thanks to its plumes of red bracts. Just like Bougainvillea, the actual flower is rather irrelevant from a visual standpoint, rather it is the modified leaves (bracts) that make it stand out. Brazilian Red Cloak has white flowers on showy red bracts that tend to bleach out in full, hot sun. An autumn bloomer, flowering can last two months here in our Mediterranean climate.
Propagation is easiest by cuttings. I did nothing more than cut off some larger branches, removed all the leaves, dipped the stem in a rooting hormone and just stuck the cuttings directly into soil potting. After a few months in the greenhouse the plant should be well on its way to needing to be planted in the ground. Here are two Megaskepasma erythrochlamys that I made from cuttings two springs ago. As I rework this area of my garden and plant from back to front, I felt this would fill in nicely and eventually help screen my greenhouse from the road. As my palms continue to grow taller, they will provide a little shade to ensure the leaves have that dark green color I prefer.
A happy Brazilian Red Cloak has no serious insect or disease problems. Snails can be an issue, however. Thanks to all the leaf litter these plants give off, it provides a nice cover for snails to hide and reproduce and eventually eat your plant’s leaves. I just toss some pet-safe snail land mines under them each winter and it takes care of this.
I know Megaskepasma erythrochlamys can survive light freeze without damage in places like Florida. But I doubt it would fair so well during a California freeze. So I would guess this is a USDA Hardiness Zone 10a rated plant and root hardy to 9b if well mulched.
Again, this is not a small shrub. So if you have limited space it most likely isn’t the plant for you, as it wants to spread its wings to look its best. Brazilian Red Cloak can take a hard pruning, so it can be confined to smaller spaces if need be. It can also be grown in a pot with great success. The only issue you might run into is that it is not readily available at your local garden center. So it does take some effort to track one down if you aren’t lucky enough to find some cuttings off some one else’s plant.
UPDATE: September 23rd, 2016
I wanted to give a quick update on how fast my Brazilian Red Cloak has grown in just the two short years since I first wrote this post. Even with regular pruning, my Megaskepasma erythrochlamys have still taken over this part of my garden. I had to remove the Macrozamia moorei cycad seen in the photos above and replace it with a smaller, slower growing cycad because the Brazilian Red Cloak’s had started to bury it.
I like this look where it sprawls over the fence.
Why does my Brazilian Red Cloak have yellowing leaves. It is in part shade to full sun. Growing in a pot under an Oak Tree.
Sally, I had the same exact issue the first few years. Especially in winter. I have found that they do not like direct sun in my area, they need lots of water and that they are heavy feeders. After correcting those issue, I alleviated most yellowing. Now the only yellowing I get comes from the low winter sun angle hitting them.
My Red Cloak here in SW Florida do well but tend to get tall and lanky. I want to cut them back. Will pruning below the bottom set of leaves hurt them? Some have no leaves at all for the first four or five feet. All are healthy though but spindly. Thanks so much for any help you can provide. Yours are magnificent. Do I prune back after the flowers are done?
If left to thei own devices, they become large bushes. Mine is now 10 feet tall. I do go in and chop out stalks and thin it out. They grow right back. So I say prune away. Anytime of year.
Same. What did you do to help it?
Hola, any ideas as to why the leaves on my Red Cloak are turning black, mainly round the edges. We live in Andalucia and get a lot of levantes so I’m wondering whether it is leaf burn.
It has recently been moved from one side of the garden to another as it was doing nothing. It is now in a very large pot and is doing really well with masses of new leaves which I don’t want to lose.
Many thanks for any help.
Hi Mary, when I hear burnt leaves in a pot I usually go right to the mix. I would make sure it hasn’t broken down and is holding water. I like very airy mixes, but organic. Second, if the mix is fine, perhaps your water is high in TDS or you burnt the plant with too much fertilizer.
My Brazian Cloak has grown heaps, does it Succer??
No, it doesn’t sucker. But it has lots of growth from base.
I have two red cloaks in my florida garden but neither has yet to bloom—good sized plants both in partial sun…any suggestions how to get them blooming?
Water and fertilizer to start. But you most likely need to acidity your soil there in Florida. I bet that is the issue.
Hi all, I am in S W Florida and reveied a small red brazilian cloake plant in a small pot. It did not seem to be growing so I put it in the ground and it started getting bigger! It is only getting a couple of hours of morning sun, andnow the leaves are turning black around edges and even in the middle of the leaves. I was wondering if I was over watering so I am trying to cut back on that. Should I try transplanting it in a sunnier location or go back to a larger pot thst I can move around? I can send pictures if thst would help. Thank you very much!
Hi Kathy. I would assume bad potting soil and too much water. Maybe reply in a more free-draining soil. Good luck!
My Brazilian Red Cloak plant looks like something is eating away at the leaves. I’ve looked and can’t find any insects. Can anyone help me and tell me what to try and use to eliminate this problem? It’s only a few months old and we live in Florida. Thank you so very much.
Bet it is snails. They love this plant. Put down bait.
Perhaps someone can help me. I have 4 Brazilian Red Cloaks about 4 1/2 – 5′ tall that are at least 3 years old. They are that short because I have made numerous cuttings from them ( they were cuttings given to me initially) I have them in 3 gallon black nursery pots so I can overwinter them in the Green House when it gets close to freezing weather here in Humble Texas. I have them in a loose soil mix with lots of organic material and they are watered and fed regularly. They have new growth coming out of soil at the base of the stalks, so I know they are healthy and well fed. What could be the reason they haven’t bloomed for me? Morning sun and dappled afternoon shade where they are growing should be the ideal spot for them. Can anybody offer any ideas why they haven’t bloomed yet?
Thanks Pstty
I have 3 plants about 4’ tall. Two are in full sun and one only gets maybe 2 hours morning sun at best. The one in the shade has never bloomed so I am going to
transplant in full sun. The one in full sun has 6 beautiful blooms started in October, planted in the ground and I am in Sw Florida. I also put banana peels in the soil. This is the first year for blooms for my 2 plants that were planted about 1.75 years ago as a 10” cutting. Hope this helps!
I have 3 plants about 4’ tall. Two are in full sun and one only gets maybe 2 hours morning sun at best. The one in the shade has never bloomed so I am going to
transplant in full sun. The one in full sun has 6 beautiful blooms started in October, planted in the ground and I am in Sw Florida. I also put banana peels in the soil. That plant is getting yellow leaves underneath the outer green leaves. Not sure whst is causing that?? This is the first year for blooms for my 2 plants that were planted about 1.75 years ago as a 10” cutting. I cannot figure out what causes yellowing of the leaves. One person said when her RBC was in full sun all day it was causing the leaves to yellow. But my RBC in almost all shade the leaves are much greener but several green leaves have the black edges which eventually kills the leaf. One of the RBC in mostly 10 hours of sun also has the black edges but the leaves are yelllowing first. My healthiest RBC is in full sun until about 3 pm. That plant was so beautiful with tons of beautiful dark green leaves until one day a wind came up maybe 25-30 mph. Blew 1/2 of my whole bush down to the ground. I tried to tape the stems up but that didn’t work; it did work for me on two small trees I had where the branch broke partially. I wanted to cry but I couldn’t! I did not know they had to be protected from wind. It still looks good but not as good as it did! I feel that the two plants that have the black edges around the leaves is missing some nutrient they need; any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
I have discovered snails but only because I went out after dark with a flashlight. They are definitely eating the beautiful leaves. I tried the beer thing; didn’t work. One lady said she used pet safe land mines and that took care of that. I googled pet safe snail land mines and got nothing about snails! Has anyone heard of pet safe snail land mines?
So, the Landmine” thing is a joke. Pet safe stuff doesn’t have something that attracts the snails (like molasses for example). So the snail must literally run into it to work. Hence “landmine” 😀
my cloak looked great last year, when done blooming in spring I trimed it back this year didn’t get one bloom what happened any ideas
What fertilizer should I use, when and how often?