QUISQUALIS INDICA 

Family Combretaceae

Quisqualis indica, native to tropical Asia and New Guinea, is a vigorous climber, or can be grown as an untidy shrub.  It produces an abundance of very fragrant flowers that open white, turn pink and eventually red.  It is not fussy about soil, and can be planted in a heavily shaded place and allowed to climb into the sun.  Unfortunately in the sea breeze, the leaves get scorched and eventually fall off, leaving just ugly stalks.  Quisqualis is drought tolerant and can be invasive, with suckers appearing all over the garden, so it must be kept in check and grown where it is wanted.

Updated 10/9/2018

In 1861 Dr John Ivor Murray (1824-1903), a Scottish surgeon practicing in China, sent a sample of the Quisqualis nuts (seeds) to Edinburgh.  They were accompanied with instructions on how the Chinese used them to get rid of worms.